82 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



mental plants. Special attention is being given to the pear and 

 the rose. The office has introduced more than 400 different kinds 

 of pears in the last twenty years. Recently some valuable dis- 

 coveries have been made in connection with blight-resistant pears. 

 Most of these pears are proving valuable adjuncts to our collection 

 for use as stocks. One of these was introduced by the Arnold 

 Arboretum and the original tree is growing there at the present 

 time. This is known as Pyrus callcryana and is one of the most 

 promising stocks now being tested. 



Experiments and investigations in cooperation wdth nursery- 

 men were described showing the methods being followed in testing 

 out these stocks. The Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Intro- 

 duction has made some valuable introductions in the way of roses 

 which may prove useful for stocks. These, together with other 

 promising types, are being tested in various parts of the country. 



The equipment and work of the several field stations were 

 described and the speaker stated that all of these facilities were 

 at the disposal of horticvdturists in connection with any lines of 

 constructive work that might be of value in advancing the horti- 

 cultural interests of the country. 



Conclusions. 



The conclusions in reference to protecting American crop plants 

 against alien enemies were summarized as follows: 



1. There are many thousands of insects and diseases not yet 

 introduced here, which are known to attack plants in foreign coun- 

 tries. Since the organization of the Federal Horticultural Board in 

 1912 and the development of careful systems of inspection, an 

 average of about 100 dangerous insects and about the same number 

 of fungous and related parasites have been discovered each year 

 on stock shipped to this country from Holland, Belgium, France, 

 England, Germany, and Japan. Holland is credited with 148 

 such insects, Japan 108, France 89, Belgium 64, England 62, and 

 Germany 15. 



2. The material proving the greatest source of danger consists 

 of balled or potted plants with earth about their roots. It is 



