Doctor Howard makes and in which I concur, that the entire shipment 

 should be destroyed by burning as soon as possible. 



Root gall worm : Doctor Cobb's inspection indicates that about 72% of 

 the different lots of trees are infested with root gall worm. He reports that 

 in all probability the vast majority of the trees are infested with gall 

 worm, and that the soil attached to the roots contains large numbers of 

 various species of nematodes, among which are a number of very 

 injurious species. He concludes: 



"I have no hesitation in saying that in a country where a proper 

 inspection of disease material was legally in force with the object of pro- 

 tecting agriculture, the importation of these trees would not be permitted. 

 Root gall is a very serious disease which attacks scores of species of culti- 

 vated and wild plants. This disease already exists to some extent in the 

 District of Columbia and many regions to the southward, and occurs in 

 greenhouses in the northern part of the country. Very large sums of 

 money are annually lost through its ravages, and much money has been 

 spent in fighting it." 



Plant diseases. — The report of the Mycologist, Mrs. Patterson, is that 

 45 percent of the trees are infested with crown gall, and a number of trees 

 are attacked by another fungous disease, Pestalozzia sp. Crown gall is 

 already widely distributed in this country, and its importation in this case 

 may not be of any considerable economic importance. It is not possible to 

 determine whether the Pestalozzia is an indigenous species. 



The difficulty is largely due to the fact that very old stock has been sent, 

 the object being to give large, showy trees. Young stock would 

 undoubtedly be in a much more healthy condition, and the importation of 

 it would have been accompanied with much less risk. The recommen- 

 dation for the destruction of these trees is thoroughly merited. Their very 

 bad condition from the standpoint of disease and insect infestation, and 

 the very heavy root pruning to which they have been subjected, makes it 

 very doubtful on the statement of the Horticulturist in charge, that many 

 of them will live, even if planted. This may lessen the feeling of regret at 

 the necessity, which seems imperative, for the destruction of the entire 

 shipment. 



Respectfully, 



C. L. MARLATT, 



Acting Chief of Bureau 



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