REPORTS OF THE PRELIMINARY AND ANNUAL MEETINGS OF 
THE. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HORTICULTURAL INSPECT- 
ORS, 1897-1905. 
PRELIMINARY MEETINGS IN CHICAGO. 
In a circular letter prepared at the office of the Illinois State entomologist, 
dated January 7, 1897, announcement was made of the discovery of the San 
Jose scale at fifteen different points in Illinois, and the opinion was expressed 
that it was likely that other States would be found similarly infested if a system 
of search and inspection similar to that of Illinois were instituted. It was 
further said that— 
“The situation is so grave in Illinois that our State Horticultural Society has 
taken the subject up with great energy, and has prepared a bill for introduction 
to the State legislature, which has just begun its session, proposing measures 
of prevention and defense not only against the San Juse scale, but against in- 
sect and fungous pests in general destructive to horticultural products. * * * 
There is a strong probability that this bill, or some substitute for it, will be 
passed by our legislature, probably with an emergency clause. Would it not 
be practicable and desirable for those of us who are officially interested and most 
responsible in the premises to meet at an early day for conference and for a 
comparison of ideas and plans with reference to this matter? I am sure that 
we should, in this State, be very glad indeed to have the benefit of the judgment 
of those similarly situated. 
““T am sending this letter to Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
Iowa, and Missouri. Would you be willing to meet representatives from any 
two or more of these States, either at Champaign or Chicago, as might be most 
convenient for those proposing to confer? An early reply will be appreciated. 
‘“* Sincerely, yours, 
“S. A. FORBES.” 
This letter was addressed to Prof. E. S. Goff, Madison, Wis.; Prof. Otto 
Lugger, St. Anthony Park, Minn.; Prof. Herbert Osborn, Ames, Iowa; Prof. 
J. M. Stedman, Columbia, Mo.; Prof. L. R. Taft, Agricultural College, Mich. ; 
Prof. James Troop, Lafayette, Ind., and Prof. F. M. Webster, Wooster, Ohio. 
Sequent to this correspondence a meeting was called for Chicago, January 29. 
1897. 
At this conference, according to a circular report issued from the Illinois 
State entomologist’s office, February 15, 1897, the following eight North-Central 
States were represented, either by their official entomologists or by their ex- 
periment station horticulturists, namely, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, 
Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Measures were discussed to be taken by 
the separate States “for the inspection of orchards, nursery stock, and the 
like, and especially for the detection and destruction of the San Jose scale 
wherever there is reason to suppose that it may have been introduced. It was 
the common judgment of this conference that both State and national legislation 
looking to these ends has become imperative.” 
201 
