The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-02-23
UNWELCOME PLANT
ARRIVALS BARRED
Uncle Sam Spends Thousands OF
Dollars to Keep Out One
Little Moth Egg.
QUARANTINE IS MAINTAINED
Bars Are Put Up Against Infested Cot
ton From Egypt, Diseased Pota-
toes, Trees, Shrubs and
Other Plants.

OhnCF PLANTS. ~
Although 1t may seem ridiculous 10
spend thousands of dollars annually to
prevent one little moth egg that could
pass through the eye OF cambrie
needle from entering the country, Uncle
Sam is employing the machinery of
the department of agriculture, state.
treasury and post Office TO keep out
that little pest, the pink cotton boil
worm.
The same agencies are united to ex-
clude by quarantine diseased potatoes,
trees, shrubs and plants, and in so do
ing are accomplishing far more than
one would think toward holding down
the cost Of living.
The general starr which conducts
the defense against plant disease is
known as the federal horticultural
board and is composed Of five high Off
cials Of appropriate bureaus Of the de-
partment of agriculture.
All along the fertile valley of the
Nile, where the luxuriant Egyptian cot
ton grows, planters are more worried
over the ruInous work Of the pink boil
worm in their cotton fields than they
are over the greater devastation of the
European war.
The pink boll-worm was taken to
Egypt from India, where its wretched
family billions are still leaving their
baleful impress.
While the annual yield of American
Sea Island cotton, the best in the world,
is by no means enough to make all the
spool cotton, automobile tires and other
textiles requiring a grade better than
that Of ordinary upland cotton, it is
somewhat surprising to learn that 30O,-
900 bales of Egyptian cotton contem-
mated by the pink boll-worm are i'm
ported with impunity to the United
States.
Every Bale Disinfeeted.
This was made possible by a sys-
tenn Of fumigation originated by the
board and worked out on commercial
scale by its experts by which every
bale is disinfected before distribution.
The cottOn-a couple of hundred
bales at a time-is placed in a great
horizontal cylinder of heavy structural
steel, Theoretically sealed and then the
lir is pumped out until there is almost
A vacuum within. Hydroeyanic acid
gas is then admitted, and although the
)ales are compressed before shipment
until they are almost as hard as blocks
If wood, 1t penetrates the cotton so
hat all animal life, including boll-
worms in every stage, becomes extinct
n less than an hour and the cotton can
'e sent without possibility of spreading
to any mill for manufacture.
There are only four Of these fumi-
,ating tanks in the country, one at
'ach Of the four ports of entry for cot
on-New York, Newark, N. j.; Boston
md San Francisco.
Although privately operated, these
anks are under the closest of gov
rnment inspection. The bales must
e left in the receiving chambers a
ertain time; the poisonous gas must
e of a positive strength; the appli-
must be taken to evacuate
he gas without risk Of life to the men
perating the plant.
One shipment of the infested cotton
eed-and it is believed to be the only
ne-is known to have entered this
ountry, and that was before the quar-
ntine was established. This lot was
AIKEN to Arizona, where a state quar-
ntine was in force; the infestation
vas detected and the whole lot burned.
is believed that the pink pest has
ot succeeded in running the blockade.
Guard Potato Crop.
One of the most pressing matters
ow under the boards attention is the
versight of potatoes coming into the
ountry to make up the 6O,OO0OOO-
ushel shortage in the American crop.
Naturally, our Canadian neighbOr
fishes to share in the high prices, and
is crop is wanted here; but the board
ays: "No diseased stock may be
ntered."
Accordingly, this working plan has
cen agreed upon between the two
Canada may send potatoes
rec from injurious disease and insect
ests to ports Of entry designated by
MS country. On arrival the tubers
re examined by federal inspectors, and
found to be infected are returned to
ne consignors at their expense. Po-
ltoes are coming into the country in
lch quantities that, although in the
lain they are all right, carloads are
ent back almost every day.
Another thing which the board is
ghting is the importation of any
ursery stock which carries the white
inc blister rust, a tree disease de-
.ructive of both ornamental and for
st pines.
Cotton seed, except from some parts
Mexico; the seed of alligator pears
'Om Mexico and Central AInericn, liv.
lg canes Of sugar. all citrus nursery
.ock, all Indian corn or maize from
rental countries and some less i'm
ortant plant products may not be inn
Orted at all, because each is likely to
irry some disease which thus far has
ot broken out in our native plants.