The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-09-30
FIGHT TO SAVE ELEVEN
MILLION TREES IN STATE
Strict Watch to Be Kept on All
Nursery Stock for Sale, Re-
gardIess Of Objections

The state board Of agriculture re-
Gently received Il letter irom one of
those peculiar people who see in the
enforcemaat of law only graft and un-
necessary trouble This particular
party was 0biectng 70 the nursery
inspection law of the state. whicl
had cost him $G,Gl and which he
characterized as stencil in the nos-
trils Of every honest man. Reply
ing to this communication TIE sec
retary of the board said
Il am In receipt OF your somewhat
facetious letter Of September 23rd. !
have no desire to enter into a dis.
cussion OF The points which YOU men
It.0n, particularly with regard to your
indicated opinion OF official methods,
because 1t is my opinion that good
laws have no occasion to be Offend
Cd, and we are sure that the nursery
law of oklahoma is good
oae. Ii was passed and is being en-
forced by this department for the
general good OF the orchard industry
IL this state, which Is q very import
ant industry, as is shown by the fact
that there are, on Oklahoma farms,
nearlv eleven million fruit trees, TO
say nothing OF the more than ten
Thousand acres in small fruits, and
nearly six t1ousaud acres in vine.
yards.
For the protection OF this very
valuable industry. distributed among
4 large number OF individual farm
ers, the law contemplates strict
control Of the business Of those pee.
pie who are Offering nursery stock
for sale II may be that in some par.
iicular case, as ia YOURS. the enforce
.ment OF this law brings Some little
hardship aud some cost. but be-
lleye that any fair minded man VIII
admit that il is better 70 entail SONS
trouble and cost upon few. people
who are offering nursery stock for
sale tban 10 endanger the infesiatlon
or Infection Of eleven million fruit
trees scattered among the one-bulI.
dred Thousand farmers. To contend
otherwise Is certainly TO display q
very decided species of selfshness
II am enclosing you. under separ-
ate cover, a copy oi the Oklahoma
laws pertaining 10 agriculture, on
page 30 OF which You will find the
nursery inspection laa, the most i'm
p0rtanf sections Of wich have
marked You will find in Section l,
that It Is unlawful for pny person,
firm, or corporation to SELL hold for
sale. or give away any nursery stock
ple. il the same are infested with IN
sects or infected with dangerous ana
contagious plant diseases.
Section 2, makes il the duty oi
this board 10 prevent the inirodnei
tiou aud dissemination OF injurious
insect pests and contagious plant dis
cases The only method by which
tie board can perform this duty Is (
Inspect suca stock of all persons VIII.
are Offering the same for sale Ol
course. if person wants to grow
stock for his own use, ii might be
said that he had 0 perfect right TO
allow II to become infested but this
Is an erroneous view Tor the reason
that the growing Of infested or ~
foctpd stock for ones own use might
ttrfanFer the orchards Of his neigh
bofs. and 10 such cases he is as muei
iaWena bic o the coatr0l % this board
! in the enforcement OF this law as Il
lie we're onsrjns il for sale.
YOU NIL see by Section 8 Of the
law tha tho inspectors are anthorlz
ed and empowered to inspect, treat
or DESTROY Insects or diseases upGl
ite property OF private individuals ar
lNrrll as corporations or firms. This
part OF the law is not being rigidlS
enforced for want OF funds, but as
the law requires ms 10 apportion the
east Of inspection among all those
lvho are Offering stock for sale, We
are conilnlng our operations, at pres
tent 10 them.
The fact that you intended TO sci
part OF your stock, or offer it foi
isisla, 5r0nght yon under the opera
fiion OF tile nursery Inspection law
land our Inspector. therefore. IN tn
lfulfiilment 81 bis duty inspected
your stock and rendered you a bill
Itor the expense rhcre WAS no pri
EAafe 9f pnDlls Hiait i'tNuifHu ~ ~
lmatter, but only plain performance
of official duty
proper understanding OF The in
lttntion and good features, and ina
/ eood results. Of the law would Ger
ltainiv dIsabusc the mind OF any IN
itolllgent person Of TIE faet llia1 there
Twas any iFltenlion Of comnlittlng an
sa.csllAd graft at bis expense an
persaaand4 Tint il real illteliIgnul
! Consideration OF tbeHe qnestion-
whica affect the public community
| viii dc tels much 70 lessen the Of
irepo1lea aHa sels aSlAvA.t "A i3E !,
considered cry OF graft.
4 am giving this much reply &c
|you letter wit1f il. chope that yor
|I'naT se9 tit TO Zen be She questlor
frof1 Eys T fave talle1ei'f poi'lt o.