360 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



with few unoccupied areas; others have many gaps in the rows, 

 and parts of the blocks are entirely free from stock. There- 

 fore acreage for the nursery and acreage of the stock are two 

 wholly different things, as in many cases a single acre of land 

 may contain twice as much stock as two or three acres else- 

 where. An attempt has been made, however, to estimate the 

 acreage of stock found by the inspectors this year, and though 

 undoubtedly inaccurate, it is certain that over 1,900 acres of 

 nursery stock were grown in 1914 in Massachusetts. 



Agents. 



Agents for the sale of nursery stock are required by law to 

 hold licenses issued by the State Nursery Inspector, and good 

 for one year from date of issue. The importance of this re- 

 quirement has been repeatedly shown by the actions of cer- 

 tain of these agents, some of whom are entirely irresponsible, 

 and who take orders, showing attractive pictures of the plants, 

 and then fill these orders by purchasing stock wherever it can 

 be bought most cheaply. Oftentimes the plants obtained in 

 this way are of little value, and frequently not true to name, 

 and any attempt to obtain redress reveals that the agent has 

 disappeared. 



The object of this part of the law is to check irresponsible 

 agents as far as possible, and, by keeping track of the sources 

 from which they purchase their stock, prevent the unloading 

 of worthless plants upon their customers. As no charge is 

 made for the license, no burden is imposed, and- the reliability 

 and trustworthiness of the agents should be increased. How 

 far these objects have been accomplished is at present uncer- 

 tain. The law provides a penalty for selling without a license, 

 but as many persons take up the business as a temporary one, 

 unaware that any requirements exist, and leave it for some- 

 thing else after a short time, the inspector is frequently not 

 aware that persons are taking orders without licenses. 



In spite of this difficulty in enforcing the law, many applica- 

 tions for licenses are received, and one hundred and thirty- 

 seven such were issued during 1914. 



