86 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
with further organization, hut I am in sympathy with the 
tliought tliat we sliould all labor together to the end that 
membership in the American Association ol Nurserymen 
may represent all that is true and best in a noble and up¬ 
right profession. 
THE PUOPOSED QUARANTINE ON NURSERY STOCK 
By C. J. W. Oltolander. 
Referring to the resolutions adopted at the recent meet¬ 
ing of State Foresters and Inspectors in Washington, 1). 
C., and the view held by various Federal Government 
Olliciils, I think the stand taken by these gentlemen in 
this matter is altogether too drastic. 
If a disease breaks out among people, we try to stamp 
it out by means of preventing its spread, not by prohibit¬ 
ing immigration. If disease is prevalent in a certain part 
of the country, this particular section is quarantined until 
the disease has been controlled. 
This is the way we have been treating the plant 
disease question and with good results, w hy should we 
depart from this now wdiere our Government has the 
])ower to restrict and forbid the importation of any 
plant known to be infected? 
The absolute quarantine will work a terrible hardship 
on the growers from other countries and be disastrous 
to business enterprise in this country. If it 
could be conclusively shown that it would prevent the 
spread of pests and diseases it would have to be done, 
but no one can prove this to be an absolute certainty, 
because there are so many other carrying agencies 
besides plants and w^e w ould have to build a Chinese wall 
around the country with mosquito netting over the top of 
it. 
Several countries have established organizations to 
combat these evils and notably Holland has been a 
pioneer in this kind of work. For twenty years there has 
been established in that country a Phytapatological 
Service equaled by no other country in its efficient 
service, the most rigid inspectors in this country must ad¬ 
mit that all nursery stock coming from Holland is prac¬ 
tically free from pest or disease so effective have been the 
measures instituted, that France and Relgium shortly be¬ 
fore the w ar broke out delegated several of their inspec¬ 
tors to see how it was done. 
Professor Ritzema Boss has been at the head of this 
Government Bureau, ever since its establishment. With 
a competent staff of assistants, appointed by the Govern¬ 
ment, after passing careful examination, stationed at the 
various growing centres, men wdio make this wmrk a life 
study, they control the situation, with wmnderful results, 
ful results. 
Not only is every nursery inspected through the 
summer, but all plants are again inspected before being 
packed, w hen ready to be placed in the boxes at the pack¬ 
ing houses at the place of origin and not until they are 
found to be absolutely clean a permit is issued allowing 
the owner to go ahead with the packing and shipment. 
All infested stock is rejected and ordered to be de¬ 
stroyed at once, which is done. 
The large nurseries have all their own disinfecting 
materials and ai)pliances to work with, done by compe¬ 
tent men. 
The smaller growers are assisted by an organization 
established by the Pomological Society of Boskoop for 
this purpose, this organization supplying the disinfection 
service at a nominal cost per acre and no grower can 
afford to do without it so low is the cost and effective 
the work. 
Again in every season of the year bulletins are issued 
warning growers of the approaching breeding seasons and 
telling them how to exterminate the evils. 
It can readily be seen that such a complete service 
makes it practically impossible for any pest or disease 
to enter the U. S. A. from Holland a nd th e proposed re¬ 
strictions w ould result in a material loss tcTbur nursery¬ 
men as well as the consumer. 
NEW EXPERIMENTAL ORCHARDS AT STATE 
COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA 
A sixty-acre fruit farm, with the complete equipment 
of a commercial orchard is planned for the department of 
horticulture at the Pennsylvania State College. The new 
orchard, supplementing the present experimental tracts, 
is to be established to enable students in the various horti¬ 
cultural courses to obtain practical instruction in modern 
methods of fruit growing. 
According to the plans of Dr. S. W. Fletcher, head of 
the horticultural department, the State College orchard 
w ill be planted to apple, peach, pear, plum, and other tree 
fruits. Small fruits, strawberries, raspberries and 
grapes wall also be planted. A large packing house is to 
be part of the equipment. 
A NURSERYMAN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE 
COUNTRY BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA 
G. T. Smith, of Concord, Ga., president of Smith Bros. 
Nursery Go., and also president of the Concord Banking 
Co., was elected president of the Country Bankers Asso¬ 
ciation of Georgia at their recent meeting in Atlanta. 
This association represents the interests of 680 National 
and State Banks located in the smaller cities and towns 
of the state and with resources amounting to nearly 
$200,000,000. Mr. Smith’s election to this high office is 
a fine tribute to his business standing amongst the best 
men of his state. 
THE CASABANANA 
Sicana Odorifera 
S. L. Watkins, Pleasant Valley, California. 
The strangest and one of the most valuable new fruits 
of the present day. The Gasabanana belongs to the 
melon family. It will climb to the tops of trees 40 to 60 
feet in one season. The fruits are about 18 inches in 
length of a lustrous fiery red color, and possessed of a 
strong pine apple fiavor. For making preserves they are 
unrivalled. A large tree loaded with three or four hun¬ 
dred fruits of the casabanana is a sight never to be for¬ 
gotten. The seeds should be started early in pots and 
after all danger of frost is over transplanted to the open 
ground. 
