THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
49 
nurserymen here as to what measures should be taken as to a 
state and national law relative to insect pests, more especially 
San Jose scale, as that is the only one that we feel that it is 
necessary to legislate against. Accordingly the members of 
four firms, the most extensive and reliable in Rochester, were 
invited to meet and consult with me on the subject. We had 
two meetings and an outline of state legislation unanimously 
agreed upon, provided similar national legislation could be 
had ; and I went to the convention instructed by them to form 
such a law. 
At the convention I had the honor of being placed on the 
committee on legislation. We found a law already drafted for 
national legislation. This the committee discussed as thor¬ 
oughly as possible during the time allowed us, amending it in 
some very important particulars and it was unanimously ap¬ 
proved by the convention. Power was given the committee to 
amend it, before passage, if thought best. 
This law is no doubt not yet perfect. Few laws are, at first 
at least ; but it is a long step in the right direction, and if the 
nurserymen or others wish it changed, they no doubt will call 
a meeting, and make such suggestion to the committee on 
legislation as they think best. I can assure them that their 
amendments will receive proper consideration. It is not prob¬ 
able that any law can pass the present session of congress, so 
there is lime enough to have the proposed law thoroughly dis¬ 
cussed. 
I note what you say in relation to the inspection of fruit 
This section was opposed by others on the committee, as well 
as myself, but allowed to remain, as a favor to the California 
delegates, who want to use it against the Mexican orange 
worm. You will see that the Secretary of Agricuhure is left 
to do as he pleases about the inspection of fruit ; but it is made 
his duty to have nursery stock inspected and properly treated. 
This may appear unfair to some ; but it is impossible to pro¬ 
perly inspect and treat fruit ; and it has never been shown 
that a case of infection has taken place from the San Jose scale 
on fruit, sold all over our country for years. In talking over 
the subject at the meeting of nurserymen in Rochester, all 
agreed that something must be done to prevent the introduc¬ 
tion of the San Jose scale into the nurseries and orchards of 
Western New York. We are now free from it, but cannot re¬ 
main so long without proper protection. 
Inspection of the^nurseries was approved of, but thought not 
to be sufficient. It was agreed at the meeting that fumigation 
of all nursery stock with hydrocyanic acid gas should be done 
before dissemination of the stock, so as to be perfectly sure to 
furnish planters’ stock free from injurious insect life. This 
would be a little trouble and expense ; but it appears to be 
necessary, owing to the danger of the San Jose scale, and quite 
as much for the benefit of the nurserymen as for the customers, 
as an infected nursery means a ruined nurseryman, while his 
customers may dig up a few trees and not feel the loss perhaps. 
The proposed state Lw, which was approved of by the meeting 
of nurserymen, required inspection and treatment of all nur¬ 
sery stock with gas. 
From what I have written, you will readily see that on the 
committee on legislation I represented very fully the nursery 
interests of Rochester as well as the fruit growers of Western 
New York. There was also Mr. Hobbs (of Albertson & Hobbs) 
on the same committee. J. H. Hale, nurseryman, is on the 
executive committee. W. C. Barry represented the Eastern 
Nurserymen’s Association, and other nurserymen were present; 
so I think you should admit that the nurserymen were well 
represented and treated at the convention. 'Fhe list of those 
present show the character of the men, and I saw nothing 
there of a wish to injure the nursery trade, but an earnest wish 
to protect the country from the invasion of dangerously injuri¬ 
ous insects. 
Rochester, N. Y. C. M. Hooker. 
FROM J. VAN. LINDLEY. 
Editor National Nurseryman : 
I noticed several articles in the last number of your paper 
very severely criticising the San Jose scale bill now before 
congress. The committee met at the Ebbitt House at Wash¬ 
ington, D. C., on March 5th. Messrs. Hooker, Hobbs and 
myself are nurserymen as well as fruit growers and every clause 
in the proposed bill was well considered. 
The word “fruit” was left out, and as well as I can remem¬ 
ber, it was by the request of C. M. Hooker. There was no 
record before us where the scale had been disseminated from 
fruit; consequently, the committee all agreed with Mr. Hooker, 
and we had plenty of evidence that the scale had been sent 
out by nurserymen in several states. And some of them have 
been sending it out for two or three years, but it has only been 
found out during the past season and it has caused great loss 
to fruit growers. In some cases in this state the entire orchard 
has been destroyed, and I learn the same has occurred in other 
states. 
I can see no other way to stop the pest from being scattered 
by nurserymen who have it than to get such a bill through as 
we propose. We nurserymen who are clear oj it will have to 
submit and be put to some trouble in order to reach the un¬ 
fortunate who have it. And, according to the eighth section, 
if we are found clear of the pest, we have no further trouble 
than to attach a certificate to each package we send out. That 
would be very little trouble and those nurseries who are in¬ 
fested with it will have to submit to the destruction or fumi¬ 
gation of their stock and nothing but severe and strict laws 
can accomplish it As I view it, it is a protection to all nurs¬ 
erymen who are clear of it at present, and I think they can 
easily afford to be put to some trouble where the benefit is so 
great by the protection the said bill gives them. 
Now if those nurserymen who oppose the bill will carefully 
investigate and analyze it all through, then visit the infested 
districts and learn how dangerous it is, I believe they will 
endorse the view the committee took of it. No bill was ever 
more carefully considered. 
Pomona, N. C. J. Van. Lindley. 
PROFESSOR ALWOOD’S RETORT. 
William B. Alwood, chairman of the committee on legisla¬ 
tion which drafted a federal bill for inspection of nursery 
stock, at the Washington convention, has written us a long 
communication in which for page after page he appears to 
labor under the impression that the National Nurseryman 
is opposed to all federal legislation on this subject. 
The editorial in the April issue which he criticises on this 
point contained the following : “ That great damage might be 
wrought by the extensive spread of the San Jose scale is 
admitted, but if we are to have a law in the matter, by all 
means let it be just. * * * And we hope that upon reflec- 
