92 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, 



interestingly, that a very considerable number of insects are annually in- 

 troduced which do not gain a foothold, and a moment's consideration 

 makes it certain that this must be so. It is the experience of every one 

 who has frequented docks where foreign ships unload that a considerable 

 number of foreign insects are found there. Dr. Lugger, when at Balti- 

 more, made a very interesting collection of such species; while in New- 

 York City and in Brooklyn I have seen a number of insects so taken. 

 Practically, none of these species have gained a foothold here, and it is 

 probable that many more than we have any record of have been intro- 

 duced into this country and have died. 



In California there is a very rigid quarantine, established with the in- 

 tention of preventing the introduction of foreign injurious insects. The 

 quarantine officer. Mr. Alexander Craw, is a gentleman thoroughly fitted 

 for the duties of his position and as little likely to let an insect slip in as 

 any person known to me. He has a very interesting series of insects 

 found on plants intended for California, and it illustrates what has been 

 excluded; but it does not furnish one particle of proof that any of these 

 insects, if they had been allowed to land, would have established them- 

 selves and become troublesome. 



There are in the United States at the present time a number of insect 

 pests that were introduced from foreign countries: some of them trouble- 

 some in their native home, others not particularly so. Could they have 

 been excluded by the inspection which is provided for in the act of Con- 

 gress, to which reference has been made ? One of them is the Hessian 

 fly. It is an insect which passes a portion of its life in a "flax-seed" 

 stage concealed in straw, and it might be introduced under present com- 

 mercial conditions at almost any time from an infested district. Could 

 it be kept out by the proposed inspection system ? This provides only 

 for the inspection of plants and fruits; but straw is neither a plant nor a 

 fruit, and therefore not subject to inspection. Straw is used for packing 

 in a great many cases; it is used in covering bottles, in protecting plants, 

 and for a variety of different purposes. The inspector would have no 

 right to open packages containing straw only, and straw would come in 

 practically without any inspection. Therefore, any insects which could 

 maintain life in the stems of such dried grasses as are used in packing 

 would come into this country absolutely without hindrance. There is a 

 wide open gate, therefore, for all creatures that may live or be concealed 

 in or under plants of that character. The Hessian fly, it seems to me, 

 could easily be introduced into this country in spite of the quarantine or 

 inspection provided by this act 



The pear midge is an insect not so long a resident of this country, and 

 which was introduced in nursery stock originally imported into Connec- 

 ticut. It has done considerable injury in Connecticut, New York and New 

 Jersey, and there has been a very heavy money loss on the part of many 

 growers. We have learned to control it; but the question is, could it have 

 been excluded and this money loss prevented by the inspection ? The 



