THE NATIONAL NURSERY^IAN 
187 
other plant materials in this country; encouragement of local 
activities for the production of plant materials we now import- 
including seeds for such stocks as pear, peach, cherry, apple, and 
other fruits; and the determination of localities in the United 
States where stocks and similar plant materials may be success¬ 
fully grown. Several field stations, well located, equipped and 
organized, are already available for this work, and valuable 
records, the accumulation of nearly 20 years’ world-wide ex¬ 
plorations, also are at hand for immediate use. 
-Much of this work will be carried out through the Office of 
Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction of the Bureau of Plant In¬ 
dustry. This Office is charged with all matters relating to the 
introduction for this Department of foreign seeds, plants, bulbs, 
etc., for scientific and experimental purposes and cooperates with 
the P^ederal Horticultural Board in maintaining facilities for 
inspection and quarantine. This Office has already been the 
means of introducing, testing, propagating and distributing 
many new plants, including among these a number of promising 
disease-resistant pears, peaches, cherries, roses, and other plants 
which are now being propagated and tested preparatory to their 
more widespread use. 
The exi)erts of this Department feel that every reasonable 
effort should be made to stimulate the propagation in the 
United States of necessary plant stocks in order to eliminate the 
danger of bringing in dangerous plant diseases and insect pests. 
In any event, if, in order to protect this country against such 
plant diseases and insects, it should become necessary to 
consider the complete exclusion of nursery stock, the matter 
should develop gradually, affording opportunity for adjustment, 
rather than result from immediate and drastic action. In the 
meantime, under the existing Plant Quarantine Act, quarantine 
action in addition to that now in force can be promptly taken as 
to any plant or class of plants or plant products whenever it is 
evident that the danger outweighs the sacrifices involved. 
Following up this memorandum the Board addressed a specific 
inquiry to the Bureau of Plant Industry for a report on the advis¬ 
ability of the exclusion, either immediate or graduated, or 
“balled” plants or plants with earth about the roots and plants 
from little-known or little-explored countries of the world. In 
response to this inquiry Dr. B. T. Galloway, Plant Pathologist of 
the Bureau of Plant Industry, submitted to the Board, February 
26, 1918, a report based on reports by a number of experts of that 
Bureau. This report contained the following recommendations 
relative to entry of the two classes of nursery stock designated: 
PROVISIONAL RBCO.MMENDATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF 
PLANT INDUSTRY 
A. That all foreign grown balled, tubbed, or potted 
plants, except as noted under B, be excluded in accordance 
with the following groups and date: 
Group 1.—Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Palms, Araucarias, Bay 
Trees, Hollies, Ericas, and Acacias, January 1, 1923. 
Group 2.—Conifers, dwarf and other kinds, Buxus, etc., 
usually shipped as specimen plants, July 1, 1919. 
Group 3.—^Small potted plants, including Roses, Chrysan¬ 
themums, Violets, tender bedding plants. Ferns, tropical and 
sub-tropical plants, etc., January 1, 1919. 
Group 4.—Clumps of hardy perennials used in forcing, Jap¬ 
anese Maples, Magnolias, etc., July 1, 1919. 
B. That provision be made for the admission of limited 
numbers of new varieties or novelties out of pots not exceed¬ 
ing two inches in diameter, this work to be conducted 
through the Department under rules and regulations pre¬ 
scribed by the Federal Horticultural Board. 
C. That no action be taken at this time towa,rd the exclu¬ 
sion of all stock from the Orient, and other little explored 
parts of the world, but that steps be taken looking toward 
action in the near future of excluding certain groups of 
plants, especially from the Orient. 
These recommendations are presented for discussion, but, as 
indicated in the opening paragraph of this statement, are not to 
be taken as limitng the scope of discussion nor the ultimate 
action of the Department. 
In connection with the subject of this hearing, attention per¬ 
haps should be again drawn to the undoubted adequacy of the 
quarantine and other restrictive powers now embodied in the 
Plant Quarantine Act of 1912 as subsequently amended, specifical¬ 
ly referred to in the memorandum quoted on pages 3-4. These 
powers are unquestionably adequate for all needed prohibitions 
or restrictions on the importation of nursery stock and other 
plants and plant products to prevent the introduction of insect 
pests and plant diseases. The important requirement is the 
determination as to each subject of the actual need of such pro¬ 
hibition or restriction. 
C. L. MARLATT, Ghairman Federal Horticultural Board. 
To those who liave kept informed of the opinions and actions 
of such bodies as the Association of Horticultural Inspectors. The 
American Forestry Association and similar organizations, all of 
which were largely represented, it goes without saying that the 
weight of the discussion was in favor of early and complete 
exclusion. 
It is entirely fair to say, however, that the Federal Horticul¬ 
tural Board expressed no oi)inion either for or against it. .Mr. 
Marlatt, in the opening address having stated that the members 
of the board were there to hear both sides of the (piestion, and 
that later, the subject would be taken under advisement, not only 
by the Board but that all heads of the several Bureaus under the 
Department of Agriculture would be called into the conference. 
.\ir. Marlatt further stated that he had received a number of 
unsolicited letters from nurserymen in the country who gave 
hearty endorsement to the general views expressed in the cir¬ 
cular sent out by the Board. 
Lack of space will not permit a full report of the hearing, but 
the following are some of the most interesting and important 
statements made by the several speakers. 
Mr. L. Marlatt:—The grave danger is of bringing in insects 
in balls of earth which it is impossible to inspect, and also ])lants 
from countries where there is little opportunity for inspection. 
The Board does not at this time contemplate putting an embargo 
on field, flower or common vegetable seeds which have been com¬ 
ing into the country for a number of years, and which can readily 
be inspected and safeguarded. 
.Mr. Farquahar:—It has been said that Azaleas and Rhododen¬ 
drons are now being grown in California in large quantities, but 
not one of these plants was propagated there. They were imported 
as small plants from Holland and Belgium several years ago, and 
have been grown here to merchantable sizes. In Europe, the 
area from which Nursery Stock is imported is very small, and he 
advanced the suggestion that it would be possible for the Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture to send competent and experienced investi¬ 
gators to the nursery producing sections, to examine not only the 
nursery stock, but also the earth in which the stock is grown, and 
where sections are found free from dangerous insect pests or 
diseases permits could be issued. As large amounts of money 
are being spent, it would be wiser to use it in this manner than to 
ruthlessly cut off from America the source of supply to nursery¬ 
men and florists of these very important plants. The trade is 
willing to suffer, if necessary, that the country be protected but 
wants to be sure that the real danger exists. 
Prof. Cook, N. J.:—The American Forestry Association, after 
considering the “Provisional Recommendations of the Bureau of 
Plant Industry,” approved of these recommendations with cretain 
exception as to Japanese Lily Bulbs, and that there be total 
exclusion as soon as it could be made economically possible. 
State Inspector, Alabama:—Reason for attending the hearing 
was to ascertain the position relating to fruit stocks. He found 
Native grown stocks inferior to the imported, and cannot 
establish the Nursery business in Alabama unless they can get 
clean stock. 
Prof. Headley, N. J.:—The gravest danger is from the importa¬ 
tion of evergreens and other plants with balls of earth which 
may contain dangerous and injurious insects. A certain importa¬ 
tion of Japanese Iris with earth about the roots, brought in the 
Japanese beetle, similar to the rose bug, which is now spread 
over an area of two thousand acres. Has found as many as 
twelve to fourteen of these bugs in one square foot of earth. It 
is a general feeder, attacking a large list of vegetable plants. 
New Jersey had appropriated $15,000 to be used in the endeavor 
to exterminate this insect. Two years ago, he made a study of 
insects found in imported balls of earth, and found twenty of 
such injurious insects. He realizes that we are facing enormous 
loss to florists in cutting off the im])ortation of such ])lants but 
we must consider the immediate danger, and we would be 
neglectful of our duty if we allowed the door to be open. He 
favored immediate action on the proposition to immediately stop 
the importation of plants with balls of earth. 
Norman Taylor,—representing the International Garden Club: 
—He takes a middle position, and inquired if there was not some 
other way rather than total exclusion. He suggested that a quar¬ 
antine might be established at the several Ports of Entry or that 
some other plan might be devised by the Federal Horticultural 
Board by which diseases and insects might be prevented from 
coming into the country, rather than to exclude the importation 
of nursery and florists’ stock. 
Dr. Pratt, In charge of the nursery of the Department of Agri¬ 
culture:—The whole subject involves four or five very important 
questions. The exclusion of foreign Nursery stock meant the 
complete shifting of Horticulture. Through Dr. Wilson, many 
new and valuable plants are being introduced by The Department 
of Agriculture, and as these plants become in general cultivation 
it will change the character of our nursery products. It will be 
