Plant Pests and Legislation. 
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present time is, in many respects, some ten or twenty years 
behind that found in the United States, and in Canada and our 
other fruit-growing Colonies. 
Before dealing with the recent legislation, we must, in order 
to understand certain points, become acquainted with the 
previous legislation on this subject. Only one Act existed 
previously, viz.: “The Destructive Insects Act, 1877.” The 
scope of this Act was actually limited to giving the Privy 
Council power to “ make such Orders as they think expedient 
for preventing the introduction into Great Britain of the insect 
designated as Doryphora decemlineata , and commonly called 
the Colorado beetle.” 
As the scope of this Act was so limited — not extending 
beyond one insect — and as, further, this Act has now been 
incorporated in a later one, it is not necessary to examine its 
provisions in detail. One clause, however, must be noted ; 
this runs : “ Where by any Order under this Act the Privy 
Council direct or authorise the removal or destruction of any 
crop, they may direct or authorise the payment by the Local 
Authority of compensation for the crop.” 
On the occasion of the introduction of the Colorado beetle 
into England in 1901 the Agricultural Authorities wisely 
decided to take immediate action. The carrying out of the 
measures was entrusted to properly qualified inspectors acting 
under an entomologist. The prompt destruction of all beetles 
and diseased crops secured the eradication of the pest in two 
years. Compensation for the crops compulsorily destroyed 
was paid from Treasury funds. 
From 1877 to 1906 no further legislation was enacted, but 
on July 4, 1907, a much more important Act than the Destruc- 
tive Insects Act of 1877 was added to the Statute-Book. This 
was the “ Destructive Insects and Pests Act,” described as “ an 
Act to extend the Destructive Insects Act, 1877, to all pests 
destructive to crops, trees, or bushes.” This Act gives very 
wide legal powers to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in 
England, and to the Department of Agriculture and Technical 
Instruction in Ireland, to deal with any plant pest. There are 
five important powers or provisions under the Act, as follows : — 
1. Power to make such Orders as the Board or Department 
think expedient for preventing the introduction or the spread- 
ing of any pest. Orders may prohibit or regulate the landing 
of any vegetable substance or other article brought from any 
place out of Great Britain or Ireland, and direct or authorise 
destruction of the article if landed. Such articles, also, are 
liable to forfeiture by the Customs. 
2. Power to direct or authorise the removal or destruction 
of any crop, trees, or bushes or other substance on which the 
