114 DISEASES OF CROP-PLANTS 



this reason the power of compulsion should be exercised with 

 great restraint, should be based on thorough investigation of 

 the subject, and be accompanied by a campaign of education. 

 On the other hand there are certain spectacular troubles, such as 

 black blight and love-vine, with regard to which the demand for 

 governmental action may be stronger than the evidence of damage 

 necessary for its justilication. 



If the more menacing diseases are made notifiable and classed 

 as such, there remain the non-notifiable infectious diseases, 

 which, if they exist on one man's property unchecked, may cause 

 injury to his neighbour. Probably the best suggestion that has 

 been made for dealing with cases of this kind is that power 

 shoutd be given, when a direct request has proved of no avail, 

 to apply to a magistrate fc-r an order directing the person re- 

 sponsible for the property on which the disease exists to take 

 steps to remedy the matter. Before granting the order the 

 magistrate would have the opportunity of learning from evidence 

 given before him the nature of the grievance and the measures 

 reasonably applicable for its removal. 



The legislation of the kind here discussed now existing in 

 the Lesser Antilles comprises (i) provision in the cotton-growing 

 islands for a close season for that crop, and (except in Barbados) 

 for the eradication of trees which support cotton stainers, the 

 carriers of internal boll disease ; (2) provision in St. Lucia, 

 Grenada, and Trinidad for the proclamation of specified diseases, 

 with powers of inspection, for the declaration of quarantine, and 

 for compulsory treatment or eradication. In Trinidad the 

 proclaimed diseases are bud-rot, little-leaf, and red ring disease 

 of coconuts, mosaic disease of sugar-cane, anthracnose of limes, 

 love-vine and bird vine. In St. Lucia they comprise bud-rot, 

 love-vine, and bird vine. 



