Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-17

pose imported some gypsy moths. in
tending 10 cross them with some OF
the native species found in the United
States. II so CHANGED. however, that
ne left the window OF his study I'm Med
ford. Mass. open one day. When hs
returned a mass of eggs laid by the
gypsy visitors had disappeared-appar-
entity IL had blown out of the open win
dow. At this point Trouvelot's expert
ments stopped. Their results did not
Taey are still with US. and have cost
the country millions OF dollars. For
90 years the gypsy moth attracted no
attention. The peop-e of Mcdford may
have wondered at The destruction OF
their trees. but the damage remained
local and the outside world knew moth
ing OF it. In 1889. however. the pest
suddenly became prominent. Since thst
time a bitter warfare ias been waged
against it. but the victory is not ye5
won.
Travellers with the most innocent
intentions in the world delight in bring
ing back with them souvenirs OF their
travels. and few have any conception
OF the ease with which disease is
spread among plants and animals. Be
cause of its traffic with China, Japan
and the South seas, San Francisco. in
particular, is a favorite port Of entry
FOR strange and obnoxious insects-or
would be If the various exotic seeds.
fruits and pants which have attracted
.heir attention in the orient and the
tropics were not ruthIessly taken from
the incoming tourists. In one instance,
fer example. some strange looking
beans were found TO be swarming with
weeviI. The individual from whom
this precious prize was taken may
have resented the governments action
as a piece OF petty interference with
personal hobby, but the government
saw in the beans not a hobby, but a
very vital danger to the vegetable gar
dens OF the country.
More enterprising travellers have at
various times attempted TO bring In as
a curiosity the Australian flying fox
Unknown in this country this over
grown bat, which at its largest, meas !
ures more than FIVE feet across the
tips OF its wings. is one OF the great |
pests of Australia. In their camps
{, the dense scrub OF gullies and \
swamps, they may be seen by the /
crowded so thickly on the I
trees that branches are frequently brok- |
en- bv their weight. Their nightly raids |
in search Of food cover considerable !
distances, and they are especially par
tial 10 fgs. bananas, peaches and 9TH !
pr soft fruit Various expedients have /
been tried TO protect the orchards but /
!. Hitherto those have proved more ex- \
n. nsive than successful. on one occa-
sson some hundred thousand foxes
we're shot at an expense 10 the govern
mont OF New South Wales for powder
and shot of 80 cents each. A little
ater wholesale destruction by means
y dynamite and other high explosives
was attempted. The foxes avoided
the trees that had been so carefully
charged and the explosives did no
harm.
The mongoose IS another creature
which individuals persist in bringing
Ininyited to these shores. For this
4 Is perhaps fair 70 hold Rudyard Kip
ling largely responsible. The mon
,oose he immortaliZed under the name
u riki-tfki-tavi In the Jungle Book" Is
, very attractive little hero, but no
natter what the mongoose may be In
india. IA America he Is a nuisance.
When no snakes are available TO ap-
1ease his appetite he does not scorn
chickens. young pigs. kids, lambs. pup
,ies, kittens, vegetables and fruits.
Despite overwhelming evidence OF
he havoc he created. however. he fire.
luently appears as a pet in charge OF
hose who should know better. One