THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
S5i 
“Simmons.” The Secretary of the Association of Horticul- 
. tural Inspectors, Professor Symons, calls our attention to 
the error, which we very gladly correct. 
Under this head various people discuss 
various things. At the present time it is 
ROOT GALLS a subject of the keenest interest to nur¬ 
serymen, for the tree man, without refer¬ 
ence to his location, be he in the North or 
South, is getting “stung” on the root knot, root gall, hairy 
root, crown gall question. These root affections are cer¬ 
tainly causing a great deal of trouble between planter and 
nurseryman, and there seems to be considerable amount of 
haziness on the part of the investigator, as well as the 
grower, as to the true character and pathological status of 
these warty outgrowths. Root knots have been the subject 
of study by experimental officials for a good many years, and 
the U. S. Department of Agriculture detailed a man to this 
subject some five or six years ago. It may be said that 
results which have accrued from this latter investigation are 
largely of a negative character. We are informed that sub¬ 
sequent investigations by the Division of Pathology of the 
Bureau of Plant Industry at Washington, have been more 
fertile of definite results, and it is expected that a bulletin 
will be published shortly which will throw new light on the 
subject. 
In the meantime the opinion is gaining ground that many 
trees affected to a greater or less extent by these root excres¬ 
cences have been unnecessarily destroyed, and growers are 
coming to hold the opinion that the northern forms at any 
rate are not nearly so injurious and pernicious as inspectors 
are wont to make planters believe. Certain tests which 
have been made by nurserymen tend to support this view. 
Nurserymen are, therefore, anxiously awaiting the publica¬ 
tion of the bulletin referred to, and we are wondering why 
this whole subject of root troubles should not receive a 
thorough discussion by the best authority available at the 
next meeting of the Association in Denver. 
Up to the present time, then, nothing very definite or 
conclusive has resulted from these investigations, although 
we are promised something definite from the 
researches of Dr. Erwin F. Smith of Washington. This 
matter has been prepared for publication in the depart¬ 
mental report, and according to the custom of the Depart¬ 
ment the results must not be divulged before they are given 
to all of the people in the forthcoming publication. We are 
very sanguine that these experiments will bring a ray of 
hope to the much tried nurserymen. 
Nurserymen have certainly been sufficiently harassed by 
the erratic action of more or less responsible inspectors who 
insist on destruction or quarantine of trees exhibiting various 
types of infestation. Caution is a desirable characteristic, 
and conservatism is good, but both of these may be over¬ 
done. While pathologists have been trying to discover the 
life history of the agents causing these warty growths, some 
of the nurserymen themselves have been trying stunts which 
have now progressed sufficiently far to talk about results. 
Various demonstrative experiments have been started in 
different parts of the country with a view of showing the 
actual behavior of these root knotted trees under orchard 
conditions. These experiments are to be described at the 
forthcoming convention. It may be that common ex¬ 
perience developed out of the field test may not jibe with 
laboratory results. If that should happen we are inclined 
to think that it would be so much the worse for the labora¬ 
tory trial. At all events the various reports on these field 
tests will be looked forward to with the keenest interest. 
The American Association of Nurserymen 
maintains a committee on publicity. The 
supposed duty of this committee is to give 
appropriate publicity to the affairs of the 
Association, such affairs at any rate as 
should be exploited before its members and the general 
public. This committee has no definite instructions, no 
specific authority, and no funds. It stands as a free lance 
in relation to the Association. As a consequence of its 
peculiar position it has been scantily recognized, and very 
justly, because it has done little or nothing to advance the 
purposes of the organization and the mission of nurserymen 
generally. It has been a more or less ornamental and use¬ 
ful appendage, its title sounding rather well, but standing 
for little or nothing. 
The question arises, is there a place for a live committee 
on publicity, one authorized to look after the interests of the 
Association, in some such way as is well illustrated by the 
service of the tariff and legislative committees? We are 
wondering why should not such a committee be used to 
stimulate public interest in planting fruits and planting 
certain types of ornamentals. Why not urge the extension 
of this or that class of fruit in certain sections, giving as 
arguments the experience of successful orchardists in the 
particular section? There is large opportunity in our judg¬ 
ment for a propagandist movement of this kind. A corres¬ 
pondent pointedly remarks in a recent letter that “money 
could be well expended in exploiting the subject of ornamen¬ 
tals, and right now cherry growing is a topic which could be 
very profitably emphasized. Too few cherries are grown. 
It is a case of under-consumption rather than over-stocking,” 
and the writer proceeds to remark further, that “the right 
kind of a publicity service could spend a few thousand dol¬ 
lars very advantageously for the common good.” Is not 
this a subject which might be very appropriately considered 
at the forthcoming convention? 
INSPECTION OF IMPORT NURSERY STOCK 
The Simmons Bill, introduced into Congress some time 
ago, which was practically a duplicate of that introduced by 
Representative Scott last year, providing for the inspection 
of all nursery stock at port of entry, which was reported to 
have been withdrawn, is still pending but will probably be 
a dead letter. This is due to the energetic action of nursery¬ 
men who showed the absolute impracticability of such a bill. 
The nurserymen are in accord with the principle of in¬ 
spection of imported nursery stock, but they wish to have 
the bill provided for such inspection put in such form as 
will obviate the certain destruction of their stock in the pro¬ 
cess of inspection. 
PUBLICITY 
SERVICE 
