1898.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. I 19 



DEPARTMENT OF EGONOMIG ENTOMOLOGY. 



Edited by Prof. JOHN B. SMITH, Sc.'D., New Brunswick, N. J, 



Papers for this department are solicited. They should be sent to the editor, Prof. John 

 B. Smith, Sc.D., New Brunswick, N. J. 



Quarantine Against Injurious Insects. Prof. Smith's article in the April 

 NEWS contains much that is true and appropriate, but if I rightly under- 

 stand the spirit of it, I think it is partly mistaken. Without attempting a 

 general discussion of the intricate problems involved I wish to present a 

 few facts and arguments : 



1. As to the plant diseases, due to fungi or bacteria, it is quite true that 

 they could not usually be detected at the port of entry. The proper pro- 

 cedure would be to ascertain which districts in foreign countries from 

 which we receive plants are infested by troublesome fungi, etc., and then 

 to prohibit the importation of all plants from thence which could bear the 

 diseases in question. For example, the grape vines in Jamaica are much 

 affected by a rust-fungus (Uredo vitis), which is not now found in the 

 United States vineyards. In my opinion Jamaica vines should not be 

 brought to the United States at all. 



2. Similarly with various insects. The oranges from the districts in 

 Mexico where the Trypetid orange worm prevails should be altogether 

 prohibited, for example. 



3. It is, therefore, clear that, in order to effectually exclude many kinds 

 of pests, it is of the utmost importance to have a full knowledge of their 

 habits and distribution in foreign countries. This knowledge is not only 

 needed for this purpose, but also to help us to deal with them should they 

 become established here. Too little attention has hitherto been given to 

 this phase of the subject, and we are still extremely ignorant of the insect 

 pests of many regions from whence plants are continually imported. 

 There ought to be a trained entomologist working on these lines on behalf 

 of the United States in Mexico and the West Indies, and another in China 

 and Japan. 



4. Prof. Smith evidently does not appreciate the Californian quarantine 

 work at its proper value. There is excellent evidence to show that with- 

 out it the State of California would become much more badly infested by 

 Coccidae than at present. That several of the species, at least, would 

 become established is shown by the fact that they have here and there 

 passed the boundary lines and formed good colonies, which have been 

 duly exterminated by the county authorities. To take only one species, 

 Diaspis amygdali is continually being found on plants from Japan, and 

 would unquestionably have overrun Southern California had not suitable 

 measures been taken. Eastern experience has shown that this would 

 almost certainly have been a very serious matter for the State. 



5. It is, of course, quite true that many pests infest florists' plants, and 

 to exclude these from the action of the law would be a serious blunder, 



