A. G. L. Rogers 115 



would not agree to sun-ender entirely the right of examination on arrival, 

 the first delegate of England pressed our claim so skilfully that an 

 assurance was understood to be given that the right would rarely be 

 exercised if it was found that the inspection in this country was 

 thorough and the consignments were found to be healthy. It is 

 most improbable that any further concession would have been gained 

 by pressing the claim any further. 



The Convention which was ultimately drafted, and signed by all 

 the delegates present, may be summarised as follows. Adhering States 

 pledge themselves to form at once, if they have not already done so, 

 an official service of inspection of all nurseries, glasshouses and other 

 establishments offering plants for sale. They shall be prepared to issue 

 phytopathological certificates, control the movement of plants, and the 

 methods of packing and means of transit of the same, organise a 

 service for the suppression of dangerous diseases, and otherwise fulfil 

 the usual functions associated with a phytopathological department of 

 State. No State can adhere unless this is done at once. But it must 

 also undertake to create within two years, if it has not already done so, 

 one or more institutes for enquiry and research, obviously so that the 

 Administrative Department may be supplied with the best scientific 

 and technical advice possible. The State must pledge itself to issue 

 certificates with all consignments of plants sent abroad and to receive 

 consignments accompanied by such certificates from other adhering 

 States, and better terms must not be given to States that do not adhere 

 than to those that do, while States with common borders may make 

 special arrangements with each other with regard to the movement 

 of plants. All this is elemental, and no Convention would be possible 

 without some such agreement. But the really important point of the 

 Convention consists in the way in which this system is to be applied. 

 It was agreed with very little discussion that the Convention should 

 not apply to certain kinds of plants. Grain, seeds, potatoes, onions 

 and general farm produce — articles de grande culture — to use the exact 

 words, are excluded. Presumably, States may make their own regulations 

 as regards such produce, but it was generally felt, I think, that it would 

 be inadvisable in most cases to make any regulations at all. Most 

 delegates felt that the service at present in force in their own country 

 would be incapable of such a system of inspection, as would make 

 the certificates of any real value. Vines also were excluded as being 

 dealt with under the Berne Convention, to which every State that 

 joined the Rome Convention would be expected to adhere. On the other 



