fidently be claimed that eae feed at least as much to fear from 
rica as America has from England. . 
ae ane the most deadly disease of the pe ge 
throughout the world—attacks also Apples, while its rapid nee in 
New Zealand on Hawthorn hedges, the chief hedge plant of Britain, shows 
how difficult or even impossible it would be to control it in England were 
. Ae pests are so many it is difficult to make a selection, 
but as an instance the Apple maggot is most. difficult to control and 
would be a most undesirable addition to English pests. As a typical 
fungus Apple blotch (Phyllosticta solitaria) attacks both the fruit and 
twigs and might well come over in the former. It might prove a very 
serious pest in Britain. The San Jose scale has been found on Apples 
landed from America. Four cases of Colorado beetle are known to have 
occurred. : 
Onion seed is known to carry Onion smut, and there is every reason 
to suppose that the isolated outbreaks of this destructive disease in 
Britain have been due to American seed. The Clover seed chalcid ( Brucho- 
phagus funebris) is unknown in Britain and its introduction might 
prove a serious menace to the English seed industry. : 
This list might be continued ad nauseam, but the above will be suf- 
ficient to show why English farmers and fruit growers fear American 
produce and that their fear is fully justified on scientific grounds. It 
may even be admitted that English scientists are not satisfied that the 
present safeguards against the introduction of these pests in force in 
England are sufficiently stringent. It is impossible to predict as to 
whether the combined influence of the farming, fruit-growing, and scien- 
tific interests will force the Government to adopt a more restrictive policy 
in regard to foreign pests. 
International Trade Benefits Outweigh Dangers 
At present the view is that the pathological problem is not peculiar 
to the United States, but is common to all civilized countries, and is in 
fact one of the products of civilization. With the progress of cvilization 
international trade was established, and has now become an essential fea- 
ture of the industry of the world. In the course of this international 
trade plants have been moved about the world from one country to an- 
other, and though damage has been caused in some instances in the pro- 
cess the balance of evidence is heavily in favor of the beneficial effects. 
It is certain that both Britain and America have gained much through im- 
ported plants. Surely it cannot be viewing matters in the right perspec- 
tive to suggest that the whole course of trade which has been brought 
into operation in a natural way should be entirely stopped by imposing 
unnatural barriers. By such means progress would be delayed and in- 
dustries suffer. : 
The continuance of trade between Britain and America and America 
and Britain should be the primary object. to be kept in view, for each 
country is able, by virtue of the different climates, to specialize in differ- 
ent classes of produce. It would appear a far wiser policy to take a 
broad view of the whole matter, and one not narrowed down merely toa 
consideration of pathological problems; and to devise Suitable ways and 
means for protecting against pests without imposing regulations which 
would tend to stop legitimate international trade. If the health certificate 
policy has not been as effective as was expected it may be that while the 
policy is right the system in operation can be improved upon: if so, it 
should be possible for the Federal Horticultural Board to point out ex- 
actly the kind of health certificates which are required with imported 
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