34 DISSEMINATION OF PARASITIC FUNGI 



Convention was prepared to go, but still allows the uncontrolled importation 

 of most seeds, bulbs, and roots. Tbis and tbe suggestion tbat a particular 

 disease must be new and dangerous to justify inclusion in the schedules, are 

 the chief weaknesses of the United States legulations, which otherwise seem to 

 be well adapted for the purpose in view. Still the Secretary of Agricultuie 

 has power to extend these regulations to meet specific dangers, and has 

 exercised them in the subsequent restrictive orders agaiiist warty disease of 

 potatoes (tubers not having been included in the original definition of nursery 

 stock), and against corn (maize) from India and Java, which might convey 

 Sclerosfora Maydis. 



Botanic gardens and agricultural experiment stations are as liable to 

 introduce exotic diseases as nurseries or any other agency which imports plants. 

 A disease so introduced is not likely to be rapidly disseminated by infected 

 plants being distributed throughout the country, as may happen where a 

 nursery is concerned. Also there is somewhat less danger of diseases of valuable 

 economic plants, widely grown in the country, being introduced, at least into 

 Botanic gardens. Nevertheless there is considerable risk in giving differential 

 treatment to such institutions on any considerable scale ; and in the United 

 States, for instance, only the Department of Agriculture may import nursery 

 stock independent of restrictions except such as are prescribed by the 

 Secretary of Agriculture, other institutions desiring to import plants for 

 scientific or experimental purposes being subject to the same regulations as 

 private firms. 



It is clear that the Convention does i ot cover all classes of plants that 

 might bring in disease. In paiticular it excludes produce of field cultivation 

 {'produits de grande culture). Potatoes, sugarcane, tobacco, many planters' 

 crops, and our ordinary field crops are not protected. Hardly any of the 

 diseases scheduled under the existing Destructive Insects and Pests Act in 

 India come within its scope. This was perhaps inevitable, as only a very 

 limited start could have hoped to secure unanimous support at the Conference. 

 As it stands, the Convention is far from satisfying the requirements of most 

 tropical countries and colonies, where horticulture is only a very small part 

 of the agricultural industry. The majority of the dangerous diseases of 

 foreign origin that should be prevented from entering India cannot find a place 

 on its official lists. Still there is no reason why any country should not insist 

 on certificates with imports of other plants besides those covered by the 

 Convention. Once the machinery is in working order there will be "no very 

 crreat difl&culty in obtaining these certificates from countries with adequate 



