February, '14] ORTON: PLANT QUARANTINE PROBLEMS 1]5 



dering the commerce of the different countries. Since most of the 

 parasites, animal and vegetable, are more or less scattered in every 

 country, he thinks the work of the International Institute of Agricul- 

 ture should be along the following lines : 



1. To make inquiries to decide what parasites, especially animal, are most dan- 

 gerous and most likely to be spread, in what definite regions they are found and 

 what regions are free from them. 



To publish in the bulletin on Agricultural Information and Plant Diseases the 

 results of these inquiries. 



2. When the Institute, through publications, direct correspondence, or by any 

 other means, shall learn of the existence in a certain region of a parasite until then 

 unknown, it shall 



a. Verify the information; 



fe. Determine the extent of the ravages caused by the parasite; 



c. Publish the results of these inquiries for the purpose of calling them to the 



attention of those interested; 



d. Finally, that this important object may be properly accomplished, it is 



necessary that the Bureau of Agricultural Information and Plant Diseases 

 shall be provided with an adequate technical personnel. 



Apparently the thought of truly international studies, through the 

 interchange of specialists by the various countries, has not yet been 

 expressed in these European deliberations. 



Prof. L. R. Jones,' of the University of Wisconsin, has well ex- 

 pressed the American viewpoint : 



"There is, however, a broader aspect of international phytopatho- 

 logical problems which has not had adequate general recognition. The 

 recent passage of the Simmons bill shows that, in some degree at least, 

 this is dawning upon our national consciousness. This very bill, how- 

 ever, emphasizes the necessity for studying phj^topathological problems 

 in their international relations. Two things are especially needed to 

 this end. First, administrators as well as investigators should recog- 

 nize the importance of occasional visits by the American investigator 

 to such foreign countries as will enable him to see his problems in their 

 foreign setting. The relation of environment to the j^redisposition of 

 the host, as well as to the virulence of the parasite, can not be over- 

 emphasized and it is often impossible for the investigator of the local 

 problem to realize this except as he may be temporarily translocated, 



"Even more should our administrators see from time to time how 

 great may be the gain from temporary or permanent employment of 

 foreign experts. This has been done in the Department of Agriculture 



1 Science, July 4, 1913. pp. 5-6 (A Plea for Closer Interrelations in our Work). 



See also Shear, C. L. Some observations on phytopathological problems in 

 Europe and America. Phytopathology, v. .*?, pp. 77-87. April, 1913, and 



Orton, W. A. International phytopathology and quarantine legislation. Phyto- 

 pathology, V. 3, pp. 143-151. June, 1913. 



