The Canadian Horticulturist. 147 



I'l.UM KNO'l' ACT IN NEW YORK STATE. 



R. S. I). WILLARD, who was appointed by the New 

 York Horticultural Society to draft a bill for the destruc- 

 tion of black knot, sends a copy of the Act, which has 

 now passed the Assembly, and will become law in New 

 York State. We have not room here to give it in full, 

 but will give an outline of it. 



Section i makes it unlawful for any person knowingly 

 to keep on his place any plum or cherry trees affected with black knot, and 

 makes it allowable for any one to enter upon his premises and destroy the affected 

 part, or parts, of any tree. 



Section 2 provides that the mayor of any town or city where such disease 

 exists, may appoint three competent freeholders as commissioners, and section 4 

 makes it the duty of such commissioners, or any one of them, with or without 

 complaint, as soon as it comes to notice that the disease black knot exists, or is 

 supposed to exist, within the limits of any town or city, to examine without 

 delay the trees supposed to be affected, and, if the disease is found to exist, to 

 place distinguishing marks upon the affected parts, or, in case the commissioner 

 or commissioners judge that any tree should be entirely removed, they must 

 girdle such tree and give a written notice to the owner containing a statement of 

 the facts, with the order to effectually remove and destroy by fire the part, or 

 parts, of such trees so marked, and entirely destroy every tree which has been 

 girdled, within ten days from the date of the notice above required, such order 

 to be signed by the three commissioners, or by any two of them. 



Section 5 provides that whenever any person refuses to comply with the 

 order, the commissioners are to carry out the directions of the order and remove 

 and destroy by fire every tree, or part of a tree, so girdled or marked, the expense 

 to be charged to the town or city. 



Section 6 specifies the penalty for not carrying out the order. The person 

 neglecting or refusing to carry out the order, shall be guilty of misdemeanor, and 

 be punished by a fine not exceeding $50, or by imprisonment in the county jail 

 not exceeding fifteen days, or both, in the discretion of the Court, and any Jus- 

 tice of Peace of the town or city in which the offence shall be committed shall 

 have jurisdiction thereof, and all the fines shall be turned over to the mayor of 

 said town or city, to be placed by him in the contingent fund of said town or 

 city. 



Section 7 allows the commissioners $2 a day for their services, in addition to 

 all other reasonable charges or disbursements. 



The Act is to take effect immediately. 



As before stated, our own Act on Plum Knot is useless, and must be re- 

 modelled. Let everyone come to our next meeting fully prepared to discuss this 

 important subject. 



