THE PINK BOLLWORM. 15 



Egyptian cotton seed weTe shipped to London. The laborers em- 

 ployed in handling this seed became affected by a rash of the skin 

 caused by the punctures of the mite. The irritation was severe and 

 resulted in a strike for higher wages. Recently the writer has 

 learned from Mr. E. C. Green that in Brazil, since the establishment 

 of the pink boUworm there, children who play about seed houses 

 soon become affected by a dermatitis which probably is the same as 

 that which has been found to follow the attack of the mite in other 

 parts of the world. 



PRECAUTIONS TAKEN TO PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 

 PINK BOLLWORM INTO THE UNITED STATES. 



Prior to 1913 a considerable number of planters and others inter- 

 ested in the production of Icng-staple cottons in the United States 

 caused small importations of Egyptian seed to be made. They were 

 planted in many of the southern States, but did not result, for vari- 

 ous reasons, in the establishment of the culture of Egyptian cottons. 

 The Department of Agriculture also made special importations. In 

 1902 a considerable quantity of seed was brought from Egypt and 

 small experimental plantings were made at Pierce and San Antonio, 

 Tex., and at various other points in the Southwest. That the estab- 

 lishment of the pest did not follow any of these importations is due 

 to the recent introduction of the insect into Egypt. 



With the approval of the plant quarantine act on August 20, 1912, 

 the Department of -Agriculture for the first time obtained authority 

 to regulate the importations of plants and plant products from for- 

 eign countries and to take the steps necessary to prevent the intro- 

 duction of injurious insects and plant. diseases by such importations. 

 The pink boUworm was one of the first insects to be considered after 

 the. plant quarantine act went into operation. Its foreign status and 

 its menace to American cotton was first brought to the attention of 

 the Federal Horticultural Board in April, 1913, and on May 20 of 

 that year a formal hearing was called at Washington to consider 

 the advisability of prohibiting the importation of cotton seed from 

 all foreign countries. No special opposition was encountered and a 

 quarantine was promulgated on May 28, 1913, to take effect on 

 July 1 of that year. This quarantine forbade the importation into 

 the United States of cotton seed of all species and varieties, and cot- 

 tonseed hulls from any foreign locality and> countrj^ excepting the 

 Imperial Valley in the State of Lower California in Mexico. The 

 importation from this region in Mexico was covered by regulations. 

 The importance of this action ^vas shown in May, 1913, by the re- 

 ceipt in Arizona of a shipment of 500 pounds of Egyptian seed 



