The Invasive Species Warning

Fruit Inspector H. Brown is on the warpath against men who are selling plants with Japanese labels. This species of ornamentation has, he says, among its other qualities, the choicest collection of pernicious and pestiferous scale insects that can be found on any plant in the world. Within a year, he believes that every plant and shrub would be infected and killed by this variety of Japanese insect. The insect is not plain to the sight, because it finds a home under the bark of the plant and proceeds to suck the life out of it. Mr. Brown says there has been a large shipment of these plants received in this market that he missed because the Oriental shippers did not provide proper information. They are on sale by most Japanese merchants in violation of the law, which provides that no person shall sell plants or nursery stock without first obtaining a license. Mr. Brown says the insect being introduced is the same species that cost California several million dollars to eradicate, and he is determined to prevent such a calamity in Washington. He will see that every merchant procures a license and sells only healthy stock. Furthermore, he reports that insects found in imported oranges have proven resistant to even the severe fumigation required by law, surviving a roasting by sulphuric acid.