tion rust, down,v mildew, powdery mildew 
and anthracnose of grape, the hyacinth dis- 
ease, the hollyhock rust, the loose smut of 
oats, the olive knot disease, practically all 
of our various potato diseases, the peach 
leaf curl and peach scab, the powdery mil- 
dew and rust of roses, ergot affecting rye 
and allied cereals, the orange rust of rasp- 
berry and blackberry, damping-off disease 
common to greenhouse and bedding plants, 
\iolet rust, loose smut and rust of wheat 
and other grains, and the soft rust of vege- 
tables. Also, those recently-introduced dis- 
eases, the white pine blister canker, the cit- 
rus canker and the poplar disease. 
In this list those of you familiar with 
plant diseases have noted a large numher 
of our serious plant pests ; those more fa- 
miliar with the insect pests will recognize, 
in the few which I have listed, some of the 
most serious creatures ever introduced into 
this country — the San Jose scale, the fluted 
scale of citrus, the oyster-shell scale, black 
scale, red scale of California, red scale of 
Florida, European fruit scale, European 
fruit lecanium, cottony maple scale and tlw 
tulip tree scale, as well as many other scale 
insects which are pests in greenhouses 
throughout the country; the coddling moth, 
Hessian fly, angumois grain moth, the hop 
plant louse, cabbage worm, several species 
of weevils affecting peas and beans, three 
species of domesticated cock roaches, bulb 
mites, narcissus bulk fly, the elm leaf beetle, 
gipsy moth, brown tail moth, leopard moth, 
cotton boll weevil, the alfalfa weevil and 
Argentine ant. In this list we find some of 
our most expensive and costly importa- 
tions : but by no means have we introduced 
all which may come to our shores — for 
there awaits introduction large numbers of 
species of insects and diseases, which are 
known to be pests in foreign countries, and 
might possibly be much more serious if in- 
troduced to America. 
The question which arises in our mirds 
is a preventive for this amazing and start- 
ling condition of affairs, and there seems 
to he but one method whereby we may 
eliminate further danger absolutely, and 
that is by a federal embargo on the further 
importation of plants and plant products 
from abroad. The imposition at once of 
such an embargo would for a time handi- 
cap the nurserymen, florists and seedmen 
of this country, but there is no reason to 
believe that a final adjustment of these 
lines can not be effected within a very short 
time, so that we will not be dependent on 
other countries for our horticultural prod- 
ucts. 
Statements have been made by our ntirs- 
erymen that it is impossible to grow in 
America plants of such superior quality, 
as are now produced abroad and shipped 
to this country. This is a debatable ques- 
tion, and will remain so until absolutely 
serious efforts have been made in Ameri- 
ca to produce these desired products. The 
placing of an embargo on the import of 
horticultural products would ultimately 
benefit the nurserymen, florists and horti- 
PARK AXD CEMETERY. 
culturists of this country, b\' eliminating 
those pests which are gradually being in- 
troduced into this country, and just as 
surely after due time and opportunity, are 
injuring all demand for certain kinds of 
nursery and florists' stock. As an instance, 
no one in the region now infected with 
chestnut blight will buy or plant chestnut 
nursery stock. If the citrus canker would 
escape control in Florida and ruin the cit- 
rus industry, the nurserymen growing cit- 
rus stock would have to seek other busi 
ness. If the white pine blister canker es- 
capes and destroys our white pine as rapid- 
ly as it is planted, there will be no de- 
mand for nursery stock of this type. Simi- 
lar examples might be cited in other lines 
if so desired. 
The possibility of a federal embargo be- 
ing placed on the importation ol nursery 
stock has aroused some of our nurserymen 
and florists considerably, and they have 
maintained that an “absolute embargo'' 
would almost ruin their business. Certain 
of the farseeing, and I may say better in- 
formed nurserymen, realize that something 
must be done to protect their interests from 
the ravages of pests, and after two or three 
informal talks with various groups of nurs- 
erymen, I am pleased to report that in 
most cases these men are willing to forego 
the importation of certain classes of what 
may be termed “finished nursery prod- 
ucts," feeling that they wish to continue 
the importation of seedling stock for pro- 
pagation in this country. In one informal 
conference with some nurserymen, in which 
this problem was discussed, there was evi- 
denced the feeling that nurserymen gen- 
erally would be fairly well satisfied if all 
“finished nursery stock," including all 
plants with halls of earth about their roots, 
were prohibited, and permission given to 
import (1) fruit tree seedlings: f2) 2- 
.\ear seedlings, cuttings, buds or grafts of 
ornamental shrubs; (3) deciduous shade, 
ornamental and forest trees not to exceed 
six feet; (4) coniferous evergreen stock 
not to exceed eighteen inches, except •")- 
leafed pines which are prohibited. If a prop- 
osition of this sort was maintained and 
an embargo arranged accordinglv, I fully 
believe that 75 per cent of the present 
amount of inspection would be eliminated, 
and, furthermore, this arrangement would 
eliminate the importation of some plant 
imnortations, most dangerous on account 
of the impossibility of inspecting them 
thoroughly. 
After giving this problem much thought 
and consideration I feel that I could recom- 
mend, without too much injury to the im- 
porting nurserymen, an embargo on all im- 
portations of plants with earth about the 
roots, to be enacted as soon as possible, 
and that a three-year period be allowed for 
the importation of the classes of nursery 
stock outlined above, after which all fur- 
ther importations should lie prohibited, ex- 
cept importatiens by the United States De- 
partment of .Agriculture of such nurserv 
stock as is deem.ed desirable by said de- 
partment — this to be grown and propa- 
i05 
gated under quarantine for a reasonable 
period before distribution. This proposi- 
tion doubtless, even though quite lenient, 
will be opposed strongly by many import- 
ers, but the question to be considered is 
whether we shall continue to permit the 
importation of a few thousand dollars 
worth of plants, any shipment of which may 
bring in a dangerous pest, which ultimately 
m3> cost the country millions every year. 
Is it not appalling, in consideration of the 
long list of imported pests now established 
in this country, when we learn that $14,- 
293,50(1,000 has been spent in New England 
by Massachusetts and other infested states, 
with the Federal Government assisting, to 
prevent the spread of the gipsy moth? 
These figures do not take into account the 
immense damage to forests, woodlands, 
private and public premises, nor the 
amounts of money spent privately for con- 
trol of this pest. It would be absurd to at - 
tempt an approximate estimate of the total 
cost and losses entailed in this country by 
the introduction of the San Jose scale 
about 1870. The futility of attempts on a 
large scale to control an insect pest or a 
disease, which has once' gained a firm foot- 
hold in this country, is apparent, for in no 
case have any such attempts succeeded in 
this country, nor will they ever succeed 
under the present system of government, 
unless very broad, comprehensive power is 
given to some official board. Our experi- 
ences of the past show that the actions 
taken for control are usually several years 
behind the advance of the pest. 
The establishment of an embargo on 
“finished plant products'' would place in 
the hands of our legitimate nurserymen 
and growers the very business in which 
they are concerned, and would eliminate 
the present baneful system whereby nursery 
stock of doubtful origin, variety and quali- 
ty is sold by brokers, dealers and commis- 
sion houses everywhere. Much of this stock 
is shipped to this country to he sold on 
consignment or at auction, and it is often- 
times of such poor quality that it should 
have Iieen placed on the brush pile in for- 
eign countries. The nurserymen of this 
country have done little to protect them- 
selves against this practice, but as a mat- 
ter of fact the step has been taken for 
them 1)y an agreement recently signed by all 
but five of the growers and exporters in 
Holland, binding them to prevent further 
shipment of nursery stock for sale at auc- 
tion in this country. According to latest 
reports only five Holland exporters re- 
fused to sign this agreement. 
Adam Smith in his valuable treatise, 
“The Wealth of Nations," says, “By re- 
straining, either by high duties, or by ab- 
solute prohibitions, the importation of such 
goods from foreign countries as can be 
produced at home, the monopoly of the 
home market is more or less secured to the 
domestic industry employed in producing 
them.” 
Destruction of the nursery and florists 
business would not follow the adoption of 
