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farm crops. Lectures and demonstrations are usually given in 
winter, while in summer field demonstrations and excursions 
are held whenever they are wanted. Collaborators who render 
services do not receive any salary, though travelling and hotel 
expenses are refunded by the Government. Fields are carefully 
inspected and the question of selling seeds or using them as 
pisntng material decided. Great care is exercised in the 
inspection of potatoes. Much advantage is taken of technical 
publications dealing with agricultural crops. 
iv. Another branch of work of much importance is the 
supervision of the laws relating to disease, which includes also 
the control of plants for export. In the former case measures 
have been prescribed against the wart disease of potatoes and 
American gooseberry mildew. The areas of land are carefully 
inspected and, in fields where wart disease is found, all plants 
are destroyed by boiling. The growing of potatoes in infested 
fields is prohibited, the growers receiving indemnification for any 
loss caused by this enforcement of the law. 
As regards American gooseberry mildew the tops of the twigs 
of the current year are cut off and burnt, while the soil round 
the shrub is dug up for a few inches. The transport of 
gooseberries from infested orchards is also controlled. 
The Phytopathological Service of the Netherlands was the 
first in any country to insist on the inspection of plants, or parts 
of plants, destined for export, in order to guarantee the absence 
of diseases or pests. Before packing, all plants are inspected by 
controllers, and a certificate is given for export in cases of freedom 
from disease. No permission is accorded to export infected 
goods, which is of considerable importance in preserving the 
reputation of Dutch growers abroad. This control on export 
existed in the Netherlands long before freedom from disease was 
required by any country as a necessary condition of import. 
Later on, rigid restrictions on the import of live plants, bulbs 
and potatoes were enforced by various Governments, e.y., the 
United States of America. New Z ealand, South Africa, and 
improvement in the health of plants, so that the task of the 
Governments in the enforcement of legislation was much 
facilitated. 
v. The ornithological section, which is also of importance, 
studies the bird species which are useful or harmful to crops, 
their habits and time of breeding being observed all over the 
country. 
very important section is that which takes charge of 
the sections of horticultural and agricultural shows relating to 
diseases and pests. In every part of Hollard where such exhi- 
bitions take place, there are very neat-looking stands from the 
Phytopathological Service showing various stages in the develop- 
ment of diseases, preserved either in alcohol, formalin, as mounted 
