THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
21 
To Whom It May Concern:— 
At the June 1915 meeting of the American Nursery¬ 
mens’ Retail Protective Association, Detroit, Mich., a 
resolution was adopted in accordance with Section 5 of 
our By-laws; to-wit: 
“That all members, so far as it he within their power, 
he requested to forward to the Secretary for publication 
a list of persons in their respective states who are bona- 
fide nurserymen and as such entitled to wholesale trade 
lists?” 
It appears that too much activity has been displayed 
on the part of wholesale nurserymen in sending whole¬ 
sale lists to private planters, in some instances, quoting 
a lower price than to the legitimate dealer. No one with 
a sense of fair play can sanction acts of this kind inas¬ 
much as the dealer must contract a long time in advance 
for his stock; then be made to suffer a loss of business 
and prestige by the wholesale dealer who after dispos¬ 
ing of as much stock as he can to the legitimate dealer, 
works off the balance at ruinous prices to many of the 
people who the dealer might rightfully consider as legiti¬ 
mate customers. 
Any party not actually engaged in the sale of nursery 
stock should under no circumstances be favored with a 
wholesale nursery price-list. 
It is earnestly requested that every retail nurseryman 
having an interest in this movement will sign this com¬ 
munication and return to this office, pledging himself 
in purchasing his nursery stock to give the preference 
in buying from such nurserymen known to be selling to 
dealers and nurserymen only and not wholesaling retail 
buyers. 
It is further requested that each of you send typewrit¬ 
ten copies of this communication to every wholesale nur¬ 
seryman with whom you are accustomed to doing 
buiness. 
It is further urged that each one notify the Secretary 
of the Protective Association, Guy A. Bryant, Princeton, 
111., as well as the writer where you know of any nur¬ 
seryman sending out his wholesale list to parties not en¬ 
titled to the same. 
T. J. Ferguson, Vice-President for Wisconsin, 
American Association of Nurserymen. 
Signed. 
* 
Mrs. Mary E. Stephens, wife of E. F. Stephens, Nampa. 
Idaho, died December 8th. Mrs. Stephens suffered lor 
many years from an incurable aflliction, alter being con¬ 
fined to bed for years at a time, yet in spite of it her life 
was a wonderful example of courage and energy. She 
will be long truly missed and mourned by her husband 
and many friends. 
The Lonsdale Nursery, 
Lonsdale, Minnesota. 
Editor of “The National Nurseryman,”— 
Some time ago 1 read sharp criticism of a certain fed¬ 
eral judge for using the phrase “These United States” 
etc., instead of “This United States,” in a singular num¬ 
ber. Being of a judicial frame of mind, I came to the 
conclusion that he was probably right and here I wish 
to state at least one occasion where this phrase correctly 
applies. 
The Federal constitution provides that tin* powers to 
regulate commerce between the states are reserved to 
Congress, yet there is no provision made that all state 
laws should be passed upon by Congress, as to whether 
they attempt or virtually do regulate interstate commerce. 
This function is erroneously left to the courts to pass 
upon. 
Undoubtedly every state has inspetcion laws for the in¬ 
spection of nursery stock, some states honor or recognize 
the inspection certificates of other states, and some do 
not. and provide for re-inspection upon arrival of nur¬ 
sery stock into the state; again other states require the 
registration of a certificate for a prohibitive fee, w hich is 
either intended to prohibit shipments or to raise a 
Revenue by unduly taxing the shipper of the Sister 
States. 
One sample is the State of Virginia, w hich charges a 
fee of $20.00 for registering the certificate of inspection 
issued in any other state. Every one with common 
sense knows that such a fee is excessive and virtually 
prohibits small shippers to ship into said state, and for 
that reason we have a right to say “These United Slates,” 
because each and every state has an opportunity to act 
as an independent nation until its acts are reversed by 
the Federal Courts, at the expense of the oppressed liti¬ 
gants. 
The only remedy we now have, until my suggestion is 
adopted, is to awaken Congress to enact Federal laws 
-for the inspection of nurseries for interstate commerce, 
reserving to the states the rights of Inspection for inter¬ 
state commerce alone. 
Besides political reasons, there are also natural rea¬ 
sons for that; injurious insects and plant diseases do not 
exist according to political divisions of the country, but 
according to climatic conditions, and therefore a Uni¬ 
form Federal Law is the proper remedy. 
Yours truly, 
John P. Yikla. 
The work of the Root Knot Committee of w hich E. A. 
Smith is chairman, is a dormant one. so to speak, until 
spring. Experiments are being undertaken in several 
different states, the result of these will be forthcoming 
w hen completed and a report made to the National Asso¬ 
ciation. 
tyt ** 1 — 
a Obituary. 
MRS. MARY E. STEPHENS. 
