THE POTATO QUARANTINE. 13 



tricts have been surveyed and found to be free from wart and powdery- 

 scab and that they are ready to inspect and certify potatoes intended 

 for export, in conformity with our regulations. 



Such action has now been taken by the Kingdoms of Belgium and 

 Denmark, and on February 20, 1914, the quarantine was lifted 

 from these countries by an order of the Secretary of Agriculture, 

 and hereafter their potatoes may be imported into the United States 

 subject to and in accordance with the general regulations referred to. 

 These regulations have been issued in printed form, and all persons 

 desiring full details, especially as to the procedure to be followed in 

 making importations, should procure an official copy. 1 



GENERAL EXPLANATION OF REGULATIONS. 



Control of importations is secured through a system of permits, as 

 already in force for nursery stock. The importer makes his applica- 

 tion to the Federal Horticultural Board at Washington, on forms 

 provided, and receives a permit authorizing him to import potatoes 

 from a specified firm and district from the time of issuance until 

 June 30 following. A permit for each shipment is not required. 

 Notice must be given to the board when each shipment arrives. For 

 details, the regulations should be consulted. 



IMPORTATIONS ALLOWED FROM DISEASE-FREE DISTRICTS ONLY. 



The regulations provide that before the quarantine is lifted or 

 permits are granted for importations from any country the officials 

 of that country shall determine by a field survey, or in the case of 

 the present crop by a cellar or pit inspection, that the country or 

 district is entirely free from wart and powdery scab. 



It is not intended that there shall be any attempt made to sepa- 

 rate by sorting the clean from the infected potatoes. The warning 

 has been emphatic from all pathologists consulted that such an 

 inspection would be utterly impracticable; that if any disease was 

 present in a lot of potatoes it would be out of the question to sort 

 them under commercial conditions without overlooking some disease. 

 Infection might also be carried on healthy potatoes that had been in 

 contact with diseased tubers. 



It is believed by the Federal Horticultural Board that the freedom 

 of a district from disea.se can be determined with sufficient accuracy 

 to afford a reasonable safeguard when checked by the foreign inspec- 

 tion and by inspection on arrival at the port of entry. 



Prevention of transshipments from quarantined districts is accom- 

 plished through the cooperation of the foreign government, which 

 must provide an ' l effective quarantine ' ' against districts quarantined 



1 Regulations governing the importation of potatoes into the United States under the provisions of the 

 order of the Secretary of Agriculture issued December 22, 1913. 



