Re: clematis + rant about upcoming regulations
- Subject: Re: clematis + rant about upcoming regulations
- From: M* T*
- Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 20:48:04 -0400
Not Gene, but will stick in my oar here. At the present, you can
send Clematis seed with no problems. Certain woody plants on APHIS
restricted list might be a problem, but as far as I have been able to
ascertain, Clematis are not on their list.
<rant>
Gene mentioned a rumor that this will change. My reading of posts on
various lists as well as the regulation on the APHIS site indicates
that it is NOT a rumor.
The government, apparently at the urging of the folks who are trying
to ensure that nothing but native plants grow in this country, issued
a notice that as of September this year they would begin to enforce a
regulation already on the books requiring phytosanitary certificates
for ALL seed imported to the US.
A member of another list telephoned APHIS -PPQ and confirmed "that
enforcement of the rules requiring a point-of-origin phytosanitary
certificate with all incoming seed have been stayed for 120 days from
the original date of September 21st. This has been done to allow
foreign governments to train their inspectors in our regulations."
After that time, unless some sort of sanity (unlikely with our
sainted bureaucrats) prevails, we gardeners are only going to be able
to obtain seed from the giant seed companies (most owned by the
equally giant chemical companies) who can afford the time and expense
involved in obtaining phyto. certificates for every shipment of seed.
IMO, this will be a tragedy of vast proportions. It will probably
put an end to all the major seed exchanges - at least to any
contributions of seed from overseas members, which I read for the
NARGS exchange amounts to about 50%. It will mean that small seed
nurseries like Gardens North in Canada will likely have to stop
shipping seed to the US.
Activation of this regulation will severely curtail the selection of
seed available to US gardeners. We will be reduced to what is
available off the shelf at Home Depot or through the big US seed
companies who offer very limited selections.
If you guys on the list are upset at this prospect, I suggest you
write a letter to your local Congressperson and Senator indicating
your concern.
Supposedly, this regulation is designed to stop the importation and
spread of "alien" invasive plants. Unfortunately, about every alien
that is invasive is already here - many of them planted and promoted
by our own US gov't. agencies. Seed of rare and difficult to find
perennials, woodies and vines for hort. purposes will become
impossible to get legally at anything like a reasonable cost.
If we, as gardeners, make no protest, we will not be able to complain
when we can't get our hands on seed of some plant we lust for that is
unobtainable here, or when the rest of the world talks about nifty
plants that our nursery persons can't get seed of to propagate for us
to buy...
The following was posted by Claire Peplowski on Alpine-L during a
discussion of this issue. I don't think she'd mind my quoting it here
for those interested in pursuing the issue:
" <A HREF="http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm";>Click here:
U.S.
Senate: Contacting the Senate, E-Mail Addresses (sorted
alphabetical)</A>
Above are the alphabetically listed PO mail addresses of all US
Senators.
You must write a letter (on computer is fine) but it must be mailed
snail
mail or noone will read it or compile the number of letters on the
subject of
change in seed importation.
E-mail will not be read or replied to. It is answered automatically
and
there is no compilation of the subject. I live in New York State and
the
only answer I ever received was from Hilary Clinton and that was an
on
subject form letter.
It does best to eliminate anger in these letters and address the
subject from
the pragmatic point of view. It is also best to keep it to one page
and
three paragraphs. Keep a copy of your letter and repeat it in a
month or so
asking for what action was taken. The individual has no other option
so
using this one is the best one can do."
Rodger Whitlock posted these very good points in response to the
above:
"As a toiler in the depths of a bureaucracy who has, on occasion,
dealt with letters from the proletariat, let me enlarge on these
points somewhat.
1. Organized letter-writing campaigns are recognized for what they
are and consequently discounted. Hence, use your own words.
2. Believe it or not, the person opening and reading your letter is a
human being. When you write, write as if to an honored friend (more
or less) with whom you disagree. Maintain your dignity. Do not engage
in invective or insult. To do so will result in your letter being
discounted as the product of a crank.
3. Keep it short and to the point. Say clearly and succinctly what
you are in favour of or opposed to and, maybe, *very* briefly why.
The fact of your opposition is probably more important than your
reasons. As for length, "one page, three *short* paragraphs" may be
overly generous. It's fair to say "if you want a more detailed
exposition of my position, let me know." But don't be surprised when
no interest is expressed.
4. Send a copy to whoever else besides your own man in Washington may
count: the secretary of agriculture, for example; the head of APHIS
might be another.
5. Remember that in the present instance "protecting American
agriculture against pests and disease" probably trumps "it's a free
country and I can do what I want" in the arena of public argument
even though many of us believe regulations like this are without
logical foundation. It's hard to fight motherhood and apple pie, even
if the motherhood is surrogate and the apple pie came from
McGreasebomb's.
6. Whatever you write, sleep on it for a night or two and then review
carefully before revising. Read it out loud: you will be surprised
how stiff your prose sounds that way. IMHO (in my humble opinion), a
well written text should sound good when read aloud.
7. Understand that your letter is simply counted as pro/con on this
or that issue, and the actual content may be irrelevant insofar as
it goes beyond stating your position. The addressee probably only
sees "twenty letters this week against ag regulation enforcement,
five in favour."
8. Despair not. Every genuine, sincere individual letter carries
surprising weight. Every one represents the opinions of thousands of
people who didn't take the time to write. Your letter *can* make a
difference. If this plan for enforcement does come into effect, those
of you who couldn't be bothered to write about it have no one but
yourselves to blame. (I exaggerate somewhat.)
9. Handwriting may be slightly more influential than computer
printing, but I wouldn't count on it.
10. Don't paint the issue in black and white, but perhaps suggest
that the action you oppose arises from just that kind of error in
thinking. Remember that those promulgating this change think they are
doing good.
11. Above all *write*!"
Further reading on this subject: (note URLs that go to two lines need
to be copied and pasted as they often won't work if you click them)
The full text of the announcement as published in the Federal
Register
may be read at:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2001_registe
r&docid=01-18299-filed
Posts on Alpine-L relating to this issue:
http://listserv.surfnet.nl/scripts/wa.exe?S2=alpine-L&q=&s=Re%3A+Ameri
can+Seed%2FBulb+import&f=&a=&b=
http://listserv.surfnet.nl/scripts/wa.exe?S2=alpine-L&q=&s=comments+on
+phytosanitary+certs.&f=&a=&b=
I am not against native plants nor for invasive species, but IMO,
those who have made "native" a religion are going too far.
</rant>
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: DX Victor <david@victor.u-net.com>
>
> Hi there Gene,
>
> The point that Ceres was trying to ascertain was would it be OK for
me (in
> the UK) to send Clematis seeds to Ceres. I have no problem
sending them
> from here, but you may have a problem receiving them in the US.
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