New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-14
INSPECTION LAWS AT FAULT.
HOW MANY PLANT DISEASES AND NOXlOuS
WEEDS ARE INTRODUCED INTO THE
UNITED STATES

Washington. Nov. Il (SpeciaD.-Germany's att
tude toward the exporters Of the United States
and her action looking 10 the exclusion Of Amer
I ican products on the ground that they bring dis
ease into the empire. and providing for the IN
spection OF all fruits and plants. TO ascertain
whether or not they affected with the San
Jose scale together with the more recent action OF
the Governor Of New-Zealand providing for the
inspection of ell plants. trees. etc. Imported into
the Islands directs some attention TO the cond-
ton Of such matters in this country. At the pres
ent time there is no law restricting unlimited and
unnspected importations Of seeds, tEees. plants
cuttings etc. at any port Of the United States
The farmers OF tie country realize this 10 their
sorrow when they consider that many OF the worst
plant diseases insects and weeds have been brought
in with careless seed or plant mportatons. and
that they could have been excluded. In large mea-
ure a. least had there been good inspection laws
The country has voted to restrict the immigration
Of undesirable persons Why should Il not vote TO
keep out more undesirable weeds and diseases
The immigratoh can rade ~ naterisi but the
weeds and diseases never on inc contrary, lhey
get worse and spread In an drecil9hs e"t ~
tail expenS- scientists wouIu De ul.s 80
fut The ends 10 be attained would certainly justify
'' Ib" ineStion Of few instances of the damage
done through unrestricted importations will show
~ ir,ro-,snce Of the subject the people OF any
country. Every one Is familiar win the sah JOS
scale: this introduced into THIS country as iale
az 1870 and has swept orchards to such an extent
that is now getting the United states mo uoube
win GERMANY The Russian thistle l. another i'm"
narration coming in with haxseed from Russia
The water hyacnth which has choked up me
rivers Of Florida until navigation Is almost impossl-
BE was an introduction Of an apparently harmless
ornamental plant. The lniroductloM OF the coiiee
disease from Africa practically Killed the Ce3ioh
coffee Industry The brler rose since us hi OuuC-
lion into Hawaii has become the worst weed OF me
trouics The prickly pear. highly priced as 1000
IN : oily has proved a curse 10 South Africa Ac-
cording to DR. d q. Fairchd. OF the Departmennt
worst annual weeds Of Iowa are foreign intrOduc-
lions DR. Fairchid who has charge OF the plant
and seed introduction Of ne Depdr,mhen,' b vnIs
and In the new island possessions concerning THIS
the matter Of plant and seed inspection IS
hor,s ,1ii said DR. FIirchild Rigid Inspection
and WHERE necessary, fumieaton. end even de-
Drov;1ed for No one but will acnit that We
have enough bad weeds. insects ana iunEOus u-a
eases 20 combat. without getting ~ any mo-
In recent bulletin by Dr; l.. - itowdi -, ..,s
Ciovcrn1ncnt entOmOlogst, the dangerous insects
liable 10 be introduced into the nlted states nun
Japan are described. and II would seem tnat some
Introduction Of the new corn Mni loew 'Vr oroo
might prove curse to our culuvators Anie'icah
capital and labor too are gons 10 sbomid
he tsksn al once 70 prevent the Introduction there
Of diseases and weeds for which the planters later
will b. sorry The banana disease OF me ~
Islands would surely take the pront OF or banana
raising in Por.O Rico. while the three new insect
and f!ngOus diseases Of the COTE" plant that nave
and tho Philippines should py an means De hi IS, ~
out OF orr coffee growing regions. Inc Qua haiin
corec fungus has devastated whole plantations IN
Central America. and yet enthusiastic planters IN
tTavaii are proposing TO import large quantities
Of sd and plants from Qua temala In order TO OBJ
,aia Improved varieties, without tnought. proo-
INV O. the dangers they run Of introducing
fn-ovrhout The islands a disease which vii de-
stfoy profit and principal