194 



matter to commercial men if the proposed packing restrictions were 

 put into force. The question of the action to be taken by the neigh- 

 boring colony, Victoria, was also brought up, and the necessity for 

 united action was put forth ; for if one colony prohibited certain pack- 

 ing and the other did not, the latter would gain a commercial advan- 

 tage ; hence, a conference between delegates was suggested. The fol 

 lowing motion was finally carried: 



That the bureau are of the opinion that to check the introduction of the Hessian 

 Fly and kindred dangerous insects it would be necessary to prohibit the importation 

 of all goods packed in straw of cereals of any kind. This would result in a great 

 loss and inconvenience to our South Australian importers, and the bureau would 

 recommend that an inspector under the vines, fruits, and vegetable protection act 

 confer with the officers holding similar appointments in the adjacent colonies, with a 

 view of their Governments arriving at some common act. 



Our own suggestion had at that time not been considered, and Mr. 

 Crawfor.l, in writing to us under date of September 30, raises the ob- 

 jection that although at first it might seem the best way out of the diffi- 

 culty, he is afraid that in practice it would be found a greater evil than 

 limiting the packing to certain vegetable products, because all earthen- 

 ware, china, glass, etc., would have to be unpacked and repacked in 

 bond, which, of course, would be strongly objected to by importers; or 

 if the straw were burned on tbe importers own premises it would be 

 necessary to have a customs officer or inspector present to see it done. 



It strikes us after considering this objection that the best and safest 

 way out of the difficulty is to combine tbe two suggestions and restrict 

 the packing material to certain safe substances undey^ penalty of having 

 straw packing burned at the custom-house and at the risk in unpacking 

 and repacking of the importer. It seems to us, moreover, that if the 

 Hessian Fly does not make its appearance in Australia during or imme- 

 diately after the present year of the Melbourne exposition, when so much 

 merchandise from this country and from England has been carried over, 

 we may reasonably expect exemption for years to come. 



Many kinds of packing material are in common use in this country 

 and the restriction as to the kind of packing would probably not work 

 to the serious disadvantage of American exporters. 



FURTHER CONCERNING THE LOCUST WAR IN ALGERIA. 



Mr. J. Khnckel d'Herculais, President Entomological Society of 

 France, has addressed a report to tbe Governor-general of Algeria upon 

 the subject of the Locusts and their invasion of Algeria. The i)articular 

 conclusions at which Mr. d'Herculais arrives are as follows: 



(1) The necessity of organizing, after the example of the Americans 

 and the Kussians, a permanent scientific service, charged with tbe study 

 of the Migratory Locusts ; study of the habits of different species ; re- 

 searcbes upon the centers of multiplication ; the providing of maps 

 (trac^ de cartes) of prevision of invasions and of maps of the progress 

 of invasions; researches upon tbe natural causes of destruction; re- 

 searches upon the practical methods of destruction. 



