328 



The Garden Magazine, July, 1922 



V. macrocafpum; Chiogenes hispida; Trientalis americana; Comptonia 

 asplenifolia; the various Blueberries, particularly Vaccinium (Cyanococ- 

 cus) canadense; Limoea borealis, Oxalis violacea, Campanula rotundi- 

 folia, and Dalibarda repens. 



Gray's Botany states that Rubus Chamaemorus is found on the 

 mountains of New England above ttfe timber- line, and also on the sea- 

 shore at Lubeck, Maine. There has*never been a time in my botaniz- 

 ing when I found Cornus canadensis that I did not also find Trientalis 

 americana, Potentilla tridentata, and Gaultheria procumbens near by, 

 whether at mountains or seashore. — T. D. Hatfield, JVellesley, Mass. 



Do Dahlias Need Acclimating? 



To the Editors of The Garden Magazine: 



IT SEEMS to be a rule in this section of the country that Dahlias do 

 not bloom freely and perfectly except when we have a cool season 

 with plenty of moisture. Last year Dahlia tubers purchased from 

 dealers on the West Coast, also from those in the East, did not bloom. 

 The year before I bought Dahlia plants from Illinois, and they 

 bloomed. Is it possible that Dahlias need to become acclimated 

 to a certainsection? — E. R. Keast, Davenport, Iowa. 

 — We do not think so; your previous failures were perhaps due to a 

 check in growth. — Ed. ;_ 



How to Get Rid of Ants? 



To the Editors o/The Garden Magazine: 



OFTEN I have seen stated that castor oil beans planted in the bord- 

 ers will keep moles out because of their intense dislike for the odor 

 of the plants. Now when Charles Eberman states in the May number 



that beans dropped in runs will similarly eliminate moles, is it because 

 the beans become moist and odorous, or is it (as he suggests) that, 

 being fond of the beans, they eat them and are thereby poisoned? 



Moles do not bother me, but my grounds are overrun with ants. I 

 distributed honey and syrup mixed with arsenical preparations on a 

 number of occasions last summer and it seemed that the whole ant 

 population invited themselves to the banquets, and yet there were 

 about as many left afterward. Who has had experience in getting rid 

 of them? This year I am going to try tobacco stalks and dust, liberally, 

 and have some hope also of results from the use of flaked napthalene. 

 I have already tested it and find it not at all detrimental to grass or 

 other vegetation; and if so disagreeable to moths in the form of the fa- 

 miliar moth-balls it may convey to the ants a hint that they would find a 

 warmer welcome otherwhere. Has any one ever tried it? — Albert 

 Benjamin Cone, Chicago, III. 



The Magic in Fallen Leaves 



To the Editors of The Garden Magazine: 



DURING the "flu" epidemic the city in which I was then living issued 

 an ordinance prohibiting the burning of leaves because the smoke 

 from them aggravated the sufferers. As each individual householder 

 was responsible for his lot and parking, and as we had several big trees, 

 our problem was no mean one. As they were raked up we had the 

 leaves spread very thickly over the garden at the rear of the lot and 

 after a rain or two spaded them under. In the spring the ground was 

 again spaded, the soil now being wonderfully rich so that during the 

 season we enjoy large juicy peas, beans, onions, lettuce, cabbage 

 and tomatoes.. — Edith Hunt, Oak Park, III. 



QUESTIONING THE QUARANTINE 



Summary of Proceedings at the Conference on Quarantine 37 held in Washington, May 15, 1922 



THE Committee on Horticultural Quarantine was represented by the 

 Chairman, the Secretary, Mrs. F. B. Crowninshield as proxy for 

 Mrs. Turnure and as representative of The Garden Club of America, 

 Mr. A. C. Burrage, and Mr. Elisha Hanson, r who for some weeks 

 previous had been cooperating with the Committee as Washington 

 representative. There were also present in behalf of related inter- 

 ests Mr. Leonard Barron, Editor of The Garden Magazine, Mr. 

 Richardson Wright, Editor of House and Garden, Professor E. A. White 

 of the New York State College of Agriculture, and representatives of 

 The Society of American Florists. 



There is much cause for gratification in the fact that Secretary Wal- 

 lace presided in person throughout almost the entire conference, and 

 that the conference was thrown wide open for the discussion of any 

 phase of the quarantine situation. This made it possible to directly 

 inform the Secretary regarding the attitude and objectives of those 

 who criticize Quarantine 37 — something that we feel had not been ac- 

 complished theretofore. 



As a result of Mr. McFarland's presentation of the formal brief 

 (which was essentially that left with Secretary Wallace on January 

 20th, but to which no reply had been received), of two short but vig- 

 orous statements by Mr. Burrage, one of which dealt specifically with 

 the importation of hybrid Orchids, and of Mrs. Crowninshield's plea 

 for greater latitude with respect to the importation of small bulbs, 

 it appears that any existing misconceptions have been cleared up, and 

 that the way has been paved for logical and legitimate modification of 

 present obnoxious and unnecessarily severe restrictions, provided Dr. 

 Marlatt's distorted point of view does not dominate the Secretary. 



Of large significance is the fact that the Committee had secured, on 

 the very eve of the conference, from a lawyer who has specialized in 

 the analysis of departmental law and practice, a formal brief or report 

 on the legal status of Quarantine 37 in its relation to the Act of August 

 20, 1912, under which it was imposed. 



This brief declares unequivocally that Quarantine 37 is illegal in that 

 it exceeds the authority conveyed by the Act. The report made by 

 the Congressional Committee when the Act was passed is quoted in 

 obvious support of this contention. 



When at the opening of the conference the legal question thus 

 raised was introduced by Mr. McFarland, Secretary Wallace, agreeing 

 that it was not a matter for discussion at a general meeting, also agreed 



that it ought to be definitely settled, and that opportunity would be 

 given to have it reviewed at a conference at which both sides could be 

 present with counsel. Such a conference was held on May 31 and the 

 Solicitor of the Department now has the matter under consideration. 

 Obviously if the quarantine is found to be illegal, there is no object 

 in working for modifications of its regulations until it and they are 

 brought into thorough accord with the law. 



OrrJthe other hand, pending the settlement of the legal question, the 

 Secretary has authorized, and the Federal Horticultural Board has 

 agreed to hold, conferences with groups interested in specific modi- 

 fications. There appears reason to believe that the reasonableness 

 of the demands for at least some of the recommendations made can 

 be proved to the satisfaction of the Federal Horticultural Board. The 

 Board having left for California immediately after the conference, 

 further discussion of modifications were delayed for a few weeks. 



This Committee will advise any one interested of all important 

 developments as they occur, or of any need of further active cooper- 

 ation that may arise. On the whole, it feels that from the amateur 

 standpoint the Washington conference was a distinct success in that it: 



(1) Gave all the facts full publicity and brought them to the per- 

 sonal attention of the Secretary of Agriculture. 



(2) Elicited acknowledgment by the Federal Horticultural Board 

 that certain of its rulings have been arbitrary and might suitably 

 be subjected to examination. 



(3) Raised the fundamental question of the legality of Quarantine 

 37, thus bringing about a definite study of the situation. 



(4) Assured the discussion of such matters as the admission of 

 more kinds of bulbs and other plants, the more general issuance of 

 permits to amateurs, and other specific recommendations made on 

 May 15. 



(5) Gave opportunity for official delegates from England, Belgium, 

 and Holland to present arguments in behalf of a broader policy 

 as regards international horticultural I trade and reciprocity in 

 international control of plant pests and diseases. The calm and clear 

 statement of Mr. W. G. Lobjoit, head of the government service which 

 protects England adequately against the introduction of plant dis- 

 eases and insect pests without any of the discriminations, annoyances, 

 and hardships of the American practice, was most impressive. 



E. L. D. Seymour, Secretary. 



