14 



[ SUPPLEMENT ] 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE, 



June 1, 1912, 



tificates, and expressed the opinion that in 

 no other way could the importation of 

 diseases from abroad be more effectually pre- 

 vented than by efficient inspection of the 

 stock imported in the country in whi^h it is 

 grown. 



This paper, which obtained for its author 

 the heartiest applause, was followed by 

 one not less interesting or important, 

 from the pen of Mr. G. L. Rogers, of 

 the Intelligence Division of the Board of 

 Trade on 



The Aim of English Legrislation. 



In his opening remarks Mr. Eogers pointed 

 out that although the importance of exter- 

 pating contagious diseases of cattle had long 

 been recognised in England, and the State 

 had taken an active part in preserving the 

 health of English cattle for many years past, 

 legislation on the subject of diseases of plants 

 was of quite recent date. Many other coun- 

 tries had been earlier in the field, and have 



have so long enjoyed in this country was, 

 Mr. Eogers stated, due, not to any acci- 

 dental good fortune, but, in a great mea- 

 sure, to the geographical position and cli- 

 matic conditions of the British leles. The 

 destructive peste which have epread across 

 Europe, without regard to national boun- 

 daries, have been checked by the sea from 

 invading England. Some foreign pests may 

 be, and indeed are, imported every year with 

 fruit and agricultural produce, but most of 

 them are parasites on tropical or semi-tro- 

 pical plants, which can with difficulty survive 

 a year in this country. In giving expres- 

 sion to these views, Mr. Eogers was care- 

 ful to point out that there is a danger of 

 the introduction of some new pest that may 

 prove destructive, more especially in fruit 

 plantations, and, therefore, it was essential 

 that a constant watch should be kept, not 

 only in English gardens and fields, but also 

 through foreign publicationfi. 



Mr, Eogers dealt at some length with 



for the purpose of educating public opinion 

 and putting cultivators on their guard. The 

 greatest safeguard would be knowledge, that 

 legislation might be effectual, and yet fre* 

 from uselec's and vexatious restrictions. We 

 should, he said, be awake to the danger, 

 and be in a position to meet it. It was 

 deplorable to see countries fencing them- 

 selves blindly with indiscriminate prohibi- 

 tions, fumigations, quarantine, and inspec- 

 tions. What, in Mr. Lefroy's opinion, was 

 necessary was to move towards a common 

 basis of legislative action upon which to 

 build a measure adapted to the heedg of 

 each area, a necessary preliminary to that 

 being a far wider knowledge of the dangers 

 that exist, so that legislation may be framed 

 against thei 



Legislation in Connection with 



Fungus Diseases. 



This was the title of a paper contributed 

 by Mr. H. J. Giissow, botanist to the Cana- 



1' ? 



A SKILFULLY CONSTOUCTED PEEGOLA WITH GEAPE VINES, ETC 



Exh 



advanced further than it had been found 

 possible to do in this country. Greater 

 powers have been given to the Government, 

 the service of inspectors is larger, and the 

 regulations more drastic and sweeping. But 

 this, he considered, need cause no surprise, 

 nor lead anyone to suppose that the in- 

 terests of horticulture in this country had 

 been overlooked or neglected. 



Those countries, it was pointed out, which 

 had led the way in legislating on the sub- 

 ject of insect pests and diseases of plants, 

 had, generally speaking, public attention 

 roueed to the necessity of taking action by 

 some sudden, and almost dramatic, disaster. 

 Some new pest, whose life history had been 

 unknown, had appeared in their midst, and 

 swept, like an epidemic, across the country, 

 destroying the crops and ruining the culti- 

 vators of the soil. In England, with one 

 notable exception, we had been spared that 

 experience. 



The freedom from serious pests that we 



the Destructive Insect and Pests Acts of 

 1877 and 19Q7, and their administration, and 

 to this part we purpose making a fuller 

 reference than is now possible in an early 

 issue. 



The next paper was by Mr. H. M. Lefroy, 

 M.A., F.Z.S., Imperial Entomologist for 



India, on 



Legrisiatlon in Connection witli 

 insect Pests in the Tropics. 



This paper was on the same high level 

 as the two which had preceded it, and proved 

 " uch interest. Mr. Lefroy, in the course 

 his paper, dealt with the many 

 pests of plants that cultivators in India 

 and other tropical countries, have to contend 

 with He strongly urged the importance of 

 all concerned carefully studying the various 

 insect pests that have become established, 

 and for scientists to study the insect pests 

 other countries, and to give publicity 



dian Government, 

 sow was unable 



Unfortunately, Mr Giie- 



and the 

 In tie 



— — — — y 



to be present 



paper was read, by the Cliainnan. in 

 course of his paper, Mr. Giissow 



that legislation in connection with 

 diseases showed that there had been 



great 



of 

 of 



of 



to the information they 



both 



ignorance on the part of those responsib 

 for the measures that had become law, a 

 that they had proved of little 

 his opinion, it was impossible to s^^^^g 

 torily determine whether some plants 

 diseased or not without their being 

 jected to a microscopical examination _Dy 

 perts, and as that entails much time^m^^ 

 tion is more or less inefficient. ii,tio» 

 means, in his opinion, by which » soi^ 

 of the question relating to P'"evention 

 spread of the disieases of plant life ^ 

 ternational co-operation in formulatiDg^^ 

 scheme for the inspection of plants, 

 fruits etc., in the countries from whicn 

 are exported, instead of the countries 

 which they are imported. 



