Evening star., 1925-11-16
FOREIGN BULB BAN
CONFERENCE OPENS.
Arguments Begun Against
Proposal to Restrict I'M
portations January |.
The Department OF Agriculture
on the bulb ban planned

The Department OF Agriculture 8
conference on the bulb ban planned
on narcissus and other bulbs for jan
uary | next opened at the New Ma
tional Museum Auditorium this morn
ing with presentation of findings OF
the Department and opening OF argu-
nlent by opponents to the ban. II
was expected the conference would
last through today and perhaps to-
morrow.
Exhaustive scientific studies were
presented by experts of the Depart
ment of Agriculture showing the in
crease in pests introduced into the
United states in imported narcissl.
and the alleged menace not only TO
flowers, but to farm crops of the
country.
The Garden Club of America then
opened a series of attacks bv garden
clubs and professional gardeners. pre-
Senting with show of spirit that ac-
cording to their experience the I'M
ported narcisSuS bulb was needed tor
the continued beautitiCation OF the
United States, and would not seri-
ously menace either agriculture or
horticulture.
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture
T. ". Dunlap presided over the con-
ference, which Is TO give full hearing
to all those interested in the pro
posed restriction authorized by Sec
retary Wallace in 1922 and 70 become
effective January !, 1926 unless mod
if1ed or reversed.
Says Danger Increased.
DR.. c. L. Marlatt. chairman of the
Federal Horticultural Board, which
is charged with the duty of admins
tering the quarantine act. reviewed
the position OF the Department Of
Agriculture, and the three previous
conferences held TO consider the ques
ton of bulbs. The action taken, Dr.
Marlatt said. had been fully justified
at the la22-adding that in
formation subsequently obtained has
merely empha sized the menace then
indicated from bulb pests. not only to
bulb cultures but TO important farm
crops.
Further" he said "it is evident
from the inspections made at port
Of entry OF imported bulbs since 1922,
that the amount of tnfestation has
Increased rather than diminished as
to such important pests as the two
bulb flies. the bulb eelworm, and the
bulb mite"
The only basis TO lie considered by
the department for reconsldera
ton OF the restriction, DIR. Marlatt
said, must be information which
clearly indicates that the establish
rnent of these bulb pests in the United
States is now so widespread and SO
impossible of control by any reason
able means that the constant reinfes-
tation from bulk importations Will not
greatly aEgravate the Situation-in
other words that the opportunity for
protection from these pesta has
passed.
Cites Figures on Infection.
f. r. Gasscer. entomologist Of The
Federal horticultural Board. IN re-
porting in detail on q long series
of external examinations Of mar
cissus bulbs imported from Holland
and France. said that I4.36 per cent
OF the cases from Holland examined
contained bulbs infested with the
larger narcissus bulb fy, and 9.41
per cent Of the cases examined con-
tafned bulbs infested with the lesser
narcissus bulb fly. OF the French
bulbs inspected. il was said that 2.l5
per cent Of the cases were found in.
tested with the large narcissus bulb
fly and l.23 per cent contained bulbs
Infested with the lesser bulb fly.
When bulbs We're cut, however, and
examined internally. Mr.. GaSScer said
the percentage Of lnfectian was found
70 vary from nom 70 15 per cent, the
averaSe infestation for 500 bulbs taken
Al random from the e:ght cases being
5.6 per cent.
Tells OF Bulb Eel Worm
DR.. A. y. Cobb OF the Bureau OF
Plant Industry, presented a study Of
the bulb eel worm. another pest in
'arcissi, declaring this worm could
be found in 20 farm crops. the total
value of which annually was 5000
600. There had been a serious increase
IN the number Of bulb eel worms, DR.
Cobb reported.
Presenting the results of an eXten-
sive study OF imported bulb pests In
the United States g. a. Weisal of the
Bureau OF Entomology concluded that
except in a. few instances, none ap-
peared 70 be present and established
in sufficient abundance To contribute
"a really serious menace at this
time"
Nevertheless" he added "the ire
mendouS expansion which the bulb
industry Is now experiencing may
tend to increase the risk of future
injury. This is especially true IN
View Of the fact that the economic
status of the larger or narcissus fly
in foreign countries is definitely
recognized. and the lesser bulb fly
is regarded as an economic pest of
onions and parSnips in Europe
Upon presentation OF the matter by
j. Horace Mcfarland of Harrisburg,
Pa. chairman of the committee on
horticultural quarantine, the presid-
ing officer announced II had been
agreed that the question Of the
legality OF the quarantine would not
be discussed.