-10- 
Hftlfttlv eXy smaXl additional expenditures for quarantines to protect 
spelt, parsnips, husk tomatoes, or wallflowers might be unprofitable 
and unjustifiable. Heavy losses resulting in a corresponding 
increase in the cost of production of a major crop might result in 
a national calamity whereas similar percentage losses in a minor 
crop would merely inconvenience some individuals. The quarantine 
administrator may be expected to take few chances with diseases of 
major crops. 
At times a plant little grown in this country is imported from 
a country which attaches considerable importance to the importations. 
In such cases a prohibitory quarantine against the plant or its 
products might result in retaliatory measures which would cost us far 
more than the loss of the few similar plants grovm here as well as 
depriving the importers of material desired by them. The quarantine 
administrator would be justified fran the economic standpoint in 
refusing to invoke a prohibitory quarsintine vinder such circumstances 
even though it might be sound practice biologically. On the other 
hand, there is no justification for the use of quarantines in lieu of 
tariffs. 
INFORMATION NEEDED FOR QUARANTINE ACTION 
In considering quarantine action the information needed varies 
in detail but will usually include a number of headings. One possible 
outline of these headings is given here; 
A* Importance of the plant. 
1. Nxmiber of people dependent on the plant for a living. 
a. in production. 
b. in handling and processing. 
2. Number of consumers involved and the importance of the 
plant or its products to them. 
3. Possibility of replacing the host or its product. 
U., Monetary value of the crop. 
B. Destructiveness of the disease. 
1. Percentage of crop reduction resulting from the disease 
in climates similar to oxirs. 
a. annually or occasionally. 
b. average annual reduction. 
2, Estimated value of the probable loss from the disease 
if introduced. 
C. Type of quareintine required. 
1. Prohibitory quarantine. 
a. Because any entry of host material would probably 
mean introduction of the disease and domestic 
production of the plant is sviff iciently important 
to us to warrant the cost of this type of protection. 
