-6- 



for a moment consider this practicable. The detection of even 

 so well known a disease as the common potato disease ( Phytophthora ) 

 may be easy In many Instances, "but If associated with Fusarlum rot, 



Bacteriosis, etc.. Is not practicable without microscopic research - 



value of a 

 which l£ out of the truest ion - and in many cases the total ^consign- 

 ment is not worth It. The recognition of bacterial diseases 

 necessitates tine for Incubation and diagnosis. It Is another 

 practical impossibility. 



As regards ''certificates" accompanying shipments stating "the 

 freedom from disease" or "that the vegetation comprising a shipment 

 has ber-n grown in localities for a certain radius known to be free 

 from diseases," it ha^s been my experience that v/hlle such certifi- 

 cates may be of some use, they are in many cases absolutely unre- 

 liable, because the official issuing them, though he himself maj 

 be q_uite competent:, which is often notthe case, cannot be sure 

 that any samples submitted to him for examination truly represent 

 the "bulk" of the shipment. These certificates, though issued 

 with the best intentions, are generally based upon information 

 supplied by inspectors, some of whom are more reliable than 

 others. It is the practice of produce exporters to buy their 

 supplies generally in more or less small lots, as, for Instance, 

 with .potatoes. These are collected at their warehouses, sorted - 

 by which is often- meant that they are generously mixed, and then 

 shipped in car-loads. Some few years ago it was my experience 

 to be asked to examine a sample of potatoes, the consignor stating 

 "that they triily represented the bulk of shipment". On subsequent 

 legal proceedings it appeared that the potatoes submitted to me for 

 inspection - and pronounced free from disease - were forwarded after 



