-15- 



The authority of decision for such plant importations must necessarily 

 have some location and the Department of Agriculture, with its important bureaus 

 relating to plam; production, is undoubtedly 'the best agency for making such 

 determinations, m point of fact, however, on the presentation of evidence by 

 any importer or grower cf the unavai lability of any plant necessary for propa- 

 gating purposes, that is, the impossibility of securing it from commercial 

 sources in this country, a permit has always been issued. This has happened 

 many times, and indicates that the Department's purpose in the whole administra- 

 tion^ of the quarantine is to be of service; in other words, to render every aid 

 possible to the horticultural development of this country and, at the same time, 

 give such protection as is absolutely necessary against entry of new pests. 



EBCQ2D OF CONFERENCES AND DISCUSSION AFFORDED 

 PBIOR TO PROMULGATION OP QUARANTINE 37. 



Inasmuch as it has been asserted that Quarantine 37 was hastily promulgated 

 without opportunity for conferences and came with an element of surprise to the 

 trade and other interests involved, it seems desirable to give the facts of pub- 

 lic record, indicating the ample opportunity afforded for consultation and con- 

 ference and the publicity given to such opportunities preliminary to the qjswflran- 

 tine, as follows: 



(1) The necessity for restrictions similar to those 

 involved under this quarantine had been the subject of 

 discussion and recommendation by resolution over a per- 

 iod of several years at annual meetings of the various 

 associations— national and regional. 



(2) On the basis of such resolutions, the Bureau of 

 Plant Industry of the Department was asked by the Board 

 for advice with respect to such proposed quarantine, and 

 the report of that Bureau recommending quarantine action 

 was submitted to the Board February 26, 1918. 



(3) The notice of public hearing for May 28, 1918, 

 for the purpose of considering such quarantine was issued 

 March 28, 1918, two months before the hearing, and was 

 sent to all nurserymen, permittees or otherwise, on the 

 mailing list of the Department, and was published in 

 horticultural and trade papers. 



(4 J The hearing was well attended by official and 

 other representatives of the principal trade societies 

 related to horticulture, and with a wide State repre- 

 sentation of technical and practical men, and the steno- 

 graphic record on file indicates a practically unanimous 

 noint of view in favor of a quarantine even more drastic 

 than the one actually later promulgated by this Depart- 

 ment. 



