12 



Maklatt (C. L.). The Federal Plant Quarantine Act. — Mthly. Bull. 

 Cat. State Dept. Agric, Sacramento, viii, no. 8, August 1919, 

 pp. 439-443. [Received 12th November 1919.] 



The conditions that necessitated the formation of a federal quarantine 

 in the United States and eventually resulted in the inauguration of 

 the Federal Plant Quarantine Act, which was passed by Congress in 

 1912, are discussed. This Act has enabled the Federal Horticultural 

 Board to prohibit the introduction of many noxious pests and to 

 minimise the danger caused by those that have been inadvertently 

 admitted. Further quarantine measures are now being considered, 

 directed against the Oriental peach moth [Cydia molesta] and the 

 Japanese beetle [Popillia japonica], and for the possible extermination 

 of the European corn borer [Pyrausta tiubilalis, Wo.], which will entail 

 an expenditure of about £100,000. 



Henderson (W. W.). Interstate Quarantine on Alfalfa Weevil. — 



Mthly. Bull. Cal. State Dept. Agric, Sacramento, viii, no. 8, 

 August 1919, pp. 461-469. [Received r2th November 1919.] 



As the quarantine laws directed against territory infested with the 

 .alfalfa weevil, Hypera variabilis (postica), have proved inimical to 

 commercial interests without resulting in a proportionate benefit to 

 the States formulating them, an appeal is made for a general revision 

 and modification of these laws. 



The various quarantines enacted since 1912 are reviewed. One 

 of the underlying factors of most of these was apparently the hypo- 

 thetical conclusion that the weevils spread by fhght. To test this 

 a series of flight experiments were made, details of which are given. 

 These show that from the 25th March to the 22nd November only 

 an average of 3*95 weevils were caught per square foot on the exposed 

 screens. 



As it is now considered evident that contact is the only means of 

 contamination and that by this means the weevils spread very slowly 

 at the rate of about ten miles a year, unconditional quarantine is only 

 justifiable in the case of lucerne hay and should not be enforced 

 against the numerous other commodities listed, unless, as in the case 

 of potatoes, these have been packed in, or have been otherwise in 

 direct contact with weevil-infested lucerne. 



Hagan (H. R.). Alfalfa Weevil Control in Utsih.— Mthly. Bull. Cal 

 State Dept. Agric, Sacramento, viii, no. 8, " August 1919, 

 pp. 469-477. [Received 12th November 1919.] 



The bulk of the information here given on Hypera variabilis has 

 been noticed previously [R.A.E., A, vi, 339]. Experiments having 

 shown that spraying with lead arsenate is comparable with cultural 

 methods in effectiveness and cost, this measure is to be tried in several 

 cases in Utah in 1919. The introduction of the parasite, Bathyplectes 

 curculionis, the eggs of which are inserted into the body of the larval 

 host, has also given satisfactory results. 



