The Washington times., 1912-08-19

Grave dangers which threaten the
fruits and plants of this country have
been met by Congress, or at least the
effort to meet them has been made. by
the passage Of the bill to regulate the
importation of nursery stock and other
plants and plant products and to en-
able the Secretary OF Agriculture to
take adequate quarantine measures
against plant disease and insect pests.
The bill has been passed by both hous-
es of Congress. The Senate put 1t
through with scarcely a word Of dis
cussion, despite the fact 1t promises to
be of untold value to the fruit and plant
interests of this country.
Millions of dollars are now lost annu-
ally in this country by the ravages of
insects and diseases on plants and
fruits The United States is the only
great power without protection up to
this time from the importation OF in
sect infested or diseased plant stock.
The purpose of the bill just passed is to
afford this protection.
Dumping Ground For Refuse.
The United States. according to the
| Investigations of the Senate Committee
on Agriculture, has become a sort of
| dumping ground for refuse stock. Dis
eased livestock is excluded by law but
diseased and insect-infected plants are
not barred.
More than half of the important in
sect pests of fruits and farm crops are
of foreign origin and these now cause
| loss of nearly $500, 100000 annually. A
properly enforced quarantine and in
spection law in the past would have ex-
cluded many, If not most, of these insect
enemies and also many plant diseases.
But while many pests and diseases
of plant life have been introduced, there
are others that threaten. Important
| orchard and fruit pests in Europe and
Asia can be guarded against and there
| is just now especial danger of new and
! destructive pests from Asia.
Pest All Over the World.
One of the gravest dangers threatened
to the fruit industry Of this country Is
the Mediterranean fly. This pest has
moved around the world from the Medi'
terranean regions to Australia and
Hawaii. The States on the Pacific coast
are alarmed lest the fly be introduced
from Hawaii, for if 1t should get a foot
hold it would ruin the citrous and de-
ciduous fruit ranches on the Pacific
coast, and having done that would move
| on eastward.
II is believed the enactment of the new
measure will help shut out the Mediter
ranean fly. Another grave danger 1:
the likelihood of the introduction O.
the potato wart with imported potatoes
This disease would put a blight on pota
to production in this country.
Still another grave danger is the like
lihood of the establishment in this coun'
try of the white-pine blister rust, which
has caused enormous losses in certain
| districts in Europe, particularly to seed
ling pine stock. This disease in recen
years has been imported on Seeding
pines into many States. .
San Jose Scale Feared.
As an illustration of the pests, or dis
eases, which this legislation is Intended
first, to shut out, and then, if intro
duced, to stamp out, the San Jose scal'
may be cited. 1t was introduced from
North China, and has been carried int
every State in the Union on nurser!
stock. This pest has already cost thu
orchardists Of this country SO,0OO,OOO I