country owes to its alien plant material. Witness the apple and peach 
crop of this country — apples and peaches are aliens. 
As a matter of fact there is not an iota of proof of a single prevent- 
able disease being brought into this country which proper inspection 
could not have kept out. The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard Uni- 
versity was established in 1872 as a botanical garden in which to grow 
every woody plant which could withstand the cUmate of Massa- 
chusetts. To date this institution has introduced more kinds of hardy 
woody plants than all other institutions in this country combined. 
The plants have come from all parts of the world and no plant pest, 
not one, has ever been brought in by this institution. The Arnold 
Arboretum is the great pioneer in the matter of garnering and testing 
the quahties of plant material for the country, and its influence is 
international. The effect of Quarantine No. 37 is to so curtail the 
activities of this institution that in a few years it must cease to function, 
for if it be prevented, as now is the case, from drawing supphes of new 
and rare plants from distant lands it cannot even maintain, much less 
increase, its collections. 
To further and develop the garden art in this country it is necessary 
that the country have free access to the world's supply of plant ma- 
terial. This should be allowed to enter at recognized ports, say 
Boston, Ne?w York, Philadelphia, Galveston, San Francisco and Seattle, 
and at others if it be found necessary. At each port a proper inspection 
staff should be maintained and a Quarantine station also. Some sort 
of control of quantities may be necessary but none in variety. Plant 
material of all kinds should be admitted, subject to proper inspection. 
The present Federal Horticultural Board is composed of Plant Pathol- 
ogists and Entomologists and has neither knowledge of nor interest 
in the development of Garden Art and all that it means to America. 
In fact, by its action it has shown itself antagonistic. No good purpose 
can be served in petitioning this Board; what is needed is that the 
Horticultural Societies of the country unite on a common poUcy and 
on the advent of a new Administration at Washington present their 
plea. 
Thanks very largely to the efforts of ladies individually and through 
their Garden Clubs, the interest in gardens and Garden Art in this 
country has progressed by leaps the last few years. It is unthinkable 
that their efforts, and that of institutions like the Arnold Arboretum 
should end in futility. The art of gardening has ever been considered 
among the civilizing influences of all ages. It inculates tidiness, thrift, 
and love of home. Nay, it makes homes, which is one of the great needs 
of this and every other country. It is the duty of the statesmen of every 
country to further by all means in their power evtry civilizing in- 
4 
