Plant Pest Control

The State Entomologist and the State Plant Pathologist are
responsible for the control of insects and plant diseases. Their pro-
grams seek to prevent the introduction of any injurious insect and
plant disease into Maryland and to control and eradicate insects and
disease within the state. Major activities include Nursery Inspection,
Japanese Beetle Retardation and Quarantine Inspection, Apiary In-
spection, Mosquito Control, Oak Wilt Eradication, White Pine Blister
Rust Control, Dutch Elm Disease Control and Potato Seed Inspection
(Code 1957, Art. 48, sees. 70-110, 190-99).

State Department of Markets

The State Department of Markets carries on a number of programs
designed to serve the every day needs of the farmer in marketing
his products and to insure an equitable flow of these products in the
marketing channels. The Department offers a grading and inspection
service, market price reporting, and a marketing service and in-
formation program. In some of this work it cooperates with the
United States Department of Agriculture. The Department enforces
the Egg Grade, Size and Labeling Law, the Weights and Measures
Law, and Cantaloupe Maturity Law and issues licenses required under
the Poultry Sale and Transportation Law (Code 1957, Art. 66C,
sees. 65-83, 104-10; Art. 48, sees. 160-66, 184-89; Art. 97, sees. 1-70).

State Inspection and Regulatory Service

The State Inspection and Regulatory Service enforces the State
Laws relating to feed, fertilizer, agricultural liming material and
agricultural pesticides. These laws are classified as the "Correct
Labeling Acts." The agency's work consists of registration of brand
names; collection, chemical analysis, and examination of samples;
publication of results of tests; and prosecution of violators (Code
1957, Art. 48, sees. 116-47; Art. 66C, sees. 471-85).

Dairy Inspection Service

The Dairy Inspection Service administers the dairy inspection
laws. It issues permits to dairy plants and operators of bulk milk
tank trucks; examines and licenses milk and cream weighers,
samplers and testers; calibrates the glassware used in testing milk
and cream; check-tests milk and cream samples of plants and
commercial laboratories; checks accuracy of weighing and measuring
devices in dairy plants; and checks calibrations of farm milk tanks
(Code 1957, Art. 43, sees. 569-97).

Seed Inspection Service

The Seed Inspection Service enforces the Maryland Seed Law. All
seeds sold within the state must be properly labeled and inspected,
sampled, and analyzed to insure compliance with label declaration.
The Service checks samples for purity, noxious weed seed and
germination. It also analyzes seeds on request of firms and individuals
(Code 1957, Art. 48, sees. 148-59).