-8- 



destructive diseases of white pines and related forest trees. More- 

 over, the importations of snoh seedlings take place generally in 

 April when it is not poseihle to observe the con^-plcuous rust 

 pustules which do not armeax until June, wl^en the trees have 

 long since been distributed. 



Wow with regard to Potato Canker. This disease haS found its 

 way into Uewf oundland in 1909 where I traced it to an importation 

 of potatoes from Scotland. In that country there have not been 

 in iorce any measures preventing or controlling importations of 

 diseased vegetable matter. Hence Potato Canker has become es- 

 tablished to a considerable extent. The Nev/foundland Government 



has now realized this danger, but too late. 



In Canada, I regret to say, we have actually discovered this 

 disease in a considerable quantity of potatoes imported from England. 

 There has been a deplorable shortage in the potato crop of 1911 

 which necessitated the importation of l§,rge supplies of this staple 

 food, and thanks to careful Investigation we are forewarned of this 

 great danger. 



After perf^-onally inspecting a car-load of potatoes - 40v. bags 

 of 160 lbs each - in bulk not in bags - I liave come to the con- 

 clusion that it is possible to detect the presence of this disease, 

 but it is hardly feasible to certify its absence. Anybody doubting 

 this statement is advised to try the experiment of inspecting a car- 

 load of potatoes himself. W'e have, for certain reasons, in force 

 in our country an Act granting compensation at a rate not exceediig 

 2/3 of the value as assessed by the inspector for any vegetation 



and vegetable matter destroyed on finding it affected by the 

 disease or diseases scheduled under our Act, but this has now 



