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eral hours, the woman finally admit' ted that she was carrying mangoes, gave up the contrabrand, and begged the inspector not to have her arrested.
Many passengers and recipients of packages from overseas are embarrassed by the presence of forbidden agricultural products. When incoming packages are found to contain plant products not allowed, a notice is put into the package explaining why the vegetables or fruit were removed.
Frequently inspectors receive letters like this: "Dear Mr. U. S. B. E. P. Q. — I am very sorry I broke the law, but you see, I didn't know I couldn't eat here what I ate in Cuba. My neighbor said you took the mangoes because they had bugs in them. Well, I've eaten bugs all my life, and they haven't hurt me, but if you are afraid the bugs will hurt somebody else, I won't ask no one to send me any more mangoes. I'm sorry, So I hope you won't arrest me."
BE. P. Q. refers to the Bureau of . Entomology and Plant Quarantine, that bureau of the Department of Agriculture which has to do with the study, identification, and control of insects, and the excluding of diseased plants and plant products. The inspectors are regulatory workers in this bureau, but they are also trained scientists with a professional and understanding attitude. These inspectors are very sympathetic with those who bring forbidden plants or soil into the country for sentimental reasons.
Recently it became necessary to forbid soil samples from much of
in9
Europe because of the damaging j
nematode which has sometimes de z
stroyed an entire potato crop. This c
made it impossible for people to bring %
soil from the graves of relatives, or; V
soil from the old country to put into i
cornerstones. So many people desired r
to bring soil from the homeland for i
sentimental reasons that one large air* j s port bought a pressure cooker toid
sterilize soil samples for travelers who d were willing to wait at the airport.
Some people do not recognize the absolute honesty of the Plant Quarantine inspectors, and attempt to offer J bribes. These are always refused, but occasionally they cause a great deal of'' confusion and expense. A small New York merchant happened to purchase* some vegetables and remove them from the ship before they were in' ^ spected. Thus it became necessary for , the inspector to make a trip down toi the merchant's place of business. ? While the merchant figured how , much he could charge for the Chinesci' cabbage and other delicacies, the uvl spector went about his business. The! merchant became worried and fright*! ened. He held out a bill to the in' h spector, and the government repre'J sentative politely refused. The scaredij merchant watched the inspector morel, closely, hoping that he would be al L lowed to keep the beautiful vege-jp tables. Finally he could stand the I suspense no longer. The merchant I { stuck the ten dollar bill into theJ, pocket of the inspector who was con' s centrating on his work. ;
The vegetables proved to be free s from undesirable pests; the inspectors i passed them and informed the mer i