HY do we regard the situation as serious? 
Because we believe that an administrative body in the United States 
Government, duly created by law to serve a definite, necessary, laudable 
purpose, and to protect the horticultural and agricultural interests of 
the country has unwisely and unwarrantably assumed powers that it was 
never intended to wield; and through its arbitrary extension and exer- 
cise of those powers has taken to itself prerogatives to which, accord- 
ing to our interpretation of the law, it is not legally entitled. 
As we grant the wisdom of protecting this country from new, injuri- 
ous plant pests, recognize the value of thorough inspection and certifica- 
tion of importations of plants, and all other articles upon or in connec- 
tion with which such pests might enter, and recognize also the necessity 
of quarantining specific localities or countries and particular types or 
classes of plants, temporarily or permanently, according to the nature 
and severity of any epidemic or other emergency—so we concede that the 
F. H. B. has attempted sincerely, honestly and industriously to accom- 
plish the desired results. Its integrity and good intentions, and the 
ability of its individual members in their respective lines, we do not 
question. 
BUT . 
1. We submit: That in its attempt to prevent the possible introduc- 
tion of plant pests it has effected the prohibition of many important 
kinds of plants needed for the normal, desirable progress and develop- 
ment of American horticulture, to the extent that it has seriously in- 
terfered with legitimate trade activities and denied the natural right of 
American citizens to buy goods where they will, and bring them into this 
country under moderate restrictions, so long as such goods cannot be 
shown to be inimical to the welfare of the country. 
We assert that the mere possibility that any plant might harbor 
a dangerous insect or plant disease is not sufficient reason to bar out the 
great bulk of foreign plants, nor justification for the avowed purpose 
of the F. H. B. to “as rapidly as possible make this country independent 
of foreign supplies, with the object of ultimately reaching a condition 
where entry of foreign plants will be limited to new plants, and such 
plants as are not capable of production in the United States.” 
The Board says, truly, that no plant is actually prohibited by the 
quarantine regulations—and in evidence of the leniency of its rulings 
points to records of several million bulbs, plants, Rose bushes, etc., listed 
under “excluded stock” and yet admitted under special permit. But it 
says nothing as to the number of permits refused, or the grounds for the 
refusals; it does not state that the number of plants brought in is smaller 
than that for which permits have been issued because,a#n.some cases, the 
permits have been forthcoming only after it was too late to have the 
commodities shipped, or because in other cases, even the foreign supplies 
of the desired articles are insufficient; nor does it explain why, although 
six classes of bulbs are freely admitted (without soil, etc.) more than 50 
other kinds—not a whit more dangerous or likely to be infested—may be 
imported only by permit obtainable upon presentation of proof suffi- 
cient to convince the F. H. B. that those particular shipments are es- 
sential to the maintenance of adequate supplies of such stock in this 
country; it does not explain why a budded Rose bush Gin. high is any 
more dangerous than a Rose or Apple stock 2ft. high—but it admits 
the one and excludes the other—at least it has not thus far made any 
explanation for these inconsistencies that is, in our opinion, horticul- 
turally or entomologically acceptable. 
9 
