100_THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN_^ 
THE PROPOSED QUARANTINE ON EUROPEAN PINES. 
Recently the Federal Horticultural Board, Washington, 
D. C., issued a notice to the effect that in view of the 
spread of the European pine shoot moth, an absolute 
quarantine prohibiting the further importation into the 
United States of foreign pines was under consideration, 
and that the Board would hold a hearing February 2nd. 
At the suggestion of Mr. Pitkin, Chairman of the Leg¬ 
islative Committee, Mr. Fred W. Kelsey, New York, ap¬ 
peared at the hearing, representing the American Asso¬ 
ciation of Nurserymen, and was the only representative 
of the nurserymen present, though several letters were 
read from members in the trade protesting the proposed 
action of the board in establishing such a quarantine. 
The session was a long one, lasting nearly four hours, 
and the friendly “tilts” between Dr. Hopkins, the En¬ 
tomologist of the Board, and Mr. Kelsey were quite fre¬ 
quent, but the position of the nurserymen was ably pres¬ 
ented and judging by the results, were quite convincing. 
The points Mr. Kelsey brought out were: 
First: That it would cause great hardship and per¬ 
haps unnecessarily so to impose a quarantine at this time 
when contracts had already been entered into and per¬ 
haps some of the stock already on the way to this coun¬ 
try, and he asked what could be done under such circum¬ 
stances and suggested that the members of the Board put 
themselves in the place of those in the industry or in the 
forestry business who were relying upon these importa¬ 
tions for their own growing or planting this season. And 
that on account of war conditions the nursery industry 
was now over burdened with enough troublesome dif¬ 
ficulties without unnecessarily adding to the burden by 
arbitrary action of the Board in imposing further quar¬ 
antine. 
The second point brought out was that the nurserymen 
and nursery interests were earnestly co operating with 
the State authorities all over the country in an earnest 
effort to exterminate and eradicate any insect pests that 
might be detrimental alike to the trade and to the country, 
and 
Third: That it would he unjust and unreasonable to 
impose a quarantine on such short notice without oppor¬ 
tunity of being heard, as scarcely any one not appreciat¬ 
ing the importance of the proposed action could conven¬ 
iently at such short notice come to Washington or file pa¬ 
pers indicating the other side of the case. 
After going over all these points and the correspon¬ 
dence of objection by a number of nurserymen who had 
sent protests or objections to the Board, and which being 
read thus became a part of the record, it was manifest 
that the result of the so-called injury, past, present or 
prospective was not sufficient to warrant an arbitrary ac¬ 
tion in establishing quarantine at this time. Even Dr. 
Hopkins finally recognized and admitted this fact and the 
Board after full and fair consideration thus unanimously 
decided. Moreover, Chairman Marlatt announced that 
there would be no action taken without a further and 
full opportunity for the nursery interests to be heard and 
even mentioned that perhaps the action taken would de¬ 
fer further action at least until the summer or possibly 
until the spring of 1916. 
Mr. Kelsey reported his keen appreciation of the fair 
spirit indicated at this hearing and derived the impres¬ 
sion that the members of the Board, both personally and 
officially, wished to be fair and courteous in every way to 
the nursery interests. 
It seemed to him, however, there was an inclination to 
give too great heed to the enthusiasm of the entomolo¬ 
gists who are inclined, as many believe, to see in “bug- 
ology” the possibility of great injury from insects and in¬ 
jurious diseases before there is any tangible evidence that 
as a practical proposition serious injury will follow. It 
was shown at the hearing from dilligent search through 
a number of the States, including the nurseries, that only 
ten instances of the existence of the Pine Moth were dis¬ 
covered and there was nothing to indicate that by care of 
the State Authorities and the trade why this insect could 
not be sufficiently controlled. Nor indeed was it shown 
that the Pine Moth itself was necessarily a cause of great 
injury as a number of species of this so-called Pine Moth 
have, as I understood at the hearing, been discovered and 
are co-existent on Pine trees in many places and for 
many years. - 
Since the above hearing the following letter has been 
received from the Federal Horticultural Board. 
February 5, 1915. 
The enclosed notice of public hearing on the European 
pine shoot moth (Evetria buoliana) was duly transmitted 
to you. The hearing of February second fully developed 
the need of prohibiting further importations of pines from 
European countries. In view of existing contracts, it has 
been decided that if this quarantine is issued, it shall be 
made effective July 1, 1915, so as to not interfere with the 
business arrangements already completed and permits 
already issued. An effort will be made to safeguard in¬ 
troductions between now and July first under existing 
permits, by careful inspection of material entered in co¬ 
operation with the State inspectors. Inasmuch as the 
hearing in question was very scantily attended, it might 
he desirable, in the interest of publicity, and to get the 
point of view of all importers and users of imported pines, 
to publish a statement concerning this proposed quar¬ 
antine action in your Journal for the advice of all persons 
interested. The Office of the Federal Horticultural Board 
will be very glad to receive any information bearing on 
this proposed quarantine. 
Yours very truly, 
G. L. Marlatt, Chairman of Board. 
Editor, National Nurseryman, 
Bochester, New York. 
William Pitkin, Chairman of the Legislative Commit¬ 
tee urges, that all nurserymen having opinions on the sub¬ 
ject to promptly communicate with him so that the com¬ 
mittee will be able to get a concensus of opinion as to the 
advisability of permitting without protest such quaran¬ 
tine to be made effective July 1st, 1915. 
I. E. Ilgenfritz’ Sons Co., The Monroe Nursery, Mon¬ 
roe, Michigan, sent out a very beautiful calendar of the 
Jonathan apple tree done in colors and pointing to the 
fact that the Ilgenfritz nursery stock is productive. 
