25 



Letter from J. R. Johnston to WUmon Newedl, July 1, 1916. 



In regard to your letter of June 27 regarding the presence of 

 citrus canker m Cuba, I have the pleasure to inform you as follows: 



In a letter dater Oct. 14, 1914, I wrote to Prof. Rolfs as follows: 

 Can you assist us in ascertaining the names of firms who have 

 shipped citrus plants to Cuba and the names of those to whom they 

 were shipped? I understand that Griffing Bros, of Miami have shipped 

 some. It is probable that through your personal acquaintance with 

 these people it would be easier for you to secure the names for us. 

 lou will understand that we are anxious to get on the trail of the 

 citrus canker to ascertain if it occurs here. So far none has been 

 reported but it seems more than likely that it may be present 

 unknown to us." 



In reply to this letter Prof. Rolfs stated that he was referring 

 the matter to Dr. Berger. 



In a letter dated Oct. 23, 1914, Dr. Berger kindly answered as 

 follows: "Enclosed I am sending you the names of shipments from 

 the Griffing Bros, at Miami that went to Cuba last year. I trust that 

 you will be able to trace the same. I am also sending you preserved 

 specimens of canker as requested. Would advise that you address the 

 Griffing Bros, of Mac Clenny, Florida, requesting them to give you list 

 of shipments from that nursery to Cuba, if they have made any." 



This list mentions only two shipments to Cuba, one to V. Robin- 

 son, Cuba, 6 buds; and one to Armand y Hno., Marianao, Havana, 

 Cuba, 2700 trees. 



Mr. H. A. Van Hermann, at that time the Horticulturist of .this 

 Station investigated these shipments, and reported as follows : Rob- 

 inson's shipment was only buds and showed no disease then or since. 

 Armand's shipment was opened up and proved to be in such bad 

 condition it was immediately closed up and returned to Florida. 



In a letter dated Oct. 24, 1914, Mr. Beattie wrote me as follows: 

 ''I have been informed that shipments of nursery stock are reported 

 to have been made from a nursery at Silver Palm, Fla. to Cuba, which 

 nursery has been found recently to be seriously aflfected with the 

 citrus canker". 



Mr. Beattie further stated that he was intending to visit Florida 

 and asked me to meet him, but I could not make arrangements to 

 go until the last of December. 



In a letter dated Oct. 28, 1914, I wrote to Griffing Bros, at Mac- 

 Clenny, Fla. as follows: "I would greatly appreciate it if you would 

 give me a list of shipments of citrus stock which you have made to 

 Cuba, if any at all. We understand that the citrus canker is at 

 present causing a great deal of trouble in Florida, and it is therefore 

 eminently desirable to locate the disease here if there should be any". 



No reply was recived to this letter but I had the pleasure of 

 meeting one of the Griffing brothers at Miami in January, and he 

 assured me that there had been no other shipments of citrus from 

 Florida to Cuba from their nurseries. 



In a letter dated Oct. 28, 1914, I also wrote to Mr. Stirling at 

 Miami as follows: "I would greatly appreciate anything you can do 

 to assist us in obtaining lists of citrus shipments to Cuba in order 

 that we trace up localities where stock possibly infected with citrus 

 canker has been received. 



We already have a list of the shipments made by Griffing Bros, of 

 Miami but I did not know but there might be others. 



