50 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
tion it will be deemed advisable to consult the nurserymen as 
to the provisions of an amended bill.” 
Does that read like opposition to any kind of federal legis¬ 
lation ? 
Professor Alwood has asked us to publish his entire com¬ 
munication. We regret we have not space to do so and allow 
opinions to be formed from it without comment. Following 
are the portions covering the writer’s argument, a comparison 
of which with our April issue will indicate the facts : 
Editor National Nurseryman : 
The leading editorial in your April issue is headed “ A 
blow at the nursery trade,” and in the first paragraph you seek 
to convey the idea that unknown to the nurserymen at large, 
this convention met and took action inimical to the nursery 
interests. It occurs to me that if the editor will carefully 
reread his files from December last to date, he will discover 
that he himself has given most prominent place to this move¬ 
ment in all its phases leading up to the assembling of the con¬ 
vention at Washington. 
You say but two nurserymen were there as such, “ and one 
of these was sent uninvited to see what was to be done.” 
Evidently from what Mr. Rouse says on page 38, April num¬ 
ber, this latter was W. C. Barry. Perhaps even Mr. Barry was 
not “present as such,” at least only half of him, for on the 
official list of members he registered himself as president 
Western New York Horticultural Society, and president 
Eastern Nurserymen’s Association. Mr. Barry was mighty 
well treated for an uninvited guest as he was made chairman 
of the committee on resolutions and did as much talking be¬ 
fore the convention as any one present; excepting the reading 
of reports and papers, more than all the entomologists put 
together. Perhaps Mr. Bissell was also an uninvited guest, 
but he was made chairman of the committee which retired and 
after due consideration selected and reported the legislative 
committee 
Surely in working ability the nurserymen present outclassed 
any other, and I may almost say, all other interests repre¬ 
sented. Certainly my friend Bissell will bear me out in saying 
they did their share of talking. The names of Barry, Hale, 
Van Bindley, Hooker, Hobbs and Bissell bear out what I say, 
and these gentlemen repeatedly stated in committee work and 
in the convention that they were acting from the nurseryman’s 
standpoint. 
Further, the personnel of the committees will show that the 
utmost deference was shown the nurserymen. The committee 
of five selected to nominate a legislative committee had Mr. 
Bissell as chairman and one other nurseryman among its num¬ 
bers. The legislative committee of ten as reported by this 
committee and elected by the convention, was composed of 
three nurserymen, viz : C. M.- Hooker, J. Van Bindley and C. 
M. Hobbs ; of two entomologists, three agriculturists, and two 
horticulturists. Certainly a fair proportion of nurserymen and 
not an undue proportion of any other interest. The intima¬ 
tion by you that California interests had undue weight in this 
committee is not borne out by these facts. There was but one 
man on the legislative committee from beyond the Mississippi 
river, and not a single Californian in any manner tried to influ¬ 
ence our action outside of the open discussion participated in 
by all. 
Now as to some of the provisions of the bill with which you 
take issue : In the first place, to be plain and brief, there has 
never occurred a single case of infection of San Jose scale 
which could be traced to fruit as the agency by which the scale 
was carried. True, entomologists' lay some stress upon the 
fact that California pears often carry this scale and are sold in 
our eastern markets with live scale upon them. This fact 
causes uneasiness, yet three seasons of vigorous work in the 
East have failed to reveal a single case where this fruit has 
been the cause of infection. Rest assured if the entomologist 
can show conclusively a single case of scale traceable to this 
commerce in fruit the fact will be promptly published broad¬ 
cast. Until then would it not be better to legislate against 
well known evils rather than to presume a case a priori ? 
While the real reason for this convention was undoubtedly 
the alarm caused by the spread of the San Jose scale, yet it 
took, and was deliberately intended to take, a wider scope. 
AMERICAN POMOBOGICAB SOCIETY. 
In response to an invitation of the Ohio State Horticultural 
Society, the twenty-fifth biennial session of the American Pom- 
ological Society will be held in the City of Columbus, Ohio, 
on September i, 2 and 3, 1897. 
Every effort will be made to obtain the most favorable rate 
over all roads and connecting lines leading to Columbus for 
all attendants, and most hospitable entertainments have been 
promised by the Ohio pomologists. 
The proceedings of the session will be of great practical 
value to the pomological interests of the nation, and members 
have been especially requested to secure as large an attend¬ 
ance from each state as possible. 
P. J. Berckmans, Augusta, Ga., is president ; G. C. Brack¬ 
ett, Bawrence, Kan., secretary; first vice-president, C. B. 
Watrous, Des Moines, la ; treasurer, Charles E. Richardson, 
Boston, Mass. 
TREATMENT FOR SAN JOSE SCABE. 
The report of the entomological department of the New 
Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, for i8g6, prepared by 
Professor John B. Smith, is devoted mainly to the appearance 
and spread of the San Jose scale and is particularly valuable 
by reason of Professor Smith’s extensive experience with the 
scale in nursery and orchard from the time of its first appear¬ 
ance on the Atlantic coast. The scale has now been found in 
twenty states. 
After discussing the subject very fully Professor Smith 
makes the following recommendations for treatment of the 
scale in his state : 
1. Destroy infested stock whenever practicable. 
2. Spray thoroughly as soon after the trees become dor¬ 
mant as possible, with fish-oil soap, one pound in one gallon 
of water. 
3. Spray again in early spring, before the buds begin to 
swell, with fish-oil soap, two pounds in one gallon of water, 
and do it thoroughly. 
4. Cut back or prune the treated trees a few days after 
spraying, so as to leave no more wood than absolutely neces¬ 
sary for the use of the tree and crop. 
5. On scaly trees use whitewash liberally throughout the 
summer, keeping the trunks and branches covered with lime 
as thoroughly as possible. 
