Quarantine in Italy

Abstract

ALLOW me to say a few words in defence of the prohibitive measures taken by the Italian Government against the introduction into our country of that pest, the phylloxera, and which, though subjected to much unreasonable criticism and selfish opposition here and abroad, have at least been hitherto perfectly successful in protecting our vineyards. Certainly at first sight it would seem that the only necessary measure to he taken ought to be a restriction on the importation of foreign vines, and of the plants (such as fruit-trees) usually cultivated along with them in nursery-grounds, and on whose roots some stray insects might probably occur; and to such a restriction did the Government at first limit itself. But it was soon found out to be quite ineffectual, as it only gave occasion to smuggling on a grand scale, encouraged, I am sorry to say, by certain horticultural firms that did not fear to compromise their respectability by so doing. We all know what ingenious persons smugglers can be; they began introducing the prohibited plants in their leafless state labelled as choicest exotics, to the utter confusion of the Custom House officials, who, being neither naturalists nor scientific men to any degree, were at a loss how to act, until the Government was obliged at last to send the order that no live plant should pass the frontier; a simple rule that anybody can understand, and not to be regretted when one has seen in France and elsewhere thousands of acres of what were once flourishing vineyards blasted by the pest, and has heard of the millions of money lost that way. I shall not mention such petty annoyances as being obliged to leave a bouquet at the Custom House; but surely it is better that our gardens should be deprived of those novelties and rarities that are not obtainable through seeds, rather than run the slightest risk of diminishing one of the principal resources of our impoverished country. Though myself a director of a botanic garden, I own I cannot push my love for flowers to that extent to sacrifice to it much greater interests.