THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
135 
sible that further convincing evidence may make other 
amendments necessary, not only for modifying or remov¬ 
ing restrictions now in force, hut also for extending 
existing restrictions or adding further prohibitions 
thereto. 
It is recognized that the enforcement of certain fea¬ 
tures of this quarantine order will injure some horticul¬ 
tural interests, not only by necessitating readjustments 
hut by the possible loss of some lines of profit. Such 
provisions, however, have been inserted only because it 
was believed, on satisfactory evidence, that they were 
necessary in order to protect the wider interests of the 
})ublic at large. 
It is also recognized that some of the plants and plant 
products, whose importation has made them more or less 
popular, will become rarities until they can be produced 
in this country and, if, as seems likely in a few cases, 
this turns out to be impossible, that it will be necessary 
for the public to do without them or to accept a substi¬ 
tute which can be produdced here or which can be im¬ 
ported with safety. 
In any discussion of the purpose and effect of this 
quarantine order, the fact should not be overlooked that 
definite provision is made therein for the entry, in limited 
quantities, even of the prohibited bulbs and plants, 
through the Government Office of Foreign Seed and Plant 
Introduction. In such case, the importation would be 
safeguarded by the highly developed quarantine and in¬ 
spection service of the Department and the country 
could, in this way, gradually be supplied with new var¬ 
ieties and the necessary stock for propagation, without 
the dangers attendant upon commercial importations. 
In view of the facts and considerations above set forth, 
it is my opinion that Plant Quarantine 37 is scientific in 
origin and purpose, as well as sound in principle, and 
that its enforcement will make for the safety of the plant, 
fruit, and forest interests of the country, with as little 
injury to private agencies and individuals as is com- 
j)atible therewith. 
Very truly yours, 
D. F. Houston, Secretary. 
EXPLANATION OF PROVISIONS FOR ENTRY OF 
PLANT NOVELTIES AND PROPAGATING STOCK 
UNDER QUARANTINE NO. 37. 
April 10, 1919. 
Regulation 14 of the regulations relative to the importation of 
nursery stock and other plants and seeds has been revised and 
reissued. In its new form it is essentially an interpretation of 
the old regulation 14 rather than an enlargement of powers under 
the quarantine, inasmuch as the regulation, as worded in the 
quarantine as originally issued, was intended to cover exactly 
what is now more clearly stated in the new regulation. This 
regulation provides for the importation under a special permit 
from the Secretary of Agriculture, of limited quantities of other¬ 
wise prohibited stock for the purpose of keeping the country 
supplied with new varieties of plants and stock for propagation 
purposes not available in the United States. This amendment, 
however, does not apply to a few plants which have been speci¬ 
fically prohibited entry under other quarantines, as, for example, 
pines, Ribes and Grossularia from certain countries, and citrus, 
banana, and bamboo stock. 
The following explanations of regulation 14 are given to in¬ 
dicate the limitations under this regulation and the procedure to 
be followed in making importations of the two classes of plants 
specified, namely, new varieties and necessary propagating stock. 
The expression “New Varieties” is understood to mean plant 
novelties, that is, new horticultural or floricultural creations or 
new discoveries. 
“Necessary Propagating stock” is understood to mean stock of 
old or standard varieties imported for the multiplication of the 
plants in question as a nursery or florist enterprise as distin¬ 
guished from importations for immediate or ultimate sale of the 
stocks actually imported, and such importations will be re¬ 
stricted to stocks which are not available in this country in ade¬ 
quate quantities. > 
The expression “Limited Quantities” used in regulation 14 is 
understood to mean with respect both to new varieties and to 
standard stocks, such quantities as will supply reasonable needs 
for the establishment of reproduction plantings which may be 
thereafter independent of foreign supplies. 
There is no limitation as to the number of permits for different 
plants or classes of plants under regulation 14 which an indiv¬ 
idual may request, but the applications will all be passed upon 
both as to necessity for the particular importation and as to the 
quantity adequate for the purpose intended, by experts of the 
Department, for the information of the Board prior to the 
issuance of the permits. 
All importations under regulation 14 must be made under 
special permits through the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant 
Introduction of the Department of Agriculture but for the use of 
the individual importer. The importer will be required to meet 
all entry, transportation and freight-handling charges. The De¬ 
partment will make no charge for inspection and supervision. 
The necessary procedure for making such importations is as 
follows: 
1. The Federal Horticultural Board will supply, on re¬ 
quest, an application blank upon which request may be made 
for a special permit to import. This application embodies 
an agreement on the part of the importer that if the im¬ 
ported material is found on examination by an inspector of 
the Department of Agriculture to be so infested or infected 
with insects or disease that it cannot he adequately safe¬ 
guarded, it may be destroyed and'such destruction will not 
be made the basis of a claim against the Department of 
Agriculture for damages. The application must be accom¬ 
panied by a statement certifying that the plants to be im¬ 
ported are novelties or if standard varieties of foreign plants, 
that stocks in adequate quantities for their propagation are 
not available in this country, and that in either case they are 
to pe imported for the establishment of reproduction plant¬ 
ings and not for immediate or ultimate sale of the stocks ac¬ 
tually imported. In exceptional cases the importation of 
novelties may be made for personal use but not for sale. The 
application must also give the name and address of the ex¬ 
porter, country and locality where the stock was grown, the 
name and address of the importer and the name and address 
of the nursery or other establishment in which the plants 
are to be reproduced on release. 
2. If the permit is issued, the applicant will be furnished 
shipping instructions and shipping tags to be forwarded with 
his order to the exporter. The plants will, in consequence, 
be addressed in bond to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D. C., United States 
of America, and indorsed, “Foreign Seed and Plant Introduc¬ 
tion, for (insert name of importer),” and arrangements must 
be made with some responsible agency in Washington for 
the clearance of the plants when received through the Cus- 
•tom House at Georgetown, D. C.,' together with the payment 
of all charges involved. 
3. Upon clearance through the Georgetown Custom House 
the material will be turned over to the Office of Foreign Seed 
and Plant Introduction by the authorized agent of the im¬ 
porter, and in the specially equipped inspection houses and 
under expert care as to the welfare of the plants, be care¬ 
fully examined by inspectors of the Federal Horticultural 
Board. If found free from dangerous insects or diseases, the 
shipment will be immediately and carefully repacked and 
forwarded by express, charges collect, to the importer. 
4. Cleaning and disinfection will occur for slight infesta¬ 
tion, but should the material be found to be so infected or 
infested with either disease or insects that it cannot be so 
adequately safeguarded, it will either be destroyed, or, when 
possible and desirable, returned to the point of origin. 
Yours very truly, 
C. L. MARLATT, Chairman of Board. 
