PROCEEDINGS OF 'THE SECOND EN'TOMOLOGICAL MEETING 3 
Dr. Butler explained that he had hoped to have copies of a Memoir 
he had written on the subject, available for members, but the press had 
not been able to deliver them in time. The subject was one of consider- 
able interest, though any practical outcome from the Conference would 
necessarily be postponed until after the war. Some 30 States and 
Colonies sent their phytopathological and diplomatic representatives 
to Rome early in 1914 and an International Convention for the control 
of the inter-state circulation of certain classes of nursery and horticul- 
tural stock was drawn up and signed by all the delegates. The States 
concerned had for the most part not ratified the Convention owing to 
the war, but the matter was sure to be taken up again and meanwhile 
we had an opportunity of making up our minds on the subject, after 
examining how the proposed Convention would affect India. Adhering 
States were required to set up a Government Phytopathological Service 
for the inspection of nurseries engaged in the export of horticultural 
produce and at the same time pledged themselves not to admit within 
their frontiers any such produce unless it carried certificates of inspection 
by the officers of the Phytopathological Service of the country of origin. 
‘These certificates would state that the produce was in a satisfactory 
sanitary condition and was free from any disease or pest mentioned in 
a list which each adhering country would draw up. No country was 
prevented from making any other regulations, but he assumed that no 
country could refuse entry to a properly certified consignment. There 
were various restrictions as to the pests that a country could list and 
others securing the liberty of action of licensed scientific institutions. 
Imports from non-adhering countries must cease unless they carried 
similar official certificates. He considered this a great step in the right 
-direction and thought that the Convention might subsequently be ex- 
tended to cover field and planters’ crops, which were at present outside 
its scope. 
Mr. Fletcher pointed out that the Convention would be no safeguard 
against the introduction of many insect pests which could easily escape 
detection by the Inspector. Fumigation on entry was the only remedy 
in these cases. 
Dr. Butler said that there was nothing in the Convention to prevent 
fumigation after entry. 
Mr. Fletcher then pointed out that the lists of insects to be kept 
out would be difficult to prepare for any particular crop, as a pest 
of fruit trees might come in on ornamental plants or vice versd. Also 
a pest that did little harm in one country might be destructive to the 
same plant in another country, as was the case with cotton boll-worm. 
c 2 
