The Washington herald., 1914-05-15

it. In 1889 however, the pest suddenly
became prominent. Since that time a
bitter warfare has been waged against
1t, but the victory is not yet won.
In this case the probable motive was
a visionary scheme to profit in some way
from government appropriation to stamp
out the pestilence. But ignorance can
do as much harm as malice. Travellers
with the most innocent intentions in the
world delight in bringing back with them
souvenirs of their travels and few have
any conception of the ease with which
disease is spread among plants and ami
mails.
The Unwelcomc Mongoose.
The mongoose is another creature
which individuals persist in bringing un-
invited to these shores. For this is,
perhaps, fair to hold Rudyard Kipling
largely responsible. The mongoose he
immortalized under the name of Riki-
Tiki-Tavi in the Jungle Book is very
attractive little hero. but no matter what
the mongoose may be in India, in Amer
lea he is nuisance. When no snakes
are available to appease his appetite he
does not scorn chickens. young pigs. kids,
lambs. puppies, kittens, vegetables and
fruits.
Still another instance of the case with
which experiments of this kind run away
with the experimenters is the Austrian
rabbit. Rabbits were originally brough,
to Australia to provide sport for the
early settlers. 1t proved expensive sport.
Millions of dollars" says a report OF
the Department of Agriculture, have
been spent for bounties. poisons, and
various other methods of destruction;
thousands of miles of rabbit-proof fences
have been built, and hundreds OF
schemes for destroying the animals have
been suggested, but nothing mas yet been
found that will effectually exterminate
the rest
~ English sparrow, is also an in
s>:.---s of an anticipated blessing thai
turned into a curse, and something OF
the same sort is feared in connection
with the starting.
Thrive Under New Conditions.
1t can in fact be safely asserted tina.
no one is able to predict accurately what
will be the behavior Of any form of life
when taken from its accustomed environ.
ment and placed in new surroundings, but
the great majority Of the pests which
have been brought from Europe and gain.
ed foothold here have been vastly mort
showed themselves in their old home
They are freed from their natural en-.
emies who formerly preyed upon them
they find a longer Summer and in con-
sequence a longer breeding season thar
they are accustomed to, and the large
scale on which American agriculture ID
conducted does not permit so readily Of
restrictive measures as the limited hold
ings and intensive cultivation general In
Europe.
In. the course of centuries 1t Is prob.
able that nature, left to herself. would
find means to reduce their ravages t.
the original dimensions but a centur,
or two, mere trifie in the eyes o,
nature. is long time to the farmer
who sees his crops fail and his live
stock sicken. For this reason the gov,
ernments of all new countries are to
day extremely wary of importations thai
may produce results quite different from
those that are hoped for. On the othel
hand the Old World Is by no means %
receptive to pests that reach 1t from the
new. Many die out completely and few
prove serious scourge. An important
exception to this. however. Is the phyllo
xera which has worked. untold evil In
the vineyards of Europe. The disease
was brought from America In a shipment
Of rooted vines to France In 1889 Since
then 1t has proved itself a pest of greatei
devastation than 1t was capable Of here.
It would, in fact. be greatly to thu
advantage of all concerned IL every re
turning traveller. who CONTEMPLATED
bringing with him bird. beast or plant
should remember that what Is interest
ing is always welcome. II IL 90. much
easier to introduce disease than Il
stamp It out. to breed undesirable crea.
tures than to exterminate them, tina,
curiosity. whims. sentiment or even scien
tific interest hardly compensate the coun
try for unnecessary risks.