132 LEGISLATION AGAINST PLANT DISEASES AND PESTS 



probable everyone will agree, but will object that in 

 practice it is impossible, because no country will trust 

 the certificate of any other country. It will be objected 

 that the examination will be perfunctory where it is not 

 ignorant, and that diseases will be found on consignments 

 officially declared to be free. The same fear, it must be 

 admitted, was present among some of the delegates at 

 the Rome Conference, but as it was most conspicuous in 

 those countries whose system of inspection was the least 

 satisfactory, there is some reason for thinking that the 

 fear is bred of the knowledge of their own deficiencies. 

 The proper remedy is for each country to perfect its own 

 service, and it will then quickly be able not only to detect 

 the faults of others, but to remedy them when they arise. 



The adoption of this principle in most European 

 countries has proved a national advantage, since it has 

 enabled the Government to secure for home consumers 

 the same advantages which are obtained for foreign 

 customers without additional cost, and has undoubtedly 

 led to an improvement in the general cleanliness of 

 nursery stock. 



In conclusion, therefore, it would appear that, though 

 most tropical countries may have to modify their regula- 

 tions drastically if they desire to adhere to the Conven- 

 tion, it will not prove an exceptionally difficult task to do 

 so; while the advantages which will result therefrom will 

 be of great benefit to the home consumer, and will tend to 

 promote international trade instead of hampering and 

 restricting it, as do so many of the regulations in force at 

 the present time. 



