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Other like instances illustrating the probable fact that this scale is 

 much more widely disseminated over the Eastern States than we have 

 any knowledge of might'be given, but these two will suffice to illustrate 

 the point that we first need systematic inspection before we shall be 

 able to form any comprehensive idea of the task we have before us in 

 suppressing this pernicious insect. 



We have the barest general idea as to the nurseries which are infested 

 outside of the State of New Jersey and Long Island, New York, where 

 doubtless Professor Smith and Mr. Sirrine have done the best work in 

 the way of inspection of nurseries that has been done in the East. 



My experience in Virginia leads me to believe that there are a large 

 number of small nurseries, especially those which have dealt largely in 

 rehandlmg New Jersey and Maryland grown stock, scattered all over 

 the Atlantic States which are more or less infested and are acting as 

 distributing centers for this insect. 



Only six of the Eastern States are reported to me as having infested 

 nurseries, and in none of these does it appear that any thorough system 

 has been adopted, or at least executed, for the proper control of nursery 

 stock to prevent the dissemination of this scale. 



Only four of the fourteen Eastern and Middle States now reported 

 as infested have any legislation which at all relates to the control of 

 this pest, and in these States, so far as I am aware, but little has been 

 done to make the law effective. Back of this lies the real and strong 

 question as to whether these laws can, under the present aspect of the 

 question, be made effective. 



To speak definitely of my own State, I may say that we have a law 

 which gives us ample power to inspect all premises, whether nurseries 

 or fruit plantations, and to take drastic measures to secure the destruc- 

 tion of infested stock, or its treatment where such is deemed advisable ; 

 but the general public knows that no similar measures are being exe- 

 cuted with any thoroughness throughout the Eastern States, and are 

 very much inclined to oppose the execution of any law and to cover up 

 the fact of the existence of the scale. 



Prior to the passage of our law I had for three years done all I could 

 to ascertain infested localities and gain information concerning the 

 insect, but practically little came of my efforts. Only one point of 

 serious infection, that at City Point, was discovered by me during this 

 time, and this came about through no direct effort of mine. In fact, it 

 was simply an incident in the ordiuary course of my correspondence 

 which led me to detect it. 



Shortly after the Virginia law was passed empowering us to deal 

 with this question I issued a pamphlet of general information and 

 began a much more thorough investigation of this subject. Prior to 

 this time we felt quite convinced that there were only two districts in 

 the State seriously infested, but in a very few weeks after we began 

 serious work the scale was located in three new districts and the 

 extent of the premises infested in each was found to be far beyond our 



