SECOND ANNUAL KEPORT OF THE STATE NURSEliY 



INSPECTOR. 



To the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture. 



I have the honor to present herewith the second annual 

 report of the State Nursery Inspector. 



The duties of this ofiice during the year 1903 have been 

 less varied than heretofore, as the nurserymen have become 

 familiar with the inspection law, and are better prepared to 

 meet its requirements. During the year particular attention 

 has been paid to the cases of florists who carry nursery stock, 

 in addition to their greenhouse plants. To learn which of 

 them had nursery stock, over 700 circulars of inquiry were 

 sent out, tlie answers to which raised the number of places 

 to be visited from 80 to 110. The amount of stock found 

 at these places varied from a few plants to a half acre or 

 more occupied by them ; but the wisdom of inspecting even 

 the smallest of such nurseries is shown by the fact that 

 dangerous pests were found at almost every one. 



Regular inspections for the season were begun August 17, 

 and were continued until the work was completed. This is 

 really too early in the season to begin, in order to obtain 

 the best results, and in my opinion no inspections should be 

 permitted before September 1 ; but with the force available 

 it seemed doubtful if the work could be completed before 

 the commencement of the shipping season if a later start 

 were made, and it did not seem just to delay shipments by 

 beo-innino; at a later date. 



One hundred and ten places where nursery stock is grown 

 were inspected this fall, and all but two of these have received 

 certificates that their stock is apparently free from dangerous 

 insect pests and fungous diseases. One nursery cannot 

 receive such a certificate, and its owner is fumigating all 



