The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-22
IysECT-INFESTED TOBACCO.
The French Government Declines TO Receive
an Importation of Kentucky Leaf.
-NYashincinn Siarl

Washington Starl
Exporters of American tobacco are muCh
aciiated lust at present over an occurrence
which seriously threatens their trade.
Three hundred and thirty hoGsheads Of
Kentucky tobacco shipped from New YORK re-
Gently have been rejected by the French Gov
eminent. to which the goods were consigned
EpOn lis arrival at MarSellles the Shipment
was found to be filed with insects, which the
experts over there declare TO have been bred
in the tobacco. Accordingly, the entire ship
mont was refused.
The loss is considerable. as The Star is in
formed but this is not regarded as Of much
importance compared with the prospect O.
possible injury to the entire trade in tobacco
between this country and France In France
the government has an entire monopoly OF the
tobacco manufacture. and IT would be a very
serious thing if it should take n notion tina:
the Kentucky leaf was likely to be infested
with bugs Therefore. the merchants IN
terested have appealed 10 the Department o.
Agriculture here on the subject and United
States Entomologist Riley has responded with
an opinion which the French experts cannot
help regarding as authoritative
According To his statement the insect IN
ouestion is a beetle known as the "tOOthed de-
mestes." which commonly preys upon all sorts
Of animal matter, being most often found
among hoOfs, bones andhides. Ithkewise at
tacks hams and other cured meats, and has for
wears been known as a more or less serlOnS
enemy to the leather trade manufactured
boots and shoes having been assalled by il
with disastrous results. SKINS coming 10 TINS
country from Russia, Turkey, India and else
where are often damaged by this beetle. It's
appearance as a destroyer of tobacco is quite "A
new thing.
However. it is asserted by Prof. Riley that
the beetle was certainly not bred in the to-
bacco. 1t must have made Us way in the lar
Val stage of its existence into the hogshcads,
either when they were waiting on the wharf
for shipment or on shipboard Having enter
ed the hogsheads the Larvae bored their way
into the contents and, being transformed
through the pupa stage. became beetles But
in no event is 1t possible that these beetles
could breed in the tobacco; they must
either have made their way ont of the hog
heads or have died in them. II is deemed of
the utmost Importance that the French Gov
eminent should be convinced that the Ken.
tuckv leaf is not shipped across the ocean
filed with the germs Of bugs If such a no.
ton were permitted to stand undisputed
European nations would be preiudiced against
all American tobacco and great detriment
would arise to the growers and the trade
ssOme 1000. 900 damages were involved. and
as the question raised has important Interior
hearings. Professor Riley has been slow and
cautions in forming a final opinion, having
had the matter under consideration for several
weeks and personally inspected the damaged
tobacco in New York The interesting point
entomologically was whether the insect could
develop and propagate in tobacco, as some Of
the French experts maintained that il could
Professor Riley, after reviewing all the
facts pronounces unhesitatingly that such Is
not the case, and emphatically declares that
no injury has ever been caused to tobacco by
this beetle. except where the tobacco was
stored adjacent to infested animal matter:
that the evidence all shows conclusively that
no damage occurred during the shipment to
the seaboard from interior points, and that
without much doubt il took place on the
wharyes Cf the railroad during the period
while the tobacco was stored prior TO ship
ment