The director or his deputies shall have authority to inspect any nursery, orchard, fruit or garden plantation, field, park, cemetery, private premises or public place, and any place which might become infested or infected with insect pests or diseases. He shall also have authority to inspect or to reinspect at any time or place any nursery stock shipped in or into the state, and to treat it as hereinafter provided. For the purpose of inspection and carrying out the provisions of this act or any rule, regulation, order or quarantine made or promulgated in pursuance of this act, the officers and employees of the department of agriculture shall have authority to stop any vehicle or other means of conveyance found carrying nursery stock on the public highways and shall have free access in the daytime to any nursery, orchard, garden, field, packing ground, building, cellar, freight or express office, warehouse, car or other vehicle, vessel or other place where it may be necessary or desirable for them to go, or which it may be necessary for them to inspect or treat in the performance of their duties, except cellar and rooms of private residences. It shall be unlawful to deny such access to the officers and employees of the department of agriculture, or to offer any resistance to such officers and employees, or to thwart or hinder such inspection by misrepresenting or concealing facts or conditions, or otherwise.