68 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
“ The practical way is for this Association to take up the 
matter. We should not allow the individual to pay the cost 
when we are all affected. We should be willing to expend 
some money to contest this matter. I move that the whole 
subject be referred to the committee on legislation with power 
to act and to bring a test case in Virginia or West Virginia or 
other states. It is possible that the authorities might recog¬ 
nize the influence of such a national body as this.” 
The motion was quickly seconded by several in the conven¬ 
tion 
Mr. Hoopes—“I think the bill has been withdrawn. I 
wrote to the attorney general of West Virginia, but have not 
heard from him.” 
Mr. Pitkin—“I have seen a letter from the attorney general 
in which he declined to interfere with the full operation of the 
law.” 
N. W. Hale—“ The attorney general has declared that the 
law will be enforced unless it is repealed.” 
The motion by Mr. Pitkin was unanimously adopted. 
OFFICIAL ASSOCIATION REGISTER. 
John H. Chase moved that the secretary procure a book in 
which shall be kept a permanent record of all who attend the 
conventions of the American Association ; that badges be not 
issued until registry is made, and that the list be published in 
the proceedings. Carried. 
It was suggested that any courtesies extended to the mem¬ 
bers of the Association can be made more readily available 
under such a system of registry. 
PROPOSED INCREASE OF DEES. 
Harlan P. Kelsey moved that the dues of the Association be 
raised from $2 to $ 5 . The motion was promptly seconded. 
Mr. Watrous asked a reference to the executive committee, 
with instructions to report at the next convention. This action 
was taken. Mr. Kelsey explained that while there appears to 
be a balance in the treasury of the Association, there is work 
to be done that will require expenditure of money and there 
ought to be a working balance. “ If the Association is worth 
anything to a nurseryman it is worth $ 5 ,” said Mr. Kelsey. 
From the question box was taken the following: “How 
should June-budded trees be measured—from the point where 
the bud is inserted or not ?” 
Mr. Munson, of Texas—“1 should say not. They should 
be measured from the ground.” 
Mr. Heikes—“From the ground.” 
CROWN GALL. 
A question regarding crown gall was referred to Prof. W. G. 
Johnson, formerly entomologist of Maryland, who said : 
“ It is pretty well known what crown gall is. It is not a 
parasite, but is the work of a group of creatures like low forms 
of animal life. So important is this subject to the nursery¬ 
man that if I were chairman of the program committee I 
would give five hours instead of five minutes to the discussion 
and I would discuss the subject in executive session, behind 
closed doors. 
“ The same organism that produces crown gall produces 
club root in cabbage and allied forms. We have 2,000 species 
in North America. The whole point is one of distribution. 
It is found mostly on grafted stock at the crown. The period 
when it is most active is on stock from one to six months 
old. The San Jose scale was bad enough, but we could 
see that. Here comes an organism so small you cannot see 
it, except with a compound microscope magnifying 12,000 or 
15,000 times, and it is under ground too. Now, how can we 
prevent it ?” 
Upon motion of Mr. Watrous an extension of five minutes 
was granted to Prof. Johnson. Great interest in what he had 
to say was manifested by all present. 
Prof. Johnson—“ We may have wart or crown gall on our 
trees and it will not seriously affect them. In the case of a 
robust, vigorous-growing tree the effect of the crown gall is 
overcome. 
REMEDY SUGGESTED. 
“ Now as to the remedy. Formalin is a great germicide 
and preservative. It is used in museums for the preservation 
of plants. It is used as a disinfectant in institutions of sur¬ 
gery. It destroys germs. Can we not use formalin as a pre¬ 
ventive of crown gall ? Some of us know of cases of badly 
infested stock. If in grafting I cut through one of these 
crown galls, my knife blade will be covered with spores. I 
may bud all day with the same knife upon which there thus 
come millions of germs. In this way is the gall distributed 
under conditions favorable to its growth. Of course many of 
these germs do not develop. If all did develop there would 
not be any nursery business. 
“A two per cent, solution of formalin will do the work. A 
forty per cent, solution can be bought at fifteen cents per 
pound (pint) in carboy lots, and it wouldn’t cost ten cents to 
make a solution that would answer for a large amount of 
work. I believe it is worth while to try it, and if it works we 
could treat 100,000 to 10 , 000,000 trees for fifty cents.” 
Mr. Collingwood—“ Shall we throw out all trees in the lot 
if crown gall is found on one ?” 
Prof. Johnson—“Generally speaking, I.would say no, but, 
of course, this would depend considerably on circumstances 
and conditions. If the trees were good, strong, vigorous ones 
with no signs of disease, I certainly would not destroy the 
entire lot, simply because a single one might be found infested. 
In my opinion such a procedure would be a useless destruc¬ 
tion. If one of our members should be found with a well- 
developed cancer, none of us would think that his presence 
would be harmful to other members. Like strong, healthy 
and vigorous persons, trees with good constitutions are able to 
resist the attack of insects and fungous diseases. On the other 
hand the weakling is always liable to infestation from some 
source, whether it be animal or plant. The chances are that 
strong, vigorous trees would be able to overcome and throw 
off any disease germs that might accidentally be attached to 
the roots or upon them at the time of planting. These little 
organisms do not have much chance on hardy, vigorous stalks 
when once well started. The greatest difficulty arises where 
the disease gets a foothold on young seedlings, and these are 
most susceptible when from one to six months old.” 
PROPAGATING FROM CROWN GALL. 
Mr. Kirkpatrick—“ Would you propagate from a tree 
affected with crown gall ?” 
Prof. Johnson—“Under ordinary circumstances I would 
say, no, but there is no reason why it should not be done. 
There cannot be any possible connection between the buds 
and cions of a tree and the crown gall on its roots. The 
trees may be weakened by the presence of the gall, but buds 
and cions cut from it may or may not develop the gall. That 
