Evening star., 1898-02-04
DECREE MODIFIED
Only Unsatisfactory Fruit to Be
Barred From Germany.
ADVICES FROM AMBASSADOR WHITE
Prompt Effect of His Remon-
strances.
THE PERNICIOUS SCALE

The State Department was notified by
Ambassador White at Berlin today of the
modification of the original decree issued
by the Prussian minister of finance. DR..
MIGUEL, prohibiting the Importation of
American fruit According to the ambas-
sador's cablegram the decree does not as
he advised yesterday. apply to dried fruits,
while fresh fruit will be admitted to entry
If an examination shows it's condition to
be satisfactory
If this modification has been made in the
decree it would appear that the prompt
representations made by the United States
have received an equally prompt consider
alton on the other side. 1t is certain that
if the decree as originally promulgated
had been applied to shipments of fruit in
transit, as its terms indicated, the ship
pers would have had right to claim in
demnity from the Prussian government
for the damages sustained by them, and it
would have been regarded by the United
States government as matter of duty to
sustain this demand for indemnity.
Must Await Full Advices.
The State Department is now Obliged to
await the receipt of full advices as 10 the
exact nature of the modified decree and
watch its workings. 1t is hoped that the
examinations of the fruit may not be made
unduly severe, for it is believed that, as in
the case of meat products in the early
stages of the exclusion DEGREES 1t will be
possible to rake II ese inspections so har-
ass1ng to importers of fruit that there will
De no inducement to continue the trade. If
such disposition is shown it will be the
duty of the State Department to lodge a
hrm protest, otherwise there is danger that
the success of the German government in
eAciudinS tbs important fruit trade will
nave an effect upon the governments of
other European nations. which, under
aglarian influences, are seeking pretexts
for cutting down American competition
with their farmers.
The bundesrath's action against the i'm
portation of live plants from America is
due to series of protests from shippers
anected, especially those of Hamburg on
the lower Rhine, and at Emmerich. It's
decision forbids the Importation only where
the fruit is affected by the aspidotus per-
niciosus, San Jose plant bug
Secretary Wilson has taken steps for the
collection of all information obtainable in
the Department of Agriculture bearing on
the shipment of fresh fruit to the German
empire This is preliminary to any action
which may be found necessary after full
official information as to the scope of the
decree of prohibition is obtained. In the
absence Of much information the Secretary
manifests a Discrimination to talk about
the matter for publication. When full data
Is at hand he will probably direct an in
vestigation into the question of the ship
ment of fruit and the danger, If any. which
exists of its being infected with pests that
will do harm after they are fully developed
The San Jose Scale.
In connection with the current discussion
Of Prussia's action, some reference has
been made to what is known as the San
jose, or pernicious SCALE a pest said to
have been imported into California from
abroad. There is, 1t is said, perhaps no
IL sect capable of causing greater damage
to fruit interests in the United States, or
rH-rl fv, fI,..r old
side of the United States the insect is
known to occur in Australia, Chile and Ha-
wall, and the inference is that it was i'll
troduced here from one of those countries
The spread of the scale from the point Of
original fnfeStation in the San Jose valley
was somewhat rapid, its areas increasing
In every direction. but mora rapidly toward
the west and north Afterward it spread
throughout California and Oregon, to
Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and
Mexico, and later ii manifested itself in
Virginia, Maryland, Indiana, Pennsylvania
and other places in the east The pest Is
said to spread relentlessly and steadily
over all deciduous fruit trees-trunks
limbs, foliage and fruit.
1t is only question of two OF three years
before the death of the plant attacked is
brought about, and the possibility of IN
jury which, from experience with other
scale enemies of deciduous plants, might be
easily ignored or thought insignificant, is
soon starthngly demonstrated.
The general appearance which the scales
present is Of grayish, very slightly rough
eneG, scurfy dep posit. The natural rich red
Dish color of the young limbs of peach,
pear and apple trees is quite obscured when
these trees are thickly infested. and they
rave then every appearance of being coat
ed With ashes Fruit severely attacked be-
comes distorted, rough and pitted frequent
ly cracking. and may eventually fall pre-
maturely or at least become unmarketable.
The scale is frequently carried about on
fruit. there being cases on record where
California pears and apples found on in
vestigation to be infested with male and
female scales have been bought from fruit
stalls in various parts of the country. The
principal method of the spread of the young
lice Is by means of other insects and by
birds
The Mcguire Resolution.
Chairman Hit of the House committee on
foreign affairs expects to report favorably
the Mcguire resolution asking the State
Department for information on the action
of Germany concerning the exclusion of
American fruit.
Discussed Mt the Cabinet Meeting.
The decree of the German government
relative to American fruit was talked over
ct the cabinet meeting today, and figures
we're produced to show the great import
nnce OF the trade rut In jeopardy by this
sudden and unprecedented action On The
part of Germany. The modification Of the
decree made known by the latest advices
from Ambassador White was taken as an
evidence that the matter Is still subject
to diplomatic adjustment
Germany Might BE Right.
Secretary Wilson explained to the cabi-
net that it is true that certain fruit dis
eases can be carried on the fruit, spreading
infections to healthful orchards at a great
distance In times past. he said. certain
states of the Union had prohibited infected
fruit being taken into their borders from,
infected sections of other states.
The action OF Germany. therefore, might
be entirely proper and within the right.
Investigation would have to be made to
ascertain this Secretary Wilson said that
IN the last year the exports of fruit from
this country to Germany reached IL total
value of H,oooooo. and our products are
constantly growing In popularity.
TO BE FAvORABLY REPORTED.