THE NATIONAL NURwSERYMAN 
409 
necticut where heretofore the moths had been largely- 
found. 
JJ'iMr. Barnes, a nurseryman of Yalesville, Connecticut, 
stated that he had great confidence in the ability of Dr. 
Brittan to take care of the situation in Connecticut and would 
be greatly pleased if the Federal Board would see fit to leave 
the matter in the hands of the State authorities. 
Dr. Marlatt here explained that the law does not require 
the Federal Government to make any inspection but simply 
provides for the making of riiles and regulations governing 
quarantine, but that in Massachusetts there is a special law 
allowing the co-operation of the Federal Government and 
Massachusetts nurserymen could rest assured that the 
Board would not “butt in” where efficient inspection was 
already being carried on. The Board could make rules and 
regulations under which stock could be moved but the carry¬ 
ing out of these provisions must be done by the State authori¬ 
ties. 
Through his attorney, Mr. Borst of the “Little Tree 
Farms” explained the work of reforestation for private enter¬ 
prises which his firm was carrying out and urged that no 
steps be taken by the government to interfere with this work. 
Further remarks were made by Dr. Fernald of Massa¬ 
chusetts, Geo. G. Atwood, New York State Nursery Inspector 
and others. 
The Board announced that their decisions would be given 
out in a few days and the hearing was then closed. 
National Nurseryman, 
Rochester, N. Y. 
Gentlemen; 
Recently the Massaehusetts Nurserymen’s Association 
appointed a eommittee of three, composed of Messrs. Henry 
S. Dawson, manager of the Eastern Nurseries, Jamaica 
Plain, Mass.; Charles H. Fish of the West End Nurseries, 
Worcester, Mass., and the writer, to call the attention of the 
various Senators and Representatives to the unwarranted 
interference with our business proposed by the “Federal 
Horticultural Board.” 
We beg leave to enclose herewith a copy of a letter which 
the committee addressed to the various Representatives and 
Senators, and an editorial from “Horticulture,” which is self 
explanatory. 
We ask if you will lend the force of your paper towards 
assisting us along the lines on which we are working. 
Any editorials which you may see fit to publish will, I 
am sure, be appreciated by the entire Nurserymen’s Associa¬ 
tion of New England. Yours very truly, 
American Forestry Company, 
Per Theodore F. Borst. 
Boston, Mass., October 19, 1912. 
Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, 
Nahant, Mass. 
Dear Sir: 
Under the authority of the Federal “Plant Inspection 
Law” enacted August 21st, 1912, the “Federal Horticultural 
Board” of the U. S. Department of Agriculture proposes to 
establish a quarantine against the Gypsy and Brown Tail 
moths in the New England States, Massachusetts included, 
and for that purpose, as required by law, has appointed 
October 30th for a public hearing in Washington on this 
proposal. 
This proposal is of vital importance to the extensive nur¬ 
sery interests of Massachusetts in which more than $3,000,000 
are invested, and may well mean a disastrous and wholly 
unreasonable interference with, or destruction of, the busi¬ 
ness. Massachusetts has a splendid system of nursery 
inspections, (in charge) of most competent officials and cost¬ 
ing the state $15,000 per annum) not only of growing stock 
but also of goods at time of shipment. Further safeguards 
are provided by protected zones around the nurseries. Data 
shows shipments from Massachusetts nurseries very nearly 
if not entirely, free from these moths. And nurserymen are, 
to a man, cooperating with the state offieers in this work. 
On the other hand, the spread of these pests is almost 
entirely due to other causes, for example, freight cars, auto¬ 
mobiles, winds, etc. 
Consequently, Massachusetts nurserymen are unwilling to 
have the Federal Horticultural Board adopt any regulations 
which will prohibit or unfairly regulate our interstate busi¬ 
ness, which will provide unreasonable inspections, or which 
may kill our business by advertising us as a pest infested 
state. We especially urge that no regulations affecting our 
business be acted upon without giving us at least thirty days 
notice of the specific regulations proposed, thereby affording 
us a reasonable opportunity to show the conditions and the 
effect of the proposed regulations on our trade. 
The Massachusetts Nurserymen’s Associations, compris¬ 
ing most of the nurserymen of this State, has appointed and 
authorized the undersigned committee to appeal to you for 
your active interest and support in urging the Horticultural 
Board to consider and rule in accordance with actual condi¬ 
tions in Massachusetts. We strongly feel that your help will 
be of great benefit to our cause, and it certainly will be highly 
appreciated by Massachusetts Nurserymen. 
Yours very respectfully, 
Theodore F. Borst, 
15 Beacon St., Boston, Mass. 
Henry S. Dawson, 
Charles R. Fish. 
AN UNFAIR AND FUTILE PROPOSITION 
[Editorial fromBoston, October 19, 1912] 
A few weeks ago, under the heading of “Frenzied Quaran¬ 
tine,” we took occasion to comment upon the hysterical hue 
and cry for government inspection and quarantine against 
material liable to carry plant diseases and insect infestation 
which has now come to be almost a daily incident from one 
direction or another. Among the latest are the issuance of a 
California state edict against all vegetables, nursery stock, 
etc., from the whole tier of Southern States; a campaign to 
secure expert examination of all mail matter entering Cali¬ 
fornia under the parcels post law; and, now, a hearing before 
the Horticultural Board at Washington on October 30 to 
deeide whether the nursery stock and other horticultural 
