i9o6.] The Destruction of Rats by Virus. 



177 



According to the regulations under the Insect Pests Amend- 

 ment Act, 1898, which were published in the Government Gazette 

 of Western Australia on August ist, 1902^ 



Importation of the importation of erape vmes IS absolutelv 

 Plants into , 

 Western Australia. P'^^^^^^t^^- Vme cuttmgs must be sur- 

 rendered to the Inspector at the port of 

 debarkation, and must be quarantined by the Department of 

 Agriculture for a period of not less than twelve months, the 

 person concerned in their importation receiving them at the 

 expiration of the period of quarantine as rooted vines, after 

 making certain payments. Any cuttings infested with insect 

 pests or fungous diseases injurious to grape vines or other trees 

 or plants are to be destroyed at the expense of the importer. 



All fruit, fruit trees, plants, cuttings, &c. must be disinfected 

 by the Inspector at the port where they are unloaded, and if 

 found diseased or infested with insects shall remain in quarantine 

 for fourteen days. The importation into Western Australia of 

 any fruit, plant, or part thereof, infested with the codlin moth^ 

 mussel scale, nematodes, or bacterial disease, &c., is absolutely 

 prohibited^ Soil or compost, as well as fruit cases containing 

 vegetables or vegetable matter, must be disinfected. These 

 orders do not apply to any port or part of Western Australia 

 north of the 26th parallel of south latitude. South of this 

 parallel importation is limited to the ports of Albany, Fre- 

 mantle, Geraldton, and Esperance. 



During recent years rats appear to have become much more 



numerous in most parts of the country, and the damage they 



cause to crops, poultry, game, and even 

 The Destruction of ^ . a v.^ a\ 



Rats by Virus. you^'^g trees is undoubtedly very great. 



Until recently the usual means of de- 

 struction consisted of traps, poison and ferrets, but . during the 

 past few years attention has been given to inoculation with a 

 virus, which sets up a virulent disease in the animals and quickly 

 kills them. There are several such preparations before the 

 public, some of which are fluid and some solid. Perhaps, on 

 the whole, the fluid preparations are the most convenient to use, 

 and they are certainly quite as effective as the others. The 

 material consists of a nutrient medium containing the organism? 

 ■ ' P 



