1910.] Report on Destructive Insects and Pests. 845 



The Report of the Assistant Secretary (Mr. T. H. 

 Middleton) on the Proceedings of the Board of Agriculture 

 Report on Destructive anci Fisheries (under the Destructive 



Insects and Pests. Insects and Pests Acts) during the year 

 1908 has recently been issued (Cd. 4,934, price 3d,). 



One of the early steps taken under this Act was the 

 passing of an Order designed to some extent to protect the 

 country against the introduction of new pests by requiring 

 the occupier of any premises on which certain pests are dis- 

 covered to report the fact to the Board. The pests selected 

 include five insects and four fungi, which are among the 

 most serious enemies of plants abroad. Of these, the Vine 

 Louse or Phylloxera, the San Jose Scale, the Mediterranean 

 Fruit Fly, the Colorado Beetle, Black Knot, and White Root 

 Rot are not known to exist in this country, though some of 

 them do occur occasionally. On the other hand, the Large 

 Larch Sawfly, Black Scab of Potatoes, and American Goose- 

 berry Mildew are, unfortunately, prevalent. Each of these 

 pests is dealt with in the Report, and the action taken in 

 regard to them is described. 



As regards Wart Disease, after detailing its life-history 

 and referring to its prevalence in the country, Mr. Middleton 

 observes that the disease has as yet received so little study 

 that it is not possible to say much about the best means for 

 eradicating it or preventing its spread. Cases of the disease 

 have been found in Ireland, and there the Government re- 

 quired the destruction of all the potatoes and prohibited the 

 planting of potatoes on the infected spot for a number of 

 years. It is to be hoped that the remedy will be successful, 

 but it is clearly one which could not possibly be applied in 

 Great Britain owing to the number of infected gardens and 

 the difficulty not only of detecting disease, except at harvest 

 time, but of enforcing the prohibition for a period long enough 

 to ensure the disappearance of the infection. The remedy must 

 to a certain extent depend on the grower, and he can always 

 ensure the desired result by planting some other crop. But 

 owing to the want of accurate knowledge of the life-history 

 of the fungus, it is clear that carefully conducted experi- 

 ments must be carried out on a proper scientific plan before 

 the cultivator can be offered the sound and practical advice 

 he so badly needs. A number of observations by growers 



