The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-02

BIzcksburk, Va. Jan. DIR. w. J.
SchOene, acting director Of the vir-
gintA Experiment Station, has this to
say about the importation Of danger
Gus insects and plant diseases:
Very few people are aware Of the
danger Of tntroducing pests into ths
United States from foreign countries.
Until thc recent formation Of the
Federal Quarantine Board the United
States has been the only great power
without protection from the inp6rta-
lion of insect infested or diseased
plant stock Most of the European
powerH have very strict quarantine
and inspection inws. The same u
true Of the important Engiish and
other colonial possessions. while tho
countries Of France, Germany. Hcl-
land. Switzerland. Austria Hungary
and Turkey prohibit absolutely thu
nursery stock. Thus the United States
became for many years sort OF
dumping ground for refuse stock The
result Of this lack Of supervision Is
that fully Atty per cent OF the Inn
porfAnf Injurious insect pests in this
country are or foreign origin. The
cotton-boll weevfi, the San Jose scA1e,
the gypsy and brown-tail moths, the
alfalfa weevii the Argentine ant. and
many other species that have become
established in this country.
Although great number Of for
eigh insect pests have been imported
and have become established In the
United States, there remain many
others with equal capacity for harm
which have not yet reached our shofea
or crossed our borders. The tncreAs-
ing business relations Of the United
States with foreign countries and par
ticulariy with China and the other
oriental countries adds enormously to
the risk OF importation OF new pests.
The insects and plant diseases Of
these countries are little known. The
possibility Of introducing Inset pests
and plant diseases from this region
has been abundantly illustrated by the
San Jose scale and the chestnut blight.
both OF which have become thorough
sly established In this country.
There are now being shipped into
Virginia each year many ornamental
plants and large quantities Of seeding
nursery stock from the countries OF
Holland. France and Belgium. The
presence in those countries Of many
Iyaangerous insect and plant diseases
makes the examination of this stock
Imperative IL the orchards and forests
OF this State are to be preserved.
The pass1Se ~ the Federal Quar-
|Antine Act a. IN n has done much To
improve the qualify OF nursery stock
shipped from foreign countries. But
this law placed upon ench State tho
responsibility concerning tho arrival
or shipments Thus when shipments
are received 1t the port Of entry. the
importer sends notice to the State In
spector, who arranges TO examine the
shipment upon ita arrival ut destina-
ton. In Virginia the inspections Of
foreign plants are made by the State
entomoiogist under tho supervision OF
the crop pest commission and efforts
are made to inspect al shipments ar
irving in the State. This work has
airesdy resulted Ii preventing the en-
trance into Virginia Of the brown-tail
moth. which was detected several
years ago In shipments Of foreign
stock delivered In Richmond. The
inspector was successful In destroying
Iall the insects found 1t that tinne 90
that II did not become established.
The AFown-sA moth Il now considered
the most dangerous pest of shade and
forest trees In this country. It was
introduced into this country several
years ago, being found IT Boston. II
has now spread to the neighboring
States and II Is estimated that the sum
or one-half million dollars each year
III spent In lighting this pest.