1904.] Importing Plants into Cape Colony. 437 



set of photographs. A large part of the material is the first of 

 its kind collected, and many of the descriptions are original. 

 The importance of a study of insect ravages will be realised 

 when it is stated that it has been estimated that the average 

 annual losses to forestry in the United States due to insect 

 ravages amount to no less a sum than 20 millions sterling 

 (£20,000,000). 



New regulations as to the importation of trees, plants, &c, 



into Cape Colony are gazetted under Proclamation No. 138, 



1904 (Cape Colony), and are to take effect 



Importation of f r0 m September 1st, IQ04. These reeula- 

 Plants into Cape .. w n 1 . - , A 



Colony tions are substantially similar to those noted 



in the Board's Journal for September, 1903, 

 p. 260, but with some extensions. The importation of coniferous 

 plants, or any portion thereof, with the exception of seed, is 

 absolutely prohibited, as is also timber with the bark on, except 

 scaffolding poles shipped from the Baltic or from Canada. 

 Articles subject to these regulations introduced into the Colony 

 by post will be intercepted and examined by an officer appointed 

 for the purpose ; and if found infested with any noxious insect 

 or plant disease must be cleansed or destroyed. Ordinances 

 have also recently been passed both in Southern Rhodesia and 

 the Transvaal with a view to regulating the introduction of plants 

 likely to disseminate insects. 



In a memorandum* explanatory of these revised plant import 

 regulations, the Cape Government Entomologist observes that 

 the conditions in South Africa, more than in most parts of the 

 world, justify drastic restrictions on plant imports as a means of 

 minimising the introduction of fresh plant pests. It is a com- 

 paratively new country, from an agricultural standpoint, with 

 sea connection only with the rest of the civilised world. The 

 over-sea trade in living plants is still small, and there is no 

 reason why the country cannot grow sufficient nursery stock 

 of all kinds to keep pace with its requirements. Above all, the 



* Agricultural Journal of Cape of Good Hope, June, 1904. 



