80 



In regard to the question as to what species 

 should be introduced, Dr. Howard stated that, 

 except in the case of any insect known to be 

 undesirable, it was the custom of his Bureau to 

 import all insects, whether destructive in their 

 native home to the object against which they 

 were to be used or not, as long as they were 

 injuriously related to it in their habits of life. 



He generously offered to co-operate in any 

 effort to bring about the introduction into Aus- 

 tralia of such species as the Commission deemed 

 suitable for its purpose. It was agreed upon that 

 Queensland should be prepared to pay any 

 expenses incidental to the collection and trans- 

 mission of such insects. He stated in effect that 

 his Bureau would be responsible for and super- 

 vise the work in the United States, and place it 

 in the hands of one of its officers, Mr. J. D. 

 Mitchell, who is joint author of the bulletin on 

 " The Principal Cactus Insects of the United 

 States," and who, as we know from personal 

 experience, is well suited for such responsible 

 duties. However, his services could be granted 

 only up to a certain point, and this would be 

 done, not as a matter of ordinary official proce- 

 dure but as one of international courtesy. The 

 extent to which his services would be available 

 must depend upon Mr. Mitchell's official superior, 

 Mr. Hunter. He might be authorised to employ 

 such boys as might be necessary to assist him in 

 the work. 



Mr. Hunter submitted another scheme, which 

 would cost more than the latter but would be more 

 satisfactory. He suggested, with the concurrence 

 of Dr. Howard, that Mr. Mitchell should super- 

 vise and generally control procedures, the Bureau 

 of Entomology setting aside temporarily a suit- 

 able trained officer to assist him and to preserve 

 continuity in what was undertaken. This would 

 enable the matter to be prosecuted in a compre- 

 hensive manner. The officer. Dr. Howard stated, 

 would be one of the regular men now working 

 under Mr. Bishopp at Dallas, and would be fur- 

 loughed for the purpose. Mr. Hunter added that 

 this course would involve an expenditure on our 

 part of 200 dollars per month (about £40), made 

 up of 100 dollars for salary and the remainder 

 for expenses. He thought that much could be 

 done in this way, even in one month. 



Dr. Howard offered to exercise his authority 

 in arranging for concessions being granted to 

 allow the passage of living insects in suitable 

 receptacles over the railways to the port of em- 

 barkation. In the event of the material being 

 transmitted via San Francisco, Mr. Hunter stated 

 that it could be handled by Mr. F. W. Maskew, 

 who, besides being the Chief Inspector of the 

 Board of Horticultural Commissioners, was also 

 an officer of the Bureau of Entomology. 



Both Dr. Howard and Mr. Hunter were 

 emphatic in pointing out that procuring these 

 useful insects and transmitting them to Queens- 

 land was only half the work necessary. On 

 arrival they had to be controlled, multiplied, and 

 distributed. Accordingly, suitable and adequate 

 preparations must be made in good time in our 

 State. 



These officers considered it preferable to raise 

 a large stock in Queensland from comparatively 

 few imported insects than to stock up from 

 the United States by the sending of numerous 



consignments. This course was expedient if the 

 admission of parasites to the useful insects was 

 to be prevented. 



Mr. Mitchell informed us of his willingness 

 to assist in every way that he could, if instructed 

 by Mr. Hunter to do so. 



Whilst in San Francisco, one member of this 

 Commission interviewed Mr. Maskew with a .view 

 to obtaining a promise of his assistance, more 

 especially as he is located at that port which is 

 the main avenue for egress from the United 

 States to Australia. Mr. G. Compere, the Chief 

 Quarantine Officer, who has had a very wide 

 experience of parasites in the field, and their 

 transmission and utilisation, was also present. 

 They considered the introduction into Queensland 

 of the insects referred to quite feasible, and would 

 be prepared to assist in the undertaking 

 by receiving, taking safe custody of, and 

 transmitting packages. The latter should be 

 securely packed in the receptacles in which their 

 transmission was to be effected, and should be 

 conspicuously addressed with the name and 

 address of the consignee in Australia. They 

 should also each have an external movable cover- 

 ing bearing the official address of the San Fran- 

 cisco Quarantine Officer, California State Com- 

 mission of Horticulture, Ferry Building, San 

 Francisco, which might be detached prior to their 

 despatch to Queensland. Such packages should 

 be forwarded so as to arrive at the Quarantine 

 Office not later than twenty-four hours before the 

 time of departure of the steamer by which their 

 transmission to Australia was to be effected. It 

 was suggested that, in order to do this, the officer 

 responsible for the initial despatch of the several 

 consignments should keep in touch with the San 

 Francisco Quarantine Office, while the latter 

 would on its part keep such officer posted in 

 regard to the time and date of sailing of different 

 boats from that port to Australia. 



Under special circumstances, Mr. Maskew 

 added, consignments might be sent via Van- 

 couver, where there was stationed Mr. Eiehorn, 

 a capable man, who would no doubt be found 

 willing to assist if asked to do so. 



No question of any monetary grant was 

 raised, as Mr. Maslcew expressed himself anxious 

 to help in every way without regard to any such 

 consideration. 



In discussing details, it was agreed that the 

 temperature of the butter-room as generally main- 

 tained on ocean-going steamers would comply 

 with the conditions of cold storage suitable for 

 transmission of any prickly-pear insects. 



Professor Thornber of the University of 

 Arizona, Tucson, and Prof. Merrill of the New 

 Mexico Agricultural College, MesilLa Park, 

 expressed their willingness to assist in any way 

 desired, under the direction of the Bureau of 

 Entomology. 



Acting on the suggestion of Dr. L. 0. 

 Howard, the Commission held another conference 

 with him, after it had visited the chief prickly- 

 pear regions of the United States and seen some- 

 thing of the effects of the natural enemies of 

 Opimtias, and consulted scientific investigators 

 and others during the journey. We informed 

 him that it was proposed to recommend to the 

 Government of Queensland that these enemies, 



