352 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Oct., 1922. 



to certain conditions; wliile fresh stone fruits, including- ai)ricots, 

 plums, peaches, nectarines, and cherries, and certain rooted stocks for 

 budding' or grafting", were long- since added to the list of jdants whose 

 introduction is totally jjrohibited. 



Any plant introduced in contravention nuiy be destroyed. 



On arrival, any plant from oversea is subject to inspection by an 

 officer, who must be afforded every facility to do so, and may order 

 disinfection, the cost of which must be borne by the consignee. When 

 required to do so, any one importing any plant must certify in writing- 

 full particulars regarding the consignment and the place of origin, 

 and false information in this respect is punishable. If any such plant 

 is found to be infected with insect pest or plant disease, it may be 

 cleansed at the expense of tiie importer; if this is not done or be 

 found ineifective, the i)lant may be destroyed, together with packing 

 material, etc. 



Scope of the Act. — The Governor-Gfeneral may by proclamation m 

 the Gazette amend, by addition or withdrawal, the list of any plants 

 or seeds, the introduction of which is prohibited, supervised, or 

 restricted, and regulate the traffic in plants within the Union; he 

 may empower an officer to enter premises to ascertain whether any 

 insect pest or plant disease is present, and, if discovered, to take the 

 prescribed steps for eradicating the same, and also for imposing- 

 quarantine. 



Locust Destruction. — The second chapter of the Act deals with 

 this subject. Certain sections have been amended by Act No. 12 of 

 1922, and the two will be taken in conjunction. 



Whenever locusts deposit their eggs or voetgangers in swarm 

 formation appear on any land, the occupier must speedily report to 

 the nearest magistrate, field cornet, oj- police, giving full particulars. 

 If it happens within a native reserve or location, the head of the kraal 

 must report to the headman, who must report to his magistrate. At 

 the same time the swarm of voetgangers must immediately be 

 destroyed, and materials for the purpose will be obtainable at the 

 magistrate's court office of the district or at special depots. Any one 

 misapplying materials obtained, wasting* them, or failing- to return any 

 apparatus, is liable to punishment. Where an occupier fails to destroy 

 the voetgangers this may be done at his expense by the Department 

 and the cost recovered from him in any comi)etent court ; the amount 

 of expenses may be assessed by the court. AVIiere there is no occupier, 

 the owner of the land will be liable for the expenses of destruction. 

 In the case of native reserves or locations, the male inhabitants respon- 

 sible for failure to destroy will be liable for the expenses which will 

 be recovered from them pro rata in the same manner as a native 

 poll tax or hut tax. Moreover, any inhabitant who fails to obey the 

 orders of the headman in destroying voetgangers in the native location 

 or reserve is guilty of an offence and liable to punishment. In the 

 case of land not a native reserve or location, but which is occupied 

 solely by natives, the expenses will be similarly collected pro rata from 

 all male inhabitants that are subject to native poll or hut tax. 



Any occupier who allows voetgangers to go from his land to that 

 of his neighbour's is liable to punishment, unless he can prove that 

 they were threatening his crops and that in driving them away he took 

 all possible steps to destroy them, and did not drive them towards the 

 growing crops of his neighbour. 



