Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-04-15

"'rhiitt'H. ~. Va. tITli IL ht "
cent seizure by the New York Custom
authorities Of the village Of Meadow ants
which Mrs. &. w. Morse wished t. bring
with her from Europe is only an episode
IN the perpetual war wa.cd against un-
desirable immigrants. human. animal
and vegetable. Mrs. Morsc's village,
like the one which reached Philadelphia
about a fortnight before. was probably
n by-product Of the increased interest in
nature study. but the United States GOV
ernment not only d%iscouragcS such aids
Ia amateur research. but absolutely pro
hIblts them. BY a law passed i'm 1905
the importation IF living insects into this
country is forbidden and there are other
laws which regulate 50 strictly the i'm
portation If larger animals that in many
cases no discretion is left 10 the author
tiles.
Nevertheless tourists and amateur sci
entists are continually endeavoring 10
Introduce additions to the fora and fau
ma of the United States which the Uni
ted States is happy Ia be without. IL
IL estimated that fully one halt If pests
that afhict farmers and stork have been
imported from abroad. many of course
by accident in the course of commercial
shipments. but some brought in DELHI
%erately by misguided enthusiasts or
thoughtlcss travellers.
The classic instance Of misguided en-
thusiasm j. the introduction IN 1853 Of
the destructive gypsy moth 10y a scientist
named Trouvelot. Trouvclot. a French
man by birth. an astronomer In IIar.
ward: unfortunately he was also an ar
dent cniomologist who had devoted much
Of his leisure time a. the consideration
Of the silk worm industry. In an evil
hour he conceived the idea Of breeding
q harder worm which might withstand
the diseases which were then ravaeing
rearing establishments in France. and
in pursuit Of this purpose imported some
gypsy moths. intending 10 cross them
with some Of the native species found in
the United States. II 80 Glanced. how
ever. that h. left the window of his
study in Mcdford. Mass. open one day.
When h. returned a mass of eggs laid
by the gypsy moth visitors had diSap
pcared-apparcnily il had blown ont Of
the open window. At this point Trou-
velots experiments stopped. Their re-
suits did not. They are still with H.
and have cost the country millions Of
dollars. For twenty wears the GYPSY
moth attracted no attention. The people
Of Mcdford may have wondered al the
destruction Of their trees. hut the dam
age remained local aud the outside world
knew nothing of il. IN 1850. however.
the pest suddenly became prominent.
Since that time a bitter warfare haS
been wagcl against it.. but the victory j.
moi Yet won.
Strangely enough. the automobile has
proved an ally III the moth. Not only
does il stir up currents Of air which
scatter the fallen and infected foliage.
hut il actually carries insects many
miles into districts which have hitherto
been immune. And on one occasion some
wears ago there is every reason to he
licve that n deliberate attempt was made
tn spread the pest. Eggs said 10 have
been found in California were seat 70
the Department ~ Agriculture for cX-
animation and for Il time il seemed Ger
tam lnHl III some Nid'shOllsshit NdN lhf
pest had Travelled across the entire con
tincnt. Investigation revealed the fact
however. that the man who forwarded
the eggs had previously been employed
i'm fighting the moth ia Massachusetts.
Upon the arrival Of a scientist attached
Ia the Department. he left his home and
remained without address until the in
vesticator had departed. There was no
further rcportS Of the GYPSY moth IN Cal
~ifornia.
In this ease the probable motive was q
visionary >clcnc Ia profit in some way
from the government appropriation 10
stamp out the pcStilcncc. Rni ignorance
can do as much harm a. malice. Tray
elers with the most innocent intentions
In the world delight in bringing back
with them souvenirs Of their travels and
few have amy conception of the ease with
which disease il spread among plants
and animals. Because of IL traffic with
China. Japan and the South Seas. san
Francisco. III particular. j. q f~lv"rite
mort Of entry for strange and obnoxious