8 
NURSERY INSPECTION 
Any nurseryman, observing anything at all suspicious upon his 
pines, should at once report the fact to the Inspection Service. It 
would lie \vell to advise this office of any plantings of European 
pines in one’s nursery occurring at any time within the jiast eiglit 
or ten years. 
The Entomologist pulilislics, at intervals during the year, a 
“Ne\vs Eetter,” mailing to all nurserymen, dealers, and florists on 
our lists. This pulilication contains items of common interest to 
nurserymen, florists, and the Xursery Inspection force. 
It is to be regretted that the inspection law" is not so w"orded 
as to authorize this department to act wdien diseased tubers (pota- 
toes, for example) or infested or diseased fruit is shipped into 
Minnesota. Ehider present conditions, w^e are powerless in this 
connection and Minnesota miglit easily become a dumping ground 
for such material.* 
The Minnesota Inspection Service feels hardly justified in 
taking a parental attitude tow^ard our nurserymen similar to what 
is found to jirevail occasionally in some states. In other w^ords, 
the State Entomologist does not feel authorized either to criticize 
business methods on the jiart of his nurserymen constituents, or to 
]iass upon liusiness relations existing betw"een nurserymen and 
their patrons. A most cordial and friendly feeling exists between 
the inspector and inspected in ^Minnesota, and in the light of this 
friendshi]), wt may repeat to a nurseryman privately a criticism 
upon stock sold, made to us, if such action upon our part is likely 
to prevent a repetition wdiich may injure the nurseryman himself. 
A'e have also, upon rare occasions, upheld jiatrons in their claim 
that satisfactoi'}^ stock had not been furnished. On the other hand, 
w"e do not feel that it lies wdtliin the powder of the Entomologist 
to interfere with or restrain trade by commenting to any jiurchaser 
of nursery stock, U])on prices paid or claims made as to value of 
stock furnished. Adiatever personal view's the inspector may have, 
he carefully refrains from voicing, lielieving that to lie the most 
desirable and really the only position to take in his official capacity. 
A diseased or insect-infested tree or shrub furnished a patron 
w^OLild of course liring upon the nurseryman selling the same the 
jirivate criticism of the inspector and an admonition. 
Xursery ins|)ection in this state at present is in an educational 
stage. It serves as a check upon the introduction and spread of 
injurious insects and plant diseases, lint it does more than that in 
*Since the al)ove was dictated, the Entomologist has been authorized by the Eederal 
Hoard to take charge of a case of shipment of diseased potatoes coming from Canada into 
Minnesota contrary to the U. S. law. 
