1908.] 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



457 



contains the laws in force in the various states and territories of the United States 

 against injurious insects and fungi in living plants, and also as regards foul brood in 

 bees. There is no Federal legislation providing for quarantine against plant diseases 

 carried by imported plants although the subject has been discussed in Congress. An 

 Act of Congress of 3rd March, 1901, prohibits the inter-state transportation of insect 

 pests except for scientific purposes. 



Potato Disease in Germany. — The supplement to the Zeitschrift fiir Planzen- 

 krankheiten (Part 3, 190S), contains a long article, by Dr. Paul Sorauer, on the 

 disease of potatoes in Germany which was referred to in this Joitmal, June, 1908, 

 p. 205. Dr. Sorauer is of opinion that the discolouration of the tuber is not due to 

 any definite fungus, but is a phenomenon of a non-parasitic kind, which may be seen 

 in any year, but which occurred, to a specially severe extent, in last year's crop. 

 Dr. Sorauer believes this to be dependent on a disturbance of the enzyme, which 

 brings about changes resembling those which take place in germination, and that it 

 is a phenomenon of a transitory nature which, given favourable weather conditions 

 in the present year, will subside, as it has done on previous occasions. 



Vine Mildew An South Africa. — This disease (Plasmopara Viticola) was first 

 discovered in Cape Colony, in January, 1907, and was, in the absence of fuller 

 information, regarded as new to the Colony. The district of Albany was at once 

 declared an infected area, and the removal therefrom of Vitacece was prohibited. 

 Subsequently the disease was found in other areas, and the destruction of all Vitacece 

 was ordered, and the removal of other vegetable products was prohibited. It was 

 ultimately proved, however, that the disease was most widely spread, and it was 

 recognised that the attempted destruction of vines must be abandoned, because it 

 was evident, on the one hand, that if the disease had in fact spread over an area of 

 25,000 square miles in a period of less than four months no human power could arrest 

 its invasion of every part of South Africa ; while, on the other hand, if the disease 

 had existed in the affected districts for some time, but had, when discovered, just met 

 with favourable climatic conditions for its development, the probability was that it 

 already existed in practically every vine-growing district of the Colony, but that the dry 

 summers of the south-western vine-growing districts were inimical to its growth. As 

 the result of consultation with a number of experts, regulations have been made, 

 dated 30th March, 1908, providing : (1) that plants of the family Vitacece shall not 

 be introduced into certain districts from other parts of South Africa ; (2) for the 

 declaration of infected areas ; (3) that no vegetable product shall be exported 

 from infected areas to the non-infected areas, unless spraying and other preventive 

 measures have been taken on the farm from which the product is sent, except 

 products sent from farms on which no vines exist. 



Regulations as to Importation of Plants into South Australia. — A Proclamation, 

 dated 9th October, 1907. prohibits, absolutely, the introduction into South Australia 

 of any grape vine or portion thereof. Other trees, plants, &c, may be introduced 

 through Port Adelaide, if thoroughly cleansed from soil, after inspection and examina- 

 tion. The regulations may be inspected at the offices of the Board. 



Hops on the Pacific Coast. — Mr. Consul Laidlaw {Foreign Office Report, No. 4057, 

 Annual Series) states that the trade in hops was very unsatisfactory throughout 1907. 

 The stocks carried over into 1907 by growers in Oregon and Washington were stated 

 to be 41,000 bales of 185 lb., or 67,720 cwts. During January and February several 

 thousand bales were sold at from \\d. to 6f d. , and during these months and March 

 some contracts for 1907 hops were made at 6d. The market became more lifeless ,as 

 the season advanced, with prospects of a large yield and heavy stocks of old hops. 

 In July it was considered that the Oregon crop of 1906 had been much understated, 

 and sales were made at from 2d. to S^d., according to quality. When picking com- 

 menced in September, ^d. to ^\d. was obtainable for choice new crop. At the close 

 of the year prime hops were selling at i\d. and old stock at as low as \\d. A 

 proportion of the crop was left unpicked, yet it is admitted that the crop of Oregon 



