THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
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OPPOSING THE SYMONS BILL WHICH PROVIDES 
INSPECTION AT PORT OF ENTRY 
Dear Sir: 
I have the honor to enclose a copy of a resolution passed 
at a special meeting of the Horticultural Importers Associa¬ 
tion held in New York on February ist, voicing their 
disapproval of Bill known as H. R. 15656 regarding inspec¬ 
tion of Foreign Nursery Stock which I understand is now 
.before you for consideration. 
The following facts will I think prove to you that the 
above measure is “impracticable” and “impossible of exe¬ 
cution.” 
The arrivals at the portjjof New York for the past 11 days 
of French Nursery Stock were as follows, which is about the 
average weekly shipment for the past three months: 
Per S. S. Mexico, January 
20—927 cases 
“ Oceanic, 
24— 20 
“ “ New York, “ 
29— 22 
“ “ Florida, 
31—406 
1375 cases 
Each case contains 10-15,000 seedlings (some cases con¬ 
tain 40,000) so that the 1375 cases contain an approximate 
total of 17,000,000 seedlings valued when shipped at 
approximately $60,000 or at the dock New York approxi¬ 
mately $100,000 which includes about $26,000 paid to the 
q United States Government in import duties 
The above shipments represent almost exclusively Seed¬ 
lings from France (representing raw material for Nursery¬ 
men) which cannot be produced in the United States. The 
import duty exceeds in some instances two hundred per 
cent of foreign cost. The seedlings are packed tightly by 
means of machinery and appliances in paper lined cases and 
unpacking in transit would greatly damage contents even if 
they could be repacked into the same cases. 
Entry has to be made and duty paid to the United 
States Customs within 48 hours to comply with Customs 
regulations. The cases must be removed within 3-4 days 
to comply with Steamship regulations and a glance at above 
figures will prove to you that it cannot be done, even though 
the present congestion on the docks be entirely overlooked. 
I shall be pleased to answer any questions you may wish 
to ask or to give you any further information within my 
power. Like fleas on a dog, insect pests should be killed, 
but I do not see why a valuable dog should be killed to get 
rid of a few fleas, when the fleas are not harmed by the killing 
of the dog anyway. Yours truly, 
J. McHutchison. 
THE IMPORT IMPROVEMENT BILL 
WHEREAS: In January, 1909, a Bill known as H. R. 
27367 was introduced into the United States Congress, pro¬ 
viding for the inspection of nursery stock at ports of entry 
f of the United States, which Bill passed the House, was 
before the Senate and was being considered before the 
Nurserymen had knowledge of it. 
AND WHEREAS, The Legislative Committee of the 
American Association of Nurserymen at that stage, receiv- 
5i9 
ing information that such a Bill was being considered, 
secured a hearing before the Committee on Agriculture, Dr. 
Howard, the farmer of the Bill being present, and after 
lengthy argument succeeded in having the Bill withdrawn 
on the understanding that the Legislative Committee of the 
American Association of Nurserymen would prepare a new 
Bill which would be acceptable to Dr. Howard and the 
Nurserymen of the United States. 
AND WHEREAS: The Nurserymen did prepare such 
a Bill having the endorsement and approval of the American 
Association of Nurserymen and the Association of Horticul¬ 
tural Inspectors but though repeated efforts have been 
made to arrange a conference with Dr. Howard, those 
efforts so far have been without result. 
AND WHEREAS: On December 16, 1909, Bill 
known as H. R. 15656 was introduced into the House by 
Mr. Symons the text and purport of which is exactly the 
same as the former Bill known as H. R. 27367 and to which 
the Nurserymen and kindred interests so strongly objected. 
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Horticul¬ 
tural Importers Association here assembled protests against 
the passage of Bill H. R. 15656 as being impracticable and 
in the present congested condition of the New York docks 
impossible of execution without large unnecessary losses 
being incurred, and as the Nurserymen’s Bill provides for 
adequate inspection at destination, which we believe to be 
the only practical and effective way, we strongly urge that 
the Bill prepared by the Legislative Committee of the 
American Association of Nurserymen be substituted for 
H. R.15656. 
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the 
Secretary of this Association be authorized to forward a 
copy of this resolution to the Hon. Chas. F. Scott) Chairman 
of the Committee on Agriculture, the Hon. W. W. Cocks of 
New York and the other members of the Committee on 
Agriculture. 
STARK BROS’. HANDSOME YEAR BOOK 
There has just come from the press the most sumptuous 
fruit and plant catalogue which we have seen. It is the 
work of that progressive firm, The Stark Bros’. Nurseries and 
Orchards Company, Louisianna, Mo. This issue marks the 
first volume of a series which is to be published annually. 
The striking and distinctive feature of the book is its illus¬ 
trations. These are in the form of full page illustrations in 
color, often depicting the fruit in its natural size. The work 
is uniform in this respect, but not only are fruits illustrated 
but characteristic representatives of perennials, vines, 
ornamental trees and shrubs are included and displayed in 
the same effective manner. Associated with the rich illus¬ 
trations is appropriate descriptive text. The whole work 
typifies the advance in catalogue making as illustrated by 
our most progressive firms. The volume represents business 
courage, commercial ability, appreciation of plants, and an 
artistic temperament. The makers of the work are to be 
congratulated. 
