8HB1.F NO..H.^.* 31 V-U~ ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE LIBRARY. 19 TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT f LLECTION I Y OF THE FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO 3893. {PUBLISHED BY THE ONTARIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TORONTO.) PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. «2538 TORONTO: PRINTED BY WARWICK BROS. & RUTTER, 68 AND 70 FRONT STREET WEST, 1894. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Brock University - University of Toronto Libraries http://archive.org/details/annualreportoffr1893frui TABLE OF CONTENTS. Letter of Transmittal. Officers for 1894 Constitution and By-laws Agricultural Divisions Annual Meeting President's Address : A. H. Pettit Fruit Statistics : C. C. James The Most Profitable Apple Fruit Growing in Ontario, and How to Make It Pay : A. M. Smith Report on Pears Notes of Travel Through Some American Orchards : H. L. Hutt Grasshoppers : Prof. Fletcher Flowers and Their Relation to Us : W. M. Robson Financial Statement Report of Committee on Fruit Exhibit Compliment to the retiring President Raspberry Culture from an Amateur Standpoint : R. B. Whyte '... Apples for the Foreign Market Modification of Fruits by Climate : Prof. J ohn Craig Large Yields of Apples Experimental Spraying Opening up Foreign Markets Notes on the Chemistry of the Copper Salt Fungicides : Prof. F. T. Shutt Resolution re Franco-Canadian Treaty Report of Committee oa Experiment Stations Peterborough as a Fruit Growing County : E. B. Edwards Necessity for a Change in our Methods of Obtaining and Introducing New Varieties of Fruits Thos. Beall Assessment of Orchards Some Desirable Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Plants : Prof. Wm. Saunders Standing Committee on New Fruits Vote of Thanks to Corporation of Peterborough Appendix I. (Additional papers) Insects Injurious to Plants : The Secretary The Gravenstein Apple : R. W. Starr Report of Committee on New Fruits New Fruits at the Central Experimental Farm : John Craig Canada's Horticultural Exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition Horticultural Board Act of British Columbia The World's Horticultural Society Page. 1 2 3 4 5 5 9 10 16 20 24 29 40 43 44 45 51 58 61 69 73 74 77 79 82 82 86 89 90 99 99 101 101 106 107 109 111 122 126 iv. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Appendix II. (Reports of Affiliated Societies) 129 Burlington Horticultural Society for 1893 129 Fruit G rowing about Burlington , . ... 129 Brant Horticultural Society ... 130 Window G ardening : T. A. Ivey 131 Small Fruits for Profits : L. Woolverton 132 Appendix III. (Catalogues of Fruits, and Fruit Lists) 137 Apple Catalogue 137 Grape Catalogue 139 District Fruit List of Apples 141 District Fruit List of Grapes 142 Pear Catalogue 144 Appendix IV. Ontario's Fruit Exhibit at Chicago —A list of varieties 145 Appendix V. Scheme for Experimental Fruit Stations — Report of the Committee 151 Appendix VI. List of Trees and Plants Distributed by the Fruit Growers' Association 155 Appendix VII. Ontario Fruit Statistics 157 INDEX. Page. Abies balsamea 92 Abies Canadensis 92 Acer dasycarpum 92 Acer dasycarpum Weiri 93 Acer Ginnala 98 Acer Negundo ' 94 Acer Pennsylvanicum 93 ^Esculus hippocastanum 93 iEsculus flava 93 Affiliated societies 129 Alders 93 Alexander apple 11 Alexander's winter grape 109 Alnus glutinosa laciniata 93 America mountain ash 94 Ammouiacal copper carbonate 79 Amorpha f ragrans 95 Amygdalus nana 95 Apple catalogue 137 Apple lists 141 Apple, Most profitable 10 Apples for foreign market 58, 11 7 Apples for stock 70 Assessment of orchards 89 Auditor's report 43 Austrian pine 92 Awards to Canada , 120 Awards to Ontario 7 Balsam spruce 92 Bank's Red Gravenstein 109 Basswoods 95 Beeches 94 Belle Lucrative pear 21 Ben Davis 13,117 Betula alba laciniata 93 Berberis Thunbergii 95 Birches 95 Blackberry gall fly 108 Black spruce 92 Black walnut 94 Blenheim Orange apple 11, 58 Bordeaux mixture , 67, 79 Box elder 94 Brant Horticultural Society 130 Brilliant grape 109 Buckeye 93 Burlington Horticultural Society 129 Button bush 96 Calumet 108 Campbell grape 110 Canada's Horticultural Exhibit at Chicago . . Ill Page. Canker worms 35 Canned goods at Chicago 115 Caragana aiborescens 95 Caragana pendula 97 Catalpa Kempferi 98 Catalpa speciosa 97, 98 Catalpa, Tees' hydrid 98 Ceanothus Americana 96 Cephalanthus occidentalis 96 Cercidiphyllum Japonicum 93 Chase Brothers' grape 109 Chemistry of the copper salt fungicides 77 Cherries about Peterborough 81 Cladrastis tinctoria 94 Clark raspberry .... 52 Clethra alnifolia 96 Codling moth 101 Colorado blue spruce 92 Committee on Mew Fruits 99 Committees 2, 82 Constitution 3 Copper carbonate 79 Copper salt fungicides 77 Corchorus Japonica 97 Cornelian cherry 96 Cornus mascula 96 Cornus Sanguinea 96 Cornus Siberica 96 Crimson Beauty raspberry 52 Curculio 25, 33, 101 Cuthbert raspberry . . , . 58 Cut-leaf white birch . , . 93 Cy tisus Laburnum , 97 Dana's Hovey pear 23 Daphne cneorum 92 Daphne mezereum 97 Dempsey's hybrids 45 Descriptions of fruit 75 Dery 107 Deutzia crenata 96 Deutzia gracilis 96 Directors 2 District fruit lists of apples 141 District fruit lists of grapes 142 District fruit lists of pears 144 Dogwoads 96 Duchess apple 11 Dwarf pine 92 Eau celeste 78 Eclipse grape 110 Eleagnus argentea 96 VI. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Page. Everbearing red raspberry 53 Exochorda grandiflora 97 Experiment stations 82, 151 False indigo 95 Farrell grape 110 Flemish Beauty pear 21 Floricultural exhibit at Chicago 118 Flowering almond 95 Flowers and their relation to us 40 Franco Canadian treaty 79 Franconia raspberry 52 Fruit exhibit at Annual Meeting 44 Fruit exhibit at Chicago 6, 111 Fruit growing at Burlington 129 Fruit growing in 'Jntario 16 Fruit growing in Peterborough County 83 Fruit statistics 9, 157 Genista Siberica ... . . 97 Golden Queen 53 Grape catalogue 139 Grape hoe : 24 Grape industry in Canada 80 Grape list 143 Grasshopper 29 Gravenstein apple 63, 106 Gregg raspberry 53 Gymnocladus Canadensis 94 Hansell raspberry * 52 Heebner raspberry , 53 Hemlock spruce 92 Herman Joeger grape 110 Herstine raspberry 53 Hickories 93 Hillborn raspberry 54, 55 Hop tree 94 Horse chestnuts 93 Horticultural Board Act of British Columbia 122 Horticultural literature 120 Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora 96 Ideal grape 110 Insects injurious to fruits 101 Japanese maples 97 Japan ivy 27 Japan walnut . 91 John Hopper rose 42 Jonathan apple 64 Juneberry 99 Juglans cinerea 94 Juglans nigra 94 Juglans Sieboldiani 94 Kentucky coffee tree 94 Kerosene emulsion 36, 103 Kieffer pear 22 King 60 Largest yield of apples 69 Lawrence pear 23 Lena Turner rose 42 Lilacs— Page. Princess Alexandra 97 Charles X 97 Persian 97 S. Josikaea 97 Lime in Bordeaux mixture 34 Mammoth Chister raspberry 53 Manitoba maple 94 Markets, Foreign 74 Marlboro' raspberry 52 Mock orange . . 96 Modification of fruits by climate 61 Mountain ash 94 Mountain maple 93 New Fruit Committee 99 New Fruit Committee, Report of 107 New fruits at Central Experimental Farm . . . 109 Newtown Pippin apple 61 New Jersey tea Norway maple 93 Notes of travel 24 Number of fruit trees and vines in Ontario. . . 9 Oak-leaved mountain ash . . 94 Oaks 95 Officers 2 Older raspberry 110 Oneida grape 110 Ontario apple 59 Ontario's fruit exhibit 6, 47, 112, 113, 145 Orcharding in Ontario . 70, 71 Ornamental shrubs 95 Ornamental trees 90 Oyster shell bark house 33, 102 Paragon grape 110 Paris green, Test of 39 Peach circulio 40 Peach bark beetle 32 Pear list 144 Pears, Report on 20 Pear tree Psylla 103 Peonia Mountain 96 Peterborough as a fruit growing country .... 82 Pettit, A. H., Compliment to 45 Pe .vaukee . . . . , 12, 61 Philadelphia 52 Philadelphus speciosissimus 97 Piceaalba 92 Picea nigra 92 Picea pungens 92 Pines 90 Pinus Australis 92 Pinus cembra , 91 Pinus mughus 92 Pinus resinosa 92 Pinus ponderosa 92 Pinus strobus , 91 Pinus sylvestris 91 Plum package 118 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. vn. Page. Plums about Peterborough 81 Poplar 95 President's address 5 Pruning 24 Prunus triloba 95 Purple beech 27 Pyrus Americana 94 Pyrus aucuparia 94 Quercus macrocarpo 95 .Race, T. H., elected president 46 Raspberries, Plight best 53 Raspberries, Pruning 55, 56 Raspberries, Seedling 54 Raspberries, Varieties of 52 Raspberry culture 51 Raspberry gall fly 104 Red pine 92 Report on fruit exhibit 44 Report on pears 20 Reports of affiliated societies 129- Retinosporas 92 Retinospora filifera 92 Retinospora leptoclada . . . . 92 Retinospora plumosa 02 Rhododendron vixosum 97 Rhus aromatica 9q Rhus glabra 96 Rhus glabra laciniata 96 Rosa cinnanmonea 97 Rosa spinossissima - 97 Salisburia adiantifolia 95 Sarah raspberry Ill Saunders raspberry 53 Scotch pine 91 Secretary, Compliment to 49 Seedling raspberries Ill Shaffer 54,58 Siberian pea tree 95 Silver bush berry 96 Silver maple 92 Silver weeping maple . . 93 Small fruits for profit 132 Spiraea Bumaloa 97 Spiraea collosa - 97 Page. Spiraea Van Houtii 91 Spiraea opulifolia 97 Spiraea prunifolia 97 Spiraea rotundifolia 96 Spiraea salicifolia 97 Spiraea tomentosa 97 Spraying, Test of 73 Spraying 27, 28, 31, 34 Spruces 92 Spy 11, 12, 14, 15, 50, 60, 117 Standard grape 110 Strawberry growing 132 Striped maple 93 St. Lawrence apple 11, 12 Sumach family 96 Sweet pepper bush 96 Sweet syringa 96 Tilia Americana 95 Tilia Europaea . 95 Tolman Sweet as stock 60, 85 Treasurer's statement 43 Tree peonia 96 Turner raspberry 52 Tyler raspberry 53 Vegetable exhibit at Chicago 114 Viburnum Latana 97 Viburnum opulus 97 Wafer ash 94 Wagener 59 Wealthy 65 Weigelia 97 Weigelia Sieboldii 97 Welcome to Peterborough 8 White Beauty grape 110 White pine 91 White spruce 92 Willow 95 Window gardening 131 Wine exhibit at Chicago 116 World's Fair 6, 47, 111 World's Horticultural Society 126 Wrapping fruit 19 Yellow pine 92 Yellow wood 94 T. H. RACE, Esq., Mitchell, President of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, 1894. i "l " ,; • TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. To the Honorable John Dryden, Minister of Agriculture : Sir, — In presenting to you this, our Twenty-Fifth Annual Report, I have the honor of calling your attention to the practical information contained in the discussions, which must tend to encourage the industry of fruit growing in central Ontario, where many of our best apples, such as Duchess, Blenheim, Wealthy, Pewaukee and others, seem to attain their greatest perfection ; also to the amendments made in the Pear Catalogue, which is intended as a guide for the use of judges at exhibitions. Some references of general interest are also made to Canada's fruit exhibits at the World's Fair, Chicago, at which both the President and Secretary of this Association were honored with appointments, the one by the Province of Ontario, and the other by the Dominion of Canada. I might further ask you to observe that, for the second time, we have enlarged the Canadian Horticulturist, until now it is a magazine of forty pages each monthly issue, and with a gradually increasing circulation. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, L WOOLVERTON, Grimsby, December, 1893. Secretary, 1 (F.G.) FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. OFFICERS FOR 1894. President : T. H. Race Mitchell. Vice-President : Murray Pettit Winona. Secretary-Treasurer and Editor : Linus Woolverton, M. A Grimsby. Directors : Division No. 1 W. S. Turner, Cornwall. Division No. 2 R. B. Whyte, Ottawa. Division No. 3 D. Nicol, Cataraqui. Division No. 4 Wellington Boulter, Picton. Division No. 5 Thos. Beall, Lindsay. Division No. 6 W. E. Wellington, Toronto. Division No. 7 W. M. Orr, Stony Creek. Division No. 8 .... , A.M. Smith, St. Catharines. Division No. 9 J. K. Howell, Brantford. Division No. 10 J. A. Morton, Wingham. Division No. 11 J. D. Stewart, Russeldale. Division No. 12 Alexander McNeill, Windsor. Division No. 13 G. C. Caston, Craighurst. Auditors : A. H. Pettit Grimsby. W. W. Hillborn Leamington. Committees : New Fruits. Messrs. A. McD. Allan, D. W. Beadle and John Craig. Revision of Assessment. Messrs. D. W. Beadle, W. E. Wellington and A. McD. Allan. Experimental Work. Messrs. Alex. McNeill, John Craig and. W. W. Hillborn. Finance. Messrs. A M. Smith, W. M. Orr and M. Pettit Executive. The President, Vice-President and Secretary. Committees Reporting at the Meeting : Fruit Exhibit. Prof. Craig, Messrs. E. B. Edwards and Geo. Cline. Nomination. By the Chair — Messrs. Alex. McNeill and T. M. Grover. By the Association— Messrs. W. S. Turner, M. Pettit and D W. Beadle. Legislation. Messrs. A. H. Pettit, Alex. McNeill, D. W. Beadle, E. B. Edwards and W. Boulter. N.B. — The President. Vice-President and Sacretary are ex officio members of all committees. Representatives : Western Fair. Messrs. T. H. Race and W. W. Hillborn. Central Fair. Messrs. R. B. Whyte and John Craig. Industrial Fair. Messrs. W. E. Wellington and A. H. Pettit. Central Farmers' Institute. Mr. Murray Pettit. Delegates : Experimental Union. Mr. W. M. Orr. Western New York Horticultural Society, Mr. John Craig. Michigan Horticultural Society. Mr. Alex McNeill. The next Winter Meeting will be held in the Town of Orillia. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION. CONSTITUTION. Art. I. This Association shall be called "The Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario." Art. II. Its object shall be the advancement of the science and art of fruit culture by holding meetings for the exhibition of fruit and for the discussion of all questions relative to fruit culture, by collecting, arranging and disseminating useful information, and by such other means as may from time to time seem advisable. Art. HE. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated by the Association. Art. IV. The officers of the Association shall be composed of a President, Vice-President, a Secretary, or Secretary-Treasurer, and thirteen Directors. Art. V. Any person may become a member by an annual payment of one dollar, and a payment of ten dollars shall constitute a member for life. Art. VI. This Constitution may be amended by a vote of the majority of the members present at any regular meeting, notice of the proposed amendments having been given at the previous meeting. Art. VII. The said Officers and Directors shall prepare and present at the annual meeting of the Association, a report of their proceedings during the year, in which shall be stated the names of all the members of the Association, the places of meeting during the year, and such information as the Association shall have been able to obtain on the subject of fruit culture in the Province during the year. There shall also be presented at the said annual meeting a detailed statement of the receipts and disbursements of the Associat;on during the year, which report and statement shall be entered in the journal and signed by the President as being a correct copy ; and a true copy thereof, certified by the Secretary for the time being, shall be sent to the Minister of Agriculture within forty days after the holding of such annual meeting. Art. VIII. The Association shall have power to make, alter and amend By-laws for prescribing the mode of admission of new members, the election of officers, and otherwise regulating the administration of its affairs and property. BY-LAWS. 1. The President, Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer shall be cx-offiicio members of all committees. 2. The Directors may offer premiums to any person originating or introducing any new fruit adapted to the climate of the Province which shall possess such distinctive excellence as shall, in their opinion, render the same of special value ; also for essays upon such subjects connected with fruit growing as they may designate, under such rules and regulations as they may prescribe. 3. The Secretary shall prepare an annual report containing the minutes of the proceedings of meetings during the year ; a detailed statement of receipts and expenditure, the reports upon fruits received from different localities, and all essays to which prizes have been awarded, and such other information in regard to fruit culture as may have been received during the year, and submit the same to the Directors or any Committee of Directors appointed for this purpose, and, with their sanction, after presenting the same at the annual meeting, cause the same to be printed by and through the Publication Committee, and send a copy thereof to each member of the Association and to the Minister of Agriculture. 4. Seven Directors shall constitute a quorum, and if at any meeting of Directors there shall not be a quorum, the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be obtained. 5. The annual subscription shall be due in advance at the annual meeting. 6. The President (or in case of his disability, the Vice-President), may convene special meetings at such times and places as he may deem advisable ; and he shall convene such special meetings as shall be requested in writing by five members. 7. The President may deliver an address on some subject relating to the objects of the Association-; 8. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to the Association, keep a correct account thereof and submit the same to the Directors at any legal meeting of such Directors, five days' notice having been previously given for that purpose. 9. The Directors shall audit and pass all accounts, which, when approved of by the President's signa- ture, shall be submitted to and paid by the Treasurer. 10. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a correct record of the proceedings of the Association, conduct the correspondence, give not less than ten days' notice of all meetings to the members, and specify the business of special meetings. 11. The Directors, touching the conduct of the Association, shall at all times have absolute power and control of the funds and property of the Association, subject however to the meaning and construction of the Constitution. 12. At special meetings no business shall be transacted except that stated in the Secretary's circular. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 13. The order of business shall be : (1) Reading of the minutes ; (2) Reading of the Director's Report j 3) Reading of the Treasurer's Report ; (4) Reading of the prize essays ; (5) President's Address ; (6) Elec- tion of officers, and (7) Miscellaneous business. 14. These By-laws may be amended at any general meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. 15. Each member of the Fruit Committee shall be charged with the duty of accumulating information touching the s'ate of the fruit crop, the introduction of new varieties, the market value of fruits in his particular section of the country, together with such other general and useful information touching fruit interests as may be desirable, and report in writing to the Secretary of the Association on or before the fifteenth day of September in each year. The President, Vice-President and Secretary shall be ex-officio members of the Board of Directors and of all Committees. The reasonable and necessary expenses of Directors and officers in attending meetings of the Board of Directors and of Committees shall be provided from the funds of the Association. Local Fruit Growers' Association. 16. It shall be the duty of the officers and directors of the Fruit Crowers' Association of Ontario to encourage the formation of 1< cal fruit growers' horticultural societies in affiliation with the Ontario Association. 17. Any one may become a member of such local society for one year upon payment into its treasury of a minimum sum of one dollar ; and a compliance with clause 18 of these by-laws shall constitute him also a member of the Ontario Association for the same term. 18. On the receipt of the names of such members, with the required fees, the secretary of such local affiliated society may transmit their names and post office addresses, together with the sum of eighty cents- for each to the Secretary of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, who will enter their names as membeis of that society, entitled to all its privileges, providing the initial number of such names be not less than ten. 19. Each local society so affiliating, with a membership of not less than twenty-five, shall be entitled to a visit from some member of the board of directors or other prominent horticulturist, once a year, at their own request ; it being understood that the railway expenses of such speaker shall be paid by the Ontario Society, and the entertainment provided by the local society. 20. The proceedings of such local fruit growers' horticultural societies shall, on or before the 1st day of December of each year, be forwarded to the secretary of the Ontario Society, who may cull out such portions for the Annual Report to the Minister of Agriculture for the province, as may seem to him of general interest and value. 21. These local societies, if formed in cities, towns or incorporated villages, may be formed under the Agriculture and Arts Act (see sections 37, 46 and 47) and receive their due share of the Electoral District grant for the support of such societies. 22. Each local affiliated society is further expected to send at least one delegate to the annual meeting of the Fiuit Growers' Association. The director of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario of the Agricuctural District in which such society is formed, shall be ex-officio, a member of the executive committee of such local society and receive notices of all its meetings. AGRICULTURAL DIVISIONS. 1. Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry Prescott and Cornwall. 2. Lanark North, Lanark South, Renfrew North, Renfrew South, Carleton, Russell and the City of Ottawa. 3. Frontenac, City of Kingston, Leeds and Grenville North, Leeds South, Grenville South, and Brockville. 4. Hastings East, Hastings North, Hastings West, Addington, Lennox and Prince Edward. 5. Durham East, Durham West, Northumberland East, Northumberland West, Peterborough East, Peterborough West, Victoria North (including Haliburton), and Victoria South. 6. York East, York North, York West, Ontario North, Ontario South, Pee), Card well and City of Toronto. 7. Wellington Centre, Wellington South, Wellington West, Waterloo North, Waterloo South, Went- worth North, Wentworth South, Dufferin, Hal ton and City of Hamilton. 8. Lincoln, Niagara, Welland, Haldimand and Monck. 9. Elgin East, Elgin West, Brant North, Brant South, Oxford North, Oxford South, Norfolk North, and Norfolk South. 10. Huron East, Huron South, Huron West, Bruce Centre, Bruce North, Bruce South, Grey East, Grey North and Grey South. 11. Perth North, Perth South, Middlesex East, Middlesex North, Middlesex West and City of London. 12. Essex North, Essex South, Kent East, Kent West, Lambton East and Lambton West. 13. Algoma East, Algoma West, Simcoe East, Simcoe South, Sirncoe West, Muskoka and Parry Sound FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. THE ANNUAL MEETING, 1893. The Annual Meeting of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, opened at one o'clock on Tuesday, December 5th, in the Town Hall, Peterborough, the President, Mr. A. H. Pettit, in the chair. THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. By A. H. Pettit, Grimsby. Mr. Chairman, — Again I am called as your President to present the annual address on this the thirty-fourth annual session of this Association. This address should, perhapsj contain a recapitulation of the work of the past season, and, like a mile post on the highway, mark the progress we have made, and point out, if possible, the most prac- tical route on which to continue our journey. When we consider that this Association first entered on the work in which we are now engaged, with little practical experience to guide it, its champions but apprentices in the field with no works of science on that subject written by skilled horticulturists, in a land of almost unknown possibilities, having no financial resources, save self-sacri- fice on their part to stimulate and foster this great industry, truly, sir, we may congratu- late ourselves on the success that has attended its efforts. Where do we find ourselves to-day 1 laboring in a field cleared of all those obstacles with the best practice of skilled horticulturists in every part of our land set before us, with orchards and vineyards like the mile posts of old to guide the student and encourage the laborer in his work ; that great cable that stretches from shore to shore, across the mighty deep, flashing to us the requirements of their people, and very often, as it were, closing a deal that means thousands to the resources of our people ; with the mighty power of steam and electricity, like the veins in the human body, coursing throughout the length and breadth of our land and into every nook and corner thereof, in order to draw all countries in clo3er commercial harmony and accord. Surely under such circum- stances our work is plain and our responsibility great, if we fail to foster, guide and direct that ever-increasing stream of fruit products into the most profitable channel. Are there not fields to-day, like our boundless prairie, rich and fertile, that yield us no return, for the lack of cultivation 1 These should be reached, if not with fresh fruit, then in its manufaetured state, and we might direct our attention in that line with advantage to the producer of fruit. I might point out one of our products that has made most marvellous strides in that direction, through the instrumentality of Associations like this, coupled with the uniform good quality of the article itself. T refer to the cheese industry. Is the fruit industry less important to the welfare of our country, and should it not claim at our hands a larger share of attention in the direction of finding wider markets ? The butter FEUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. industry to-day is being fostered by the Government, and will, no doubt, in time rival the cheese export, and why cannot we, the fruit producers of our country, claim some share in that policy, carried on by the Government of our country, towards opening up new mar- kets and making known their good quality1? While the Government is framing its policy in the interests of the people, and thus fully recognize the importance of the agricultural and horticultural interests in our land, might we not ask them to place, not one big specimen, as they are doing in cheese, but one reasonably large consignment in some of those markets that as yet have not been cultivated in order that the size, color and qual- ity of fruit might win for us a wider market 1 I referred, last year, to my work in connection with the Ontario Fruit Exhibit for the World's Fair, giving a short description of the initiatory work then completed; I desire now to briefly refer to the continuation of that work and the final result as described by the judges at the close of their labors. On the 25th day of March last, I issued a circular to the Fruit Growers of Ontario through the channel of our Farmers' Institutes and Fruit Growers' Associations, urging them to take some united action in their separate localities, whereby their fruits might be fairly represented at the World's Fair, pointing out what seemed to- me to be the most simple and at the same time most economical and effective plan I could suggest. In answer to this appeal I received a large number of very encouraging replies. I then had some two hundred cases made of convenient size for shipping fresh fruits in their best condition ; these were forwarded to those points where action was being taken ; they were filled with packing material and also a circular of instruction, how to pack and ship, together with forms of invoice, address cards, etc. These were returned again from time to time and served a very good purpose. I also pointed out in this circular that the quantity need not be so large, but the quality and regularity of shipments most important. I can now, as the representative of the fruit interests of Ontario on that occasion, tender my most hearty thanks to those who so nobly and patriotically, with the choicest fruits of their locality, assisted me to carry the horticultural banner of our province to such a successful issue, and that at perhaps the greatest exhibition of fruit the world has ever seen brought together. I think, sir, it will be readily conceded that Ontario had the largest exhibit of fruit, scored the largest number of points, rated the highest as to quality, of any exhibit on the grounds ; and in order to make room for our display several States generously con- tributed a portion of their space. Washington Territory allowed us some forty feet along the centre passage ; South Dakota, twelve feet, and the North-west Territories some thirty feet, all of which was filled to repletion by the generous contributions of the Iruit growers of Ontario. I would like very much to give in detail a description of the various exhibits made, covering the whole of this North American continent, and showing wherein our country possesses superior advantages to many ; this I shall try to do at a later period, as time will not permit me to do so now. I wish now to call your attention to the wide range of varieties embraced not only in our fruits in solution, but in fresh fruits collected from nearly every part of our province, and to the prompt realization of the object we sought to attain, calling FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. forth very frequent and satisfactory remarks, such as this : " I am astonished at the wide range of fruits your country is capable of producing. It is a revelation to me." Was not this the great object we sought to attain? I am satisfied that thousands of visitors to that great exposition have received a wider knowledge of the resources, capabilities, and climatic influences of our country, that no other method could have so readily accomplished. Another point I wish to make clear on this occasion. Some of the papers in, this province gave a very confused statement of the awards secured by Ontario in the fruit department. I wish now to give a correct one, copied from the official report of the board of judges, Provincial Awards were made to the Province of Ontario on : 1 Fruits in solution . 2 Apples of 1892. 3 Apples of 1893. 4 Pears and Quinces. 5 Stone fruits. 6 Cherries in variety. 7 Currants. 8 Display of native and foreign Gooseberries. 9 Continuous display of Blackberries. 10 Grapes. In all ten Provincial Awards. Now these fruits, although entered for a Provincial Award, were also entered in the producer's name, in orderthateach individual mightreceive, and each locality as well, all the credit attaching to his or their contributions towards the provincial display, and for another reason which I wish to explain, in order that later on in the season I might claim for those districts that contributed so much towards the desired result, some recognition for their labors, and on that score we received the following District Awards : Niagara District Pears and Peaches, Essex • " Apples. Belleville and Eastern District Apples. Grey " Apples. Huron " Apples. Simcoe " Apples and Pears. In all fourteen District Awards. Then on that score the judges felt there were also individuals who had contributed largely towards the display, and some recognition was due them in like manner, with the result that eleven Individual Awards were made as follows j Niagara District Burlington " Grapes. Grapes. Wentworth " Grapes. Went worth " Apples and Peaches. Wentworth " .. ..Pears. Burlington " Apples. Burlington " Pears. Niagara ' ' Apples. James Sheppard & Son Queenston , Peaches. W.R. Read Port Dalhousie " C. Atkins Stony Creek " W . Kottmeier St . Catharines " Edward Tyhurst Leamington .... " Geo . W . Cline Winona Plums . William Stewart Goderich " W . Warnock Goderich " Richard Trotter Owen Sound " W. M. Orr Stony Creek " Murray Pettit Winona Grapes . This record for Ontario will speak for itself not in this country alone, but in a far wider- field. It was written by men who came from some of the finest fruit-growing States in the Union, and men possessing a wide knowledge of the science of Pomology ; their labors were arduous, indeed, and Ontario added no small portion to their labors ; and in the discharge of that duty I believe they were guided by but one true principle, to deal out fair and ever\ handed justice to all, " let the chips fall where they may." FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. [ cannot at this time, at the close of an eventful struggle for Ontario's supremacy in the horticultural field, but express my most unbounded satisfaction, with the hearty and unanimous manner in which my every effort iu that direction has been supported first to the Ontario Commissioner, Mr. Nicholas Awrey, for his wise and willing counsel at all times freely given to the Fruit Growers of Ontario, who so promptly and generously contributed to the desired object ; to Chief J. M. Samuels, of the Horticultural Depart- ment, for his kindness and courtesy at all times; to the express companies and customs officials who used every effort to have our goods promptly delivered ; to Mr. W. M. Orr whose interesting efforts and happy manner rendered good service in the cause, and to Mr. James Brodie, who during the past two seasons has rendered valuable assistance in the work. A WELCOME. Mr. E. B. Edwards, of Peterborough, welcomed the Association. He said : We have done what we could to get the farmers here, and I expect to see them gathering in. I have much pleasure in introducing Mr. Anderson, the Warden of our County, who has come in to show the interest that he takes in the Association, and I will ask him to express a word of welcome to the Association. Mr. W. Anderson welcomed the Association, and hoped that their visit would be a benefit to the locality. For himself, he had come to listen and to learn, and he expected personally to profit by the discussions. Mr. D. W. Dumble, Police Magistrate, said : There is no part of the country that needs the presence of this Association more than the County of Peterborough. My enthusiastic friend, Mr. Edwards, says there are any amount of latent capabilities here. They have not been developed to the extent that I think is possible, and I incline to think that the reason has been that the varieties grown here have not been suited, and those that were suitable have been too widely scattered to make a marketable commodity. Our people, in order to make fruit growing profitable, want just such instructions as you are going to give ; and I am sure your meeting will be successful in every way. We shall be glad to get all the information we can. The President : We all appreciate the words of welcome extended to this Associa- tion. Last year, when we decided to come to Peterborough to hold this meeting, we felt that we were coming to one of the finest sections in the province of Ontario. We knew it was a wonderful cheese-producing, and to a certain extent fruit-producing section ; and we expect by coming here to gain from you, gentlemen, and the farmers and fruit-growers of this section of the country, a great deal of information. We also expect, having pre- sent, as you will see around this room, representative fruit men from almost every part of our province, to be able possibly to give a little information. Of course if we are not receiving information and gaining every day we must be going back ; therefore we expect to get information, and hope to be able to impart it. I do not know very much of the extent of the fruit interest in this section, but I have no doubt, from the appearance of the country, that there is room for a great advancement in that respect. In some branches of agriculture — in wheat growing, for instance — we seem to be producing almost more than the requirements of the people. Possibly we might increase our fruit production and decrease our wheat production with advantage to all concerned. We would be glad to see you all members of our Association ; but whether members or not, we want you to take an active part in the discussion, and assist in advancing that great interest we are endeavoring to promote in every possible way. I may add that those becoming members receive the Horticulturist through the year, and also get the annual report as well as share in the distribution of plants and shrubs, and different kinds of new things coming in. Mr. James, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, is present, and he is preparing some statistics of fruits produced in our country. I will now call upon him to address you. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. FRUIT STATISTICS. Mr. James, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, said : As most of you, I presume, are aware, the Department of Agriculture for the Province gathers every year statistics in connection with the production of the staple field crops, statistics in regard to our live stock and other information dealing with agriculture It is not a matter of very great difficulty to obtain, for instance, the acreage of fall wheat in Ontario. We can get that from the farmers, and we can also get it directly from the assessors' returns. Having that to start with, all that we have to do is to send out our thousands of circulars to the farmers all over the province during the summer and at the end of the season, in order to obtain the yields per acre. In that way we are able to find out pretty closely how many bushels of wheat and other grains are produced in this Province.. But that is only a part of the farm work of this country. Then we have been accustomed for the last ten years to gather statistics in regard to the cheese industry of Ontario. We have found, for instance, that we have been making enormous strides in that direction, until now our annual product is coming pretty well up to 100,000,000 pounds. There is another field that, as T said, has not been touched upon, viz., that of the orchard, garden and vineyard ; but there are so many difficulties right at the outset that we are almost afraid to under- take it. Wheat is wheat ; and no matter what the varieties may be, all go in together, are mixed in our elevators together, and are sold together. When we come to apples there are so miny varieties, and the difference in bearing is so great, that the difficulties seem to be insurmountable. However, for two years, acting partly in concert with this Association, we have been endeavoring to gather statistics ; and I think now we have the foundation laid to gather information that will be as reliable in regard to our fruits as the information that we have in regard to our grains. Some may say, perhaps, that the fruit growing of Ontario i3 not nearly as important as grain growing, or as the production of dairy articles A man has a little orchard ; he has a few trees, a few vines ; and pro- bably very few out of the entire number of farmers send their pro luce to market. Now, let us see as to whether the fruit-gro ving industry of Ontario is of such little consequence as some are apt to believe. From our two years' work we have come to what we consider pretty reliable information in regard to the number of the various fruit trees — i. e. fruit of the larger sorts — that we have grown here in Ontario. In round figures they are about as follows — of course this does not take in the smtll orchards of towns and villages ; our work so far deals only with farm lands and the large fruit growers, so that the number may have to be slightly increased although not to any great extent. Thu3, for instance, in apples we find there are about 7,000,000 bearing apple-trees in Ontario ; about 2r000r 000 bearing grape vines; 700,000 plums; 500,000 each of cherries, pears and p3*ches. Now, if you will take the average crop for each of the3e, and put a moderate rate as the value of the product, you will fiad that the figures thus obtained will amount up to a con- siderable sum. Of course only a portion of the fruit goes to market ; nevertheless it is the produce of the farms, orchards and gardens of this country, and though it may not find its way to market, it finds its way to the tables of this country, and the farmer himself perhaps consumes the larger portion of it. I have put the figures in that rounded-off form in order that we may carry them away. I presume there is no great necessity to go into minute details. We find that whereas some of 1he different fruits are confined to different localities, some of these, such as apple-growing, is found in all parts of the Province. The second point I want to refer to this, that, taking our figures of thi^ year and comparing them with last, we find a slight increase in regard to all those fruits over last year, showing that the number of pear tiees, peaches, plums, cherries and grape-vines — is slightly increasing year after year ; and just as in the case of the cheese productioa of Ontario, we have not yet come to the limit of our production. I suppose the limit will beset by the deminds of our home and foreign markets. The only two points, then, that I want to make here are these : First, that fruit growing has already assumed very large proportions here in Ontario — much larger proportions than we are at first disposed to think ; and second, that there is a steady increase ; there h also a gradual and quite a perceptible improvement in the nature of our fruit growing and in the quality of the fruit which is being produced. {Applause.) 10 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Mr. D. W. Dumble (Peterborough) : Just for information, and that we may have a more definite conception of that, I would ask : How do you get at the returns 1 Mr. James : I suppose that would necessitate in the first place explaining how the government obtains its figures in regard to many of those crops. Mr. Dumble : This figure is so astounding to us that actually I am incredulous ; and I want to know your basis. Mr. James : In the first place, we must find how many producing trees there are in Ontario. Take apples, for instance. There are two ways of getting at a thing of that kind. One is to go to every man over the entire Province and ask him how many apple trees he has on his farm. That is done in the taking of a census — done every ten years in the Province of Ontario. In getting these returns from year to year, however, we have assessors' returns as to the acreage of our orchard and garden. Unfortunately these returns are not definite enough for us to base our reports upon. Every spring the Department of Agriculture sends out — one time we sent out 1 10,000 or 115,000 cards — to the the farmers in the Province. Sometimes we get these names from voters' lists, and we keep checking them over so that we know that the lists are simply and solely farmers. Last year we got the names from the public school teachers. We got the address of every public school teacher in the Province. To that public school teacher we sent asking for the name of the farmers in his school section. These names came back. Then we knew we had at first hand the names of the farmers in each school section of the Province. Putting these together, they ran up into thousands and thousands. Then to these farmers we sent out blank forms asking them as to the number of acres in their farm, the number of acres in pasture, the number of acres in wheat, and so on ; the amount of stock ; value of their farm ; value of their implements ; and also in the last two years we have asked them the number of plum trees, pear treea, peach trees, grape vines, and so on and from these we have taken our returns. We have not the time or the staff to do that every year ; but when we get the total acreage of a township, and returns from as large a proportion of that as possible, from that we have to make an estimate. We may be a little too high in some cases, a little too low in others ; but these will offset one another, taking the Province as a whole, and from that we get our returns. At the end of the season we send a card asking for a return per tree of the various fruits ; then it is a matter of calculation — of suming up. For instance, last year the hay crop was valued at $36,000,000. That is a crop that every one knows is large ; but the point that I made was that fruit is so neglected by the ordinary farmer that he does not consider it of very much value, but when you come to put it together it amounts to a large sura. Mr. Edwards : Then you consider these figures you have given us are fairly reliable 1 Mr. James : I think 1 have under-estimated rather than over- estimated. The President : Gentlemen, this is an important subject, and we have a gentleman here who has been operating in that direction for two or three years. We will be glad to have any question. I may say that in addition to the regular programme of subjects we have questions. Any question that is called for we will be glad to bring it up ; also if any gentleman wishes to put any question, the Secretary is always ready to receive it and have it brought forward at any time. We might take up the third question on the paper, and I would ask Mr. Smith to open the discussion on it. THE MOST PROFITABLE APPLE. Q. What one variety of summer, fall and winter apples has paid most profit in the commercial orchards of Ontario, during the past ten years ? Mr. A. M. Smith (St. Catharines) : I can only speak from the standard of the Niagara District, and in beginning I would say that no variety of apple has been very profitable there for the last three years. Our apple crop has been almost a failure. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 11 Mr. James : You say it has been " almost a failure." Now, we get that reply in our returns to questions — •' apple crop a failure ; " " almost a failure." What do the farmers mean when they say it is almost a failure ? What do you mean when you say it is almost a failure1? We find when we get their figures afterwards that there was quite a considerable crop. Mr. Smith : I mean that many of our farmers have to buy their own apples, and very few of them have any to sell. Some orchards are totally unproductive. A few have perhaps some varieties that are bearing well, and occasionally one in some sheltered or favored locality may be fairly productive. The one variety of summer apple that has been most profitable and productive has been probably the Duchess of Oldenburg For fall, the Oolvert, I think, perhaps, though it is grown to a very limited extent. The Blenheim Pippin has done fairly well also. Mr. Edwards : Do you call that a fall variety ? Mr. Smith : In our section. Mr, Oaston (Craighurst) : Isn't that a winter variety? I saw it in Oxford County last January and it was in splendid shape, and it would keep a couple of months longer, Mr. Smith : I suppose you would call the Snow apple a winter applt 1 Mr. Edwards : It keeps till January ; but the Blenheim is decidedly more of a winter apple than the Snow apple is with us. Mr. Smith : I don't think it will keep any longer. Mr. Edwards : We keep them here till May. The Secretary : Under what conditions 1 Mr. Edwards : Ordinary conditions — in cellar. I count on having a dish of Blen- heims every Sunday morning during winter up till May. Mr. Smith : I count on having grapes up till May, too. Mr. Edwards : They are kept without any special care ; their temperature kept fairly low, but without any special care to regulate it by means of a thermometer or any- thing of that sort — an ordinary cellar. The Secretary : 35° to 40° ? Mr. Edwards : Yes. Mr. Smith : Probably the most productive and profitable winter apple in our section is the Baldwin, though that has failed for one or two years. This year the Rhode Island Greening has given better results than any other winter apple I know of. The President : Now, Mr. Ca3ton, we will call upon you next, for the north. Mr. Oaston (Simcoe County) : For an early apple I would agree with what Mr. Smith said about the Duchess of Oldenburg. Then for fall, either the Alexander or the St. Lawrence — I would say the latter. It is sometimes liable to scab, but is a splendid apple, and one that bears well. Then as to winter apples, I would say the Snow. I think you will find on our list prepared by a committee of this Association that it is a winter apple ; and I think among the early winter apples the Snow has been the most saleable in our locality — in fact it has been one of the most valuable apples we have had. Some years it is pretty badly threatened with the scab, but it is always in good demand, and I don't know that there is any winter apple that pays better in our section than the Snow in the past ten years. Then the later winter apple would be a choice between the Spy and the Russet. The Spy is a long time coming into bearing in our section, but it brings the most money, and I think it would be difficult to choose between the Spy and the Russet which is most profitable. Of course in future the Pewaukee may prove to be most profitable. Mr. Boulter (Picton) : Has the Snow ever been a success in exporting to Great Britain 1 12 FRUIT GEOWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Mr. Caston : There have not been a great many sent to the Old Country from our section ; we ship more of the later varieties ; but for the markets nearer us, round the north part of the Province, where they do not grow many apples, there is nothing sells better than the Snow. Everybody wants a few barrels of them any way. Mr. Edwards (Peterborough) : I think the Northern Spy is the apple which is most commonly grown here as a winter apple, and is found to ba very successful in this locality, growing a good size and good color and quality. The Blenheim Orange I have found in my own experience a very good winter apple, and it would keep fairly well into the late part of the winter. Mr. Caston : Is it not a shy bearer 1 Mr. Edwards : No : we find it a very fair bearer — fairly regular and fairly good crops. For fall apple the St. Lawrence goes very well in this neighborhood; and for the earlier season the Duchess, I think, is usually the best, and in this locality it grows very well and seems to have a very good flavor and is very finely colored. As fair as profit is concerned, I should put the Blenheim Orange, from my experience, above all as the most valuable. The President : Now, you notice in the circulars just distributed, that the list is revised for the various districts. We would like to get your views as to which are the most valuable sorts for the various districts. Mr. Giles (Peterborough) : I find that the Pewaukea is a very good apple, but it has one very bad fault — it falls off the tree very much. I don't know whether the trouble is with my land, or what it is. If it would not fill off, it would take the place of the Northern Spy. The Spy holds first place, but I think the Pewaukee is just as good as it, barring that fault. The President : Does it fall before it is ripe ? Mr. Giles : Yes. Mr. Boulter (Picton) : I have read this list over and have been surprised at some of the varieties that have been classed as first-class and desirable to be cultivated. The mistake of most apple growers to-day is in planting too many varieties. You must select according to climatic conditions. My friend young Mr. Dempsey told me yesterday that he had realized more money from his Snows this year, per tree, than any other apple that he produced. I have bean favorably impressed this year with the Snow as a com- mercial apple ; but hitherto they were so scabby that I had to throw away quite a few that I had bought for my factory. As to value of winter apple, my buyer this fall had more enquiries for Northern Spy and Baldwin than any other varieties grown in Prince Edward County ; and they would bring more money per barrel. He had orders for Spies to go to Prince Edward Island. I don't know why the Spy has not been classed as one of our first-class shipping varieties. I have seen it printed that no gentleman would place the Northern Spy on his table as one of the first apples grown in Ontario. I think to the contrary. Properly cultivated where the sun can get at it, we can grow as fine Northern Spys as can be grown anywhere ; and American friends who have been visit- ing me say they have never tasted any apple grown anywhere in the States that can come up to the flavor of the Northern Spy. The Duchess is a first-class apple. The Col vert I think very little of ; it is a tasteless apple, though nice to handle. If we use Colverts we have to buy Jenettings to flavor them with. The Secretary : What would you leave off from that list for No. 4 if you wished the Spy included, and we will have it changed 1 Mr. Boulter : The Ben. Davis is really a good apple ; I believe it is as good an apple as we can grow, knowing what I do of the English market. Mr. Caston : Its principal market value is not its quality, but the good shape in which it gets there 1 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 13 Mr. Boulter : It is a beautiful, bright apple ; and has good keeping qualities. Along in March the Ben Davis is very good. This is the first year that [ have not had a good crop of them. The Pewaukee has not been widely cultivated in Prince Edward County yet. To-day I have no more healthy apple trees than the Spies and Baldwins and Golden Russets. The President : What varieties do you prefer for canning ? Mr. Boulter : For summer apples we want the Duchess of Oldenburg first. If we could not get any other we would take it the second time and the third time. We like the St. Lawrence, andwe like the Fall Jenetting, although it is a very rough, hard apple to peel. These are three good varieties that cannot possibly be beaten in the way of can- ning apples. Let me tell you, whatever taste an apple has, when it is peeled and put into* the can, it will come out and taste just the same six months or six years after. Con- sequently if you put an apple that is tasteless, your canned fruit will have no taste. There is too much water in the Colvert and in the Snow. I have done my best to make a success of the Snow as a canning apple, and I cannot do it; it is too soft and' watery. There is no apple that cans better than the Northern Spy. Mr. J. McK. Smith (Peterborough) : What about the Ben Davis % Mr. Boulter : The Ben Davis is a good apple, but it takes about a year to get i^ » ready. Mr. McNeil (Windsor) : One gentleman at the Windsor meeting attempted to say that the Ben Davis was the most profitable apple that he grew, and the Convention almost laughed him down. I sent him some enquiries in connection with this meeting, and he said, " By all means give the Ben Davis a good word ; it is the best apple 1 have yet." Last January he sent me some Ben Davis apples. I tell you they are just as nice an apple as I want to eat — and I am very particular about apples, too. The Ben Davis is like a piece of cork, as you might say, in the fall and winter, but coming along in January I give them to the children, and they take them willingly when the batter class of apples would be refused. Either your Ben Davis isn't ours, or else your taste is perverted. As for profit, I believe there is no apple grown that will give you as much. For a winter apple why not plant it more largely] It appears to me there is a feeling in the Association that we should not not plant it ; and the feeling come3 not from those who really have it but from those who are struggling after higher things ia fruit. Now, let us have the higher things, but let us have a little money element in it. (Hear, hear.) I believe for the money element the Ben Davis is ahead of them all. I would not grow it exclusively ; but let us give it a good show, and put it on its proper plane, and show when it should be used and when it should not be uaed — give it its proper place in January, February and March. Mr. Stinson (Peterborough) : I planted out 17 Ben Davis sixteen years ago. They started to bear six years after planting and have been bearing ever since. This last year I took 86 bushel off those trees, and took 80 bushels of good salable apples out of the lot. From my experience 1 would sooner grow the Ben Davis at 50 cents a bushel than any other apple at a dollar. Mr. Turner (Cornwall) : I have eaten Ben Davis in July — my own growing. Mr. Oaston : I saw a specimen that was kept for two years, and they were not rotten then — they were only shrivelled. Mr. Boulter : I would like to atk Mr. Dempsey if the Ben Davis is successful with him. I Mr. Dempsey (Trenton) : The Ben Davis has proved to be one of the most profit- able apples we have planted, and the Spys one of the most unprofitable. I would not advise planting the Spy on any consideration, unless for a man of great wealth who could wait for it. 1 would rather see him plant some Duchess or Wealthy or Ontario — such apples as come into bearing and he can get his money out of them. Spys stand for a great many years, and you do not get your money out of them. I have now some 400 trees some sixteen years planted, and the total crop off these, two years ago, was some 14 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Mr. Boulter : What cause do you give for them not panning out ? Mr. Dempsey : When the Spy in our section comes into bearing it bears for about four or five years, then it goes to pieces. Mr. Caston : That is the way they did in our section. The President : I think I shall ask Mr. Beall a question that possibly he will be very glad to answer. I think be took a very great deal of pains in the preparation of this report. Now, we find it necessary, as years roll on, to make changes. How shall we accomplish that in the best way 1 I find the western counties strongly urge that Ben Davis be placed on the list. It, is not on the list now. Mr. Beall : When that list was adopted by the committee they had no idea in the world that it was going to last for ever. We expect it to be changed from year to year ; but a great deal of care should be taken in making a change. I think a change should not be made merely because one particular variety is very much liked in one particular orchard. I think the matter should be well considered. I think the Association in the first place decided on something which was as near perfect as can be within the limited number. We are only to allow five varieties of winter apples. Mr. Boulter could not understand why the Northern Spy was not placed on there. Well, a great many others no doubt think the same. The reason was simply this : Being limited to number, and also to certain characteristics — for instance, they were to be limited to varieties that could be successfully and profitably grown. The Ontario is mentioned here, instead of the Northern Spy. They are so nearly alike that it would be absurd to put in the two. The Ontario was believed by that committee, and by a great number of other persons, to be the more profitable of the two. This list was to be a guide for persons in planting orchards. With regard to the President's question, I have a scheme to lay before the Association in connection with the paper I am to read here, that will embody this and a great many other matters connected with apples and fruits generally. I suggest that this matter be dropped until I read my paper. It simply means this : I propose having a committee appointed that shall be permanent, and that shall, subject to certain limita- tions, take all these matters into consideration, condensing the reports, and putting the lists in such a shape that they can be easily understood — epitomising, as it were, all the transactions in connection with new fruits and these matters also. The Secretary : One point has been brought before us very plainly by this dis- cussion : that certain apples are suited to some districts, and succeed wonderfully well there, but fail when planted in other districts. This list will be complete when we know what suits each separate part of the country. Formerly our Association gave just one list for all Ontario. That was found to be very faulty, because the apples that were recommended for general cultivation only suited certain parts ; but now we have divided it into thirteen parts, and we are trying to find the apples that do the best in those thirteen sections, and we may subdivide it more by-and-by. The Cranberry Pippin, which Mr. Boulter spoke of as being not very desirable in Prince Edward County, is a great success with me in the County of Lincoln. This year, when I ought to have had two or three thousand barrels of apples, I only had two or three hundred. That is what I call a failure in the apple orchard. However, the Cranberry Pippin constituted the chief part of the crop that I had this year. Most other varieties failed, but the Cranberry Pippin was fairly successful, and the apples were clean and beautiful — there were very few culls, and they were the most desirable apple I had for market. Now, in all the Niagara District the Cranberry Pippin is a very fine apple, beautiful in appearance and very fine as far as quality is concerned. The Spy also succeeds in the Niagara District. It is too tender for some northern sections ; but where it succeeds and colors properly we find the quality is beyond criticism. We found in Chicago that there was no Canadian apple that was so much in demand in the western States and cities as the Canadian Northern Spy. Mr. Boulter : Was there any apple to compare with it 1 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 15 The Secretary : I don't think so ; and if you go through the Chicago markets and ask, " What apple are you selling most 1 " they will say, " The Spy ; " and if you ask the commission men, " What is most in demand, they will say, " Your Canadian Spy." Com- mercial orchardists in Canada have several questions before them. One is : " What can I grow best in my district ? " The next is : " What market am I shipping to ? — is it the American market or the English market 1 " — and so on. You have to consider what the people want in the market you are shipping to. (Hear, hear.) And these questions will influence us all as to the varieties we plant ; and if we have planted them, and they are not the kinds we want, we must top-graft them. The Ben Davis as grown in the west, in Oregon and in British Columbia, is most wonderful — twice the size we grow it in Ontario, four times the size they grow it in Prince Edward Island. It just emphasizes the truth of my statements. Mr. Be all : The speaker just now stated that the Northern Spy would not perhaps do in the northern or colder parts. I would like to know where that is. I know where there is a long row in an orchard fully one hundred miles north of Lindsay, and they are bearing well, as they have borne for several years. The Secretary : Do you know how long it is planted ? Mr. Beall : I do not. I have a memo, at home of the locality and name of owner, etc. Mr. Caston : I can corroborate a good deal of what Mr. Dempsey says. In the lower end of Simcoe County the Northern Spy thrives very well. In North Simcoe it does just as Mr. Dempsey says, — after it bears a few years it begins to fall apart. That has been the experience of growers in our section. Now, travel about thirty miles south and you will find old trees there growing all right, and bearing every year ; and I don't know that you will get any better specimens in Ontario than you will in South Simcoe. Mr. Boulter : Why do you condemn it and throw it out of your list 1 Mr. Caston : I am not condemning it ; but that is the reason I did not wish it put on our list — that after it bears a few years it gets rotten in the heart and begins to fall back. But I have proved by experience that it can be grown where any apple can be grown, by top-grafting. That is a very important matter, and one that deserves attention. You can grow any apple that can be grown in any other pare of Ontario by grafting it above the crotch, on healthy limbs. It brings them into bearing earlier. As to quality, of course tastes differ. I would say the King is by all odds a better desert apple than the Spy, but it is not nearly such a good bearer. Mr. Boulter : I have about four hundred Spy trees and have not lost one tiee. They have been out 12 or 14 years. Mr. Caston : They have not come to the failing part of the business yet. (Laughter.) The Pkesident : In reference to Mr. McNeill's remark about the Ben Davis being so good, I would say that the judges at the World's Fair would score the Ben Davis from Nebraska in quality as high as 10 ; but when they would come down to Canada they would only score it about 8. So with the Kieffer pear. Out in those southern and western states they seem to have better quality in their eyes than we have in this country, farther east and north. Mr. Boulter : I would suggest that we defer this discussion till Mr. Beall's paper is read. The President : Is that your pleasure 1 Carried. 16 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOC CATION OF ONTARIO. FRUIT GROWING IN ONTARIO AND HOW TO MAKE IT PAY. Mr. A. M Smith, of St. Catharines, read the following paper : Fruit growing in Canada in the past has been a series of experiments, many of which, on account of want of knowledge of what varieties were adapted to the soil and climate of different localities, have been disastrous failures. But enough have been successful to demonstrate the fact that most if not all the fruits grown in the temperate z^nes can be grown herein greater perfection, taking, keeping and quality into consideration, than in any other part of America, if not in the world. Tnirty years ago the larger portion of the fruit con- sumed in this country was brought from the United States. The Mother Country then knew nothing of Canadian apples. To-day we are not only independent of these States as far as these fruits are concerned, but our apples stand at the head of theirs in the markets of the world, and we have shown in competition at their own great World's Fair that Canada stands second to none in the production and excellence of this most useful commodity. This being the fact — is it not wfll to ask themselves the question — What is to be the future of this great industry — Are we to rest contented with present achievements, or are we to press on and develop the vast resources at our command ? There is no other country of the same extent that has as much land as we have bordering on lakes and large bodies of fresh water, which is particularly adapted to growing the apple in perfection, and although we have not as large areas adapted to growing pears, peaches and grapp s and some of the more tender fruits, we have enough to supply our own markets and some to spare for our neighbors ; and plums, cherries and most of the small fruits can be grown wherever the apple succeeds. And when we consider the increased demand for fruic, the increased consumption, the markets already opened up in the old country and the neighboring States, and the markets opening up in the newer portions of our own country, where fruits can not be grown with success, and think of the increasing facilities for preserving fruits, such as cam ing, evaporating, etc, so that they can be transported to any part of the world, we can easily see that this industry is but in its infancy. And if we but carefully improve the advantages we possess and systemati- cally develop our resources it will soon become a vast source of income and prosperity to the country. The question then of how best to accomplish this object, or in other words how to make fruit growing pay best in the future, is one that deeply interests us as fruit growers. While I do not consider myself competent to answer this question in full, I may be able to offer a few suggestions that will be of value to planters. As I remarked in the beginning, many of us have had serious failures from planting varieties not adapted to our soil or climate. This need not be repeated if we, as members of the Fruit Growers* Association, avail ourselves of tbe information obtainable from it, watch carefully the experience of our neighbors, and remember this rule. " Plant only fruits that are adapted to your soil and locality and the markets you want to supply." Don't plant too many varieties. Five or six of the leading varieties of apples or any other fruit are all that are profitable in any one locality, and when these are planted they have got to be carefully cultivated and fed in order to make them profitable. No starving the orchards or robbing them with other crops must be allowed. In order that fruit growing may pay in the future it must be engaged in more as a business than in the past. The chief attention given to other products of the farm and a little, or entire neglect of the fruit will not make it pay. The fruit grower has to be educated then to attend to his business. The adapta- tion of different fruits to different soils and localities has to be considered. While I do not believe as, the saying is, in " putting all your eggs in one basket," I would say to the planter "if your soil and location is particularly adapted to the growing of pears or plums or any particular variety of fruit make that fruit a specialty particularly if there is a market and demand for it." The cause of many failures in the past, and I fear will be in the future in fruit growing, is so many people embark in the business without any knowledge of the principles and requirements necessary for its success. They imagine if they get into a peach section, for instance, they can grow peaches on any soil there, and the same with other fruits, not knowing that in our best peach belts there is compara- tively but little soil and a few choice localities where that fruit succeed well. Consequently not only a knowledge of how to grow fruits but a knowledge of where to grow them is FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 17 necessary. The day is coming when nothing but first-class fruit put up in first-class shape will pay and in order to secure this result we must give careful attention not only to cultivation but to the destruction of insect pests and the prevention of the various fungous diseases which our fruits are subject to. In the matter of grading and putting up fruits for market also, there has to be a radical change with some of us. I think we might take a few lessons from our California competitors in this matter. If it pays them to carefully wrap their fruits in tissue paper and put them in neat boxes why would it not pay us 1 I believe the time is not far off when our choice Spies and other apples will be carefully wrapped and sent south and to California in exchange for their oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits. But I need not enlarge upon this subject — members of the Fruit Growers' Association can readily understand it. While I would advocate only the plant- ing of tried and known varieties for profit, 1 would by no means discourage the trial and testing of new fruits with the hope of making valuable additions to our present stock of valuable varieties. Doubtless the experiments of the future will bring out many addi- tions to those already produced by our Arnold, Dempsey, Saunders and others whose labors in this direction perhaps did not pay them in dollars and cents, but which will be of untold benefit to us and future generations. While I regret that our government has not taken hold of this work and given us an experimental station for it, 1 still cherish the hope that our future legislators will awake to the importance of it and do something worthy of the cause and the nation, and not leave this important work to be performed by individual effort and at individual expense. I am aware that the Dominion government, at their experi- mental farm in Ottawa, with their efficient staff, are doing what they can there; but on account of a climate unadapted to fruit they can do but little comparatively for the great fruit growing sections of the country. I would, therefore urge upon the members of this Association, particularly the younger ones, to redouble their efforts in this direction, not only by producing new hybrids and seedlings, but also by testing new importations as far as their means will admit, and disseminating them till Canada shall be known not only as the best fruit growing section but for the best varieties produced in the civilized world, and if it does not pay you in dollars and cents it will pay in the increased prosperity and blessings that it will bring to your country and posterity. Most of the pioneers of fruit growing in this country have passed away, and the remainder will soon follow. They have done well in building up this great industry, and the results are left in your hands. Try to improve them. The President : Now, gentlemen, we will be very glad to hear from you all. The valuable paper you have heard is open for criticism. Mr. Beall : Referring to the suggestion in the paper that the Government should encourage hybridizing, I would like to ask : Why has not this Association taken that matter in hand ? The Association has never, as far as I know, done anything to impress that fact upon the Legislature of Ontario, except the publication of an article in last year's report intended to draw public attention to the matter of remuneration to any person for their efforts in that branch. I think there should be some public acknowledgment and remuneration from the Government to persons who have already done work in this direction. If that were done it would possibly encourage others. I believe there is but very little being done in that respect. Fifteen or twenty years ago there were five persons who did much for this Province in hybridizing — Arnold, Dempsey and Mills are gone ; Haskins we never hear of — I do not know what he is doing ; we have only Saunders left, as far as I am aware. This country and this Association have done nothing to my knowledge to recompense these men for the time they have given, the care they have taken, and their experience and labor in this very important branch. Mr. McNeill : I think we should appoint a committee and do something worthy of this body in this -matter. The gentlemen named by Mr. Beall are worthy of recognition and possibly a few might be added to the list. I should certainly suggest the addition of the late Mr. James Dougall, of Windsor, a gentleman who has done perhaps as much as any of those mentioned. You will have noticed the Windsor Cherry, lately written about in the Horticulturist. It was my pleasure, sitting in the shade of that tree, to hear the history of the Windsor Cherry. Mr. Dougall also originated lilacs that are 2 (F.G.) 18 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. famous the world over. People do not usually connect his name with the Persian lilacs that are now being disseminated. I know a gentleman that has half a dozen moss roses that were the result of his hybridizing. The town clerk of Windsor has a collection of gooseberries that were given him by Mr. Dougall ; and the township clerk is respon- sible for the story that one of the finest gooseberries now on the market — I think the Industry — was stolen from Mr. Dougall ; that he sent it to London, and it afterwards made its way across the lines under a new name. Now, could we not appoint a committee who would gather these instances of hybridizing experiments, and let us do honor to the men as far as possible. Mr. Dougall died poor, and I believe as the result of the interest he took in horticultural matters in that line. Mr. Edwards : Would it not be well, while we are honoring the dead, that some provision should be made to encourage this line of experimenting for the future 1 The last speaker has not given a favorable impression of the profits. Mr. McNeill : It doesn't pay. Mr. Edwards : Still I think this might be done, possibly, if we could so impress the Ontario Government or the Ottawa Government with the desirability of making improve- ments in this direction as to make it possible to benefit the country to introduce new varieties either of apple trees or of other varieties of fruits, that the Government might be persuaded to offer a standing reward for the production in the future of improvements in varieties of fruit of various kinds. A man would then be likely to receive from the Government a sum that would to some extent compensate him for his labor, which would be similar to the benefit of a man obtaining a patent. Mr, Caston : I appreciate, and have often spoken publicly of the obligation that these progressive men placed us under ; yet I do not think the plan of a government reward would be wise. Some of those men, at least, have made money out of their productions. Some of them no doubt have been unselfish in their work, but others work for the hope of reward. I do not think there is any more reason why the Government should offer a reward for them than they should for a patent. We are told that the com- pany that had control of the Niagara grape made about half a million dollars out of it. I know I have paid $3 a dozen lor strawberry plants, and somebody must have been making money out of them (laughter). And a great many of them turn out to be worth- less after all. But I think it is only fitting and proper that we should acknowledge in some public way what these men have done towards making Ontario what it is to-day as a fruit-growing country. Mr. Boulter : It is pretty hard work to do much good to a man after he is dead. It is very well to speak in eulogy of these men, but the trend of public opinion is, not what has been done but what is going to be done for the good of the future ? 1 think this Association would be doing something for the coming generation if they pressed on the governments the necessity of establishing more small experimental stations, in different localities than at present, where new fruits could be tested and the results given to the public. We have to learn by experiment what is best. Now, the Govern- ment can afford to do this, and they ought to do it, so that we may have positive knowledge as to what fruits are suited for the various localities. I don't think we could accomplish much good by endeavoring to get a grant for those who have gone before. We find it takes a long time to get a monument to a man after he is dead, no matter how much good he has done. Mr. Dumble : I think that the best experimental farm you can have, and the most extensive and the most certain in its results, is the country just as it is. Now, take the action of our Ontario Government in getting those fruit statistics. Supposing they had sent several questions to each farmer — because they wrote directly to each — thus : " What apple have you found thrive best on your farm, in quantity and quality?" " When do your trees come into bearing T and so on. Would not the results from these questions tabulated, be che best possible data you could get anywhere 1 They would get more figures in that way than in any other possible way. I throw this out to Mr. James as a suggestion for a series of questions next year. I know from experience that if you group Northum- berland and Durham with Peterboro' and Haliburton you have not a fair group. The FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 19 trees that will grow on the lake shore, on the other side of the summit, as we call it — ten or twelve miles from the lake — w,ould be under totally different climatic influences on this side of the summit, so that this group, for designating the apples to be grown, is not fairly grouped to get good results. I suggest you should divide the country into smaller sections; and, within a radius of ten or twelve miles around Peterboro', you could tell from what fruit we could get results better, than by grouping those four counties named here. I don't think we ought tD complain very much about either government, they are doing very handsomely in regard to these experimental farms. Mr. Caston : The difficulty Mr. Dumble mentions is one we have in all the districts classed here ; but we can't help it. For instance my district takes in Muskoka. Of course, in. a great part of Muskoka they cannot grow anything better than a crop of apples, anyway ; but when you come as far south as Lake Cjuciiiching and take in Lake Simcoe, they can grow any variety of apples as well as any part of Ontario. When you get beyond the influence of the great lakes, and get into the great prairie countries, you may travel for 150 miles without noticing any appreciable difference in the climate. Probably the thing that will flourish here will flourish 150 miles farther on ; but owing to the influence of the lakes this country differs so much that you will find a fruit will do very well in one place, and 30 miles further up it won't do at all. Mr. Dumble : Down on the shores of Rice Lake, 10 or 12 miles from here, they grow cherries very successfully. We can't grow them here at all. The President : Do cherries thrive here 1 Mr. Dumble ; No, sir ; unless it be the commonest cherries, and they are grown along the shares of Rice Lake. The horse chestnut will not flourish here. Mr. A. M. Smith : I understand they are quite successful in growing cherries at Ottawa. Mr. Stanton : I don'o think there is any section in Canada that will grow cherries and plums with South Monaghan, and that is only 10 or 15 miles south of this. I have seen trees there with ten bushels on them of the Lombard plum. Mr. Boulter : Mr. Smith suggested that in time we would be wrapping our fruit up, as they do in California Has anyone had any experi nee in sending apples to the Old Country in any way other than in ordinary barrels'? I ask this question because the Australian people are sending their apples there in packages quite different from ours. The Secretary : I have experimented in wrapping in tissue paper, and I believe in some instances it will pay. I don't believe it would pay to send apples that way for general sale on commission, because unless people know you, and know your fruit, they want to see the apples, and it takes a good while to unwrap them and find out what you have rolled up. They think you want to deceive them, perhaps, and so have hidden, your fruit. If your brand is known, and your reputation is secure, it will be an advan- tage, because they carry better ; decay cannot spread from one apple to another ; they preserve their bloom a great deal better ; they will be dry, and open out in better shape. The cases where I have tried this plan successfully were those where I had made a special sale. I had special orders from private parties — in Edinburgh and one or two parts of England — where people wanted a few barrels for their own special use, and had confidence that I would put them up to please them ; and I was able to make the sale at $4 a barrel, delivered at my own station, for apples put up in that shape. That was satisfactory to me. Of course, I was careful, when wrapping them, to put nothing but the very finest class of apples in for wrapping, and the result was that I have had repeated enquiries from those parties to have apples shipped to them successive seasons. This year I did not feel that I had the quality of fruit to do for them, so did not attempt to fill their order; but I believe that a business could be done in that way if we could once get in close enough connection with the consumers in the Old Country. (Hear, hear.) If we could once get by the middlemen who make the money out of us, and deal directly with some consumers that are willing to pay high prices if they can get just what they want, there are no doubt large numbers of people in England who, if they only knew us, and could get near enough connection with the Canadian growers, would order freely, and 20 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. be willing to pay us our own prices. They would not hesitate to pay us $4 a barrel for our apples put up in that shape if they could depend on -the brand. The opening is not for everybody — it is for those who know how to do the thing right. If you are putting up a special brand of fruit, I think it would pay to put it up in tissue paper. I tried snipping pears in small crates, about one-third of a bushel, and I had hoped for success ; but the variety I tried was one I suppose nobody will ever get through to England — viz., the Bartlett. I thought I had picked them sufficiently on the green side, and that by pushing them through speedily I would succeed ; but I didn't. When they reached their destination they were all mush. Mr. Beall : Did you try Flemish Beauty ? The Secretary : I did not. Mr. Pattison : I believe the late Mr. Dempsey had some experience. Mr. Dempsey : He shipped none except in 1886. They carried over perfectly. Of course they went over in connection with the Colonial Exhibition. They sold well there at that time, according to the Government reports. Mr. Hillborn : I shipped some at the same time, of Duchess apples and several varieties of pears, in bushel cases. They went in cold storage, of course, but few of them reached there in good condition. Those that did arrive sold at good prices, and the parties who handled them thought they would pay. The only difficulty was to get them there in good shape. REPORT ON PEARS. The President : Is the Committee ready to report on pears 1 Dr. Beadle : I have in my hand several copies of the old report, on which the Com- mittee has marked in ink, opposite each variety, the change that they suggest. After I have finished my report I think it would be a good plan for the meeting to take up this list and criticise each item, and let us know what they think of the value the Committee has placed upon the several varieties for dessert and for home market. I have said nothing about cooking. At our last meeting it was decided, I understood — and this list was printed in accordance with that decision — that we would omit any account of cooking. I may say that the Committee came to the conclusion, after looking the matter all over, that they were not appointed to make out a list for planters. If you will notice in the Report, page 137, the catalogue is said to be for use of judges on exhibitions, consequently they think that the division into summer, autumn and winter is not necessary. They recommend that the list be finally printed alphabetically, without any reference to the season of ripening. Judges do not care anything about the season of ripening. At exhibitions the prize-list usually calls for the best plate of Bartletts and the best plate of Beurre Giffard, etc. Then, again, there is this difficulty about settling on the time that these pears ripen — we have a tremendously large country as to climate. We have an almost sub tropical climate on the north shore of Lake Erie, and we have an almost Arctic climate up in Muskoka ; and a pear that will ripen, say, on the 1st of September in the County of Essex, will not ripen till October up in Muskoka, if it will grow at all there, consequently there is great difficulty in decid- ing about the time — the classification that we should make of the different varieties of pears as to summer, autumn and winter. The difference is even greater than I have spoken of. You may take the shore of Lake Ontario near Grimsby, along from St. Catharines to Hamilton. Close on the lake shore, where the spring winds from the lake keep vegetation back quite late, you will find the Bartlett pears will be two weeks later than they will be ten or five miles inland. Then comes the question — is the Bartlett a winter pear or a summer pear1? It is a winter pear just under the brow of the moun- tain ; it is a summer pear on the lake shore. Taking all these things into consideration, your Committee have decided not to take notice of summer, autumn and winter, but to arrange the list alphabetically. I would suggest, therefore, that you take up this list and find out from those present who have had experience in these different varieties, whether we are right in our estimate of value for dessert and for home market. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 21 The President proceeded to read the list. Belle Lucrative was changed by Committee from 10 dessert, 4 home market, to 7 dessert, 6 home market. The President : How should this pear be so high for dessert and so low for home- market 1 Dr. Beadle : Its appearance was against it, and it was hard to get people to buy it. It is a very sweet pear, and - there is a moderate sale for it, but on the whole it does not "take" in the market on account of its lack of color. It is always green; it never has any color. Mr. Smith : But you have raised it two points for the home market. Dr. Beadle : Yes ; we dropped it for dessert. It is sweet, and that is all you can say about it. It has no richness of flavor — just sweetness. Mr. Boulter : What was the reason for raising it two points for home market if the color was against it ? Dr. Beadle : The color was against it, but as there are people who like a sweet pear, they thought it ought to be raised a little for home market. Mr. Orr will be able to tell you more about it. I deferred to the experience of persons who had marketed it. The President : If no change suggested in that, we will go on with the rest. Flemish Beauty, changed by Committee from 8 and 9 to 8 and 8. The President : Why did you drop it for home market 1 Mr. Cline (Winona) : Because it is a miserable pear to raise. It does not begin. to compare in selling with the Bartlett. We have the Bartlett only at 10, and it is certainly fair to put it two points lower. I would like to have it only at 7. Mr. Boulter : Wouldn't 7 be pretty high ? Mr. Cline : If you can grow them they sell pretty well. Mr. Boulter : Can you get two successive years' growth from them 1 Mr, Cline : No. The Secretary : Would you plant any of them for the home market 1 Mr. Cline : I would not, except for grafting Beurre Gifford or some other on. We must consider this, that Flemish Beauty are always in the list of pears for varieties ; no list is considered right without it. The Secretary : You don't encourage anybody to plant it 1 Mr. Cline: No; all good collections have the Flemish Beauty in them, though. Mr. Beall : I think it is a mistake to speak against a particular variety because it cannot be grown in some particular section or in several sections. The principle should be that wherever a valuation is given on a fruit, it should be a perfect speci- men. Then the question arises : If a man anywhere, in any part of the Province, can grow a first-class Flemish Beauty, should it be rated at a high rate 1 My own opinion is it ought to be rated as if a first-rate specimen was grown. We can grow them that will average very nearly a pound apiece, perfect in size and shape, and of a beautiful red or brown color. If pears can be grown like that, I do not see that you ought to try to prevent the people from growing it. It depends altogether where it is grown. I know it scabs in a great many places ; but I think the scab is not such a bugbear now as it has been in the past. I think that should be left as it was. Mr. Boulter : We have been buying pears for eleven years, and I never yet, with the exception of one year, got good Flemish Beauty pears — buying from different partd of Canada. It is almost impossible to grow them without being cracked or specky. 22 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Why it is kept rated as high as this I don't know. If this list might deceive buyers into thinking this is a standard variety, or help nurserymen to deceive them, it should be changed — otherwise l^t it remain. It is not going to deceive me when I am buying it. I would not give for a Flemish Beauty 50 per cent, of what I would for a Bartlett. Mr. M. Pettit : This scale of points should not be considered as the pear is found in the market — affected by this fungus — but as it is when perfect. Mr. Cline : That is what we supposed — that when you put pears on the table you put perfect specimens. We did not get this up for a planting list, though people might plant by it and not go very far astray. The President : I would suggest that somebody move the adoption of this report ; then any change would come as an amendment. Dr. Beadle : I will relieve the chair of a dilemma by moving the reception and adoption of this report. Mr. M. Pettit seconds. Mr. Beall : I move in amendment that the Flemish Beauty figures stand as they are in print — 8 for dessert and 9 for market. Mr. Boulter : I move in amendment that the points for home market be reduced to 7. Mr. Robson seconds Mr. Beall's amendment. Mr. Hillborn seconds Mr. Boulter's amendment. Both amendments were lost, and the original motion carried, making the figures 8 for dessert and 8 for market. Kiejfer, changed from 3 and 5 to 4 and 6. Mr. Boulter : With us it is not a success. Mr. McNeill : We used it in our home last year as a canned fruit almost exclu- sively, and I think for market purposes it is a somewhat valuable pear. It has simply one fault as a canning pear — those little granules. For flavor in home use I think it is simply exquisite. Mr. Boulter : Has it been hardy as a grower 1 Mr. McNeill : Yes, and it is. a fine-looking pear. It sells well on the market. Mr. Boulter : I planted out half a dozen trees, and I lost every one of them. As to canning, the only true test is putting up thousands of cans by dry steam. The Kieffers won't do for canning at all. We would not think of putting them up in our factory j they won't stand up in the cooking. Mr. A. M. Smith : Some years ago I planted about 40 trees; this year I gathered from them about 175 12-quart baskets. Last year — the sixth year — they had on pro- bably about 50 baskets. They are early, and a constant bearer. This year I sold them to the canning factory at Grimsby for 2J cents a pound. They wanted all I had, and more, too, if I could get them. I have friends who grow them largely on the other side, who claim that they are the best pear they have for canning there. Dr. Beadle : This is a variety of pear that the Committee expected a good deal of kicking about, because it depends for its quality on the soil in which it is grown more than any other pear I know of. In Prince Edward County it would be poor and have no quality, but at Grimsby, or on the shores of Lake Erie, it would be very fine and desirable. I have seen some of very fair quality grown by Mr. Cline at Winona. I have eaten them from tins, and they had a very pleasant quince-like flavor peculiar to themselves. When prepared in the way these were, they lost none of their firmness, and seemed to be very desirable for canning. I find the public are asking for it and buying it in the Toronto market — I suppose for canning. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 23 Mr. M. Pettit : Some few years ago I planted 25 trees at Grimsby. The fourth summer they were out they netted me $1 each ; and they came into bearing so early, and bore so heavily, that this spring I planted 1,400 more, and I think I can. make more money on them at $1 a barrel than growing apples at $4 or $5 a barrel. Mr. Edwards : Mr. Stinson has at some of our Peterborough meetings spoken very highly of the Kieffer pear for canning purposes, and they were grown in this county. The clause was passed without change. Dana's Hovey, quoted at 8 and 4 — no quotations hitherto. The President : That is a considerable drop. Dr. Beadle : It is good for nothing for market. It is good enough for amateurs. Lawrence, changed from 7 and 8 to 8 and 6. The President : Why was that lowered ? Dr. Beadle : Because someone who had had experience in marketing it suggested it. I can only ask my colleagues to explain, as I have had no experience in marketing it myself. The Secretary : I think the Committee is about right in that. It is an excellent pear for dessert — nothing we like better for home eating — but the size and color are somewhat against it. Mr. A. M. Smith : My family generally market all I can grow of it. I don't think it would be a very bad pear for market this time of year. I am inclined to think they have put the market value too low. If kept till the Christmas season and sold on our markets, it brings a very good price. The President : I certainly would like to move that up a little for market. Mr. Smith : I move that it be increased two points for market — that is to leave it where it was. Mr. Cline : One particular reason we put that so low is that all pear shippers know that there is not much market for winter pears in Canada. You send pears to market now, and you would scarcely sell them at all. Just a few baskets will sell, and a small pear will not sell as much as a big one. The President : I think the finest pears to go on the market to-day are Beurre D'Anjou and the Lawrence. When we can raise the Lawrence in its dessert qualities we should not put it back in its market. That is giving it a " black eye" — and it is too good a pear to get a black eye. Mr. Hilborn seconded Mr. Smith's motion Mr. Edwards : It is a pear that will grow well here. The motion was carried to leave it at 8 for market. The report as a whole, as amended, was then adopted. (See Appendix III.) The Secretary : It has always been our custom to appoint a committee to examine and report on the fruit. I would move that a committee be appointed by the chair for that purpose. Mr Oaston seconded the motion. Carried. The President : T would now call for Mr. Hutt's pap^r. I am sorry it is so near the close of the session, but we can take it up again at our evening session and complete the discussion of it, if there should be need. 24 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. SOME NOTES OF TRAVEL THROUGH SOME AMERICAN ORCHARDS AND GARDENS. The following paper was read by Mr. H. L. Hutt, Horticulturist at the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph : It was my privilege during the past summer to visit a number of the most prominent sections of horticultural interest across the line as well as in our own province, but I have thought it best at this time to speak more particularly of what I saw being done by our American cousins over the border. By so doing probably we shall be able to learn a few lessons from them. If then you will go with me in an imaginary trip, we will leave Ontario at Niagara Falls, and after three or four hours' ride we stop at Geneva, situated at the head of Seneca Lake, in the Southern part of New York State. This is one of the finest fruit growing sections of the State and here are to be found some of her most extensive nurseries. One mile out of town is the State Experiment Station, where, under the direction of Mr. Beach, excellent work is being carried on in the horticultural department. Much is being done in the testing of small fruits. This summer there were 230 named varieties of strawberries being tested side by side, and there were 430 unnamed seedlings fruited for the first time. One of the^e gave promise of being valuable on account of its extreme latene3S, coming in after all others had gone. The strawberry rows are all mulched in the fall. In the spring the mulch is removed till the ground is cultivated, then put on again. Rye cut green, in which there are no weed seeds, is sometimes used as an early summer mulch ; this is left on for the season. The collection of gooseberries is said to be the largest on the continent. They have been importing largely of English varieties and now have about 200 English and American varieties in bearing, with a lot of untried seedlings coming on. In the larger fruits there is nothing of very marked importance going on besides the testing of insecticides and fungicides. But in the neighboring country are to be seen some of the finest orchards to be found most anywhere. The first we will visit are those owned by the Maxwell Brothers. These gentlemen were formerly extensively engaged in the nursery business, but now give most of their attention to fruit growing. One of their farms, about four miles south of Geneva on the lake shore, consists of 300 acres, nearly half of which is in fruit. The other half is devoted to stock raising, most of the manure from which goes to the orchards. The three principal fruits grown on this farm are plums, quinces and cherries. The land is a rather heavy clay, but is given the very best of clean, level, cultivation. An excellent tool for this work we will find in use. It is a spring tooth harrow in two sections, that can be raised and lowered by a lever like our Wisner cultivator, but instead of having wheels it slides, when the teeth are out of the ground, on a pair of runners like a sleigh. Mr. Scoon, the manager of this farm, says that, "To take hold in heavy land and work easily up close to the trees, it beats anything tried yet." Another tool we will find in use here for working close under low-headed trees is the Morgan Grape Hoe. This tool might be ot great value to vineyardists in this country. It is drawn by one horse attached to the side of a tongue and con- sists of a broad blade on the end of a horizontal arm which works under the trellis, and can be worked in and out around the vines by a revolving disk guided b}'- means of the left handle. It is a very simple tool, and cost them $12. Mr. Scoon tells us " it has paid for itself many times in a season in the saving of hand hoeing." It might not do that on every farm, but on this one we find they have about 20 acres of cherries, thirty acres of quinces and eighty acres of plums. Besides the extent and high cultivation given, the method of pruning is a noticeable feature of these orchards. On plum, quince, and peach trees they practice the "shorten- ing-in " method of pruning. That is every winter the new wood is cut back within six or eight inches of its growth. This keeps the head of the trees very symmetrical and compact, and with the peach tree, in which the small inner branches naturally die out, no FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 25 doubt it is an excellent method, but on the plum tree, where the inner branches do not naturally die out, there is a danger of getting the heads s > dense as to shade too much the fruit in the interior of the tree. They claim, however, that although a little later this ripens up fully as well as on untrimmed trees The advantages claimed for this practice are that the trees bear longer ; the fruit is more easily picked ; the heads are smaller and more easily worked around ; and the curculio more easily managed. Their method of fighting the curculio is to capture and cremate him. The curculios and string fruit are gathered in a sheet ten or twelve feet in diameter made like an inverted umbrella, and suppported on a light two-wheeled barrow. A slit in the sheet opposite the handles allows the tree to enter to the centre. The limbs are jarred with a. padded bumper and everything in the sheet rolls into a tin drawer at the bottom. These "bugging machines," as they call them, are made in Geneva and cost $17. Six of them were seen at work the day of our visit. The shot-hole-fungus is more troublesome here than the black-knot. Last year a lot of the plum trees were destroyed by this disease. The leaves fell in the summer before the wood had matured and the severe winter only helped to finish the work of destruction begun by the fungus. Out of fifty or sixty varieties of plums tried in this orchard, the favorite varieties are the Reine Claude, Bradshaw, Genii and Purple Egg — the Reine Claude being more grown than any other. Their thirty acres of quince orchard is a rare sight to see. No unshapely, scrubby bushes like we usually find, but all handsome little trees with a three-foot trunk and a head, by " shortening-in " pruning kept as round as a ball. These receive the same clean cultivation as the plum trees and much the same treatment throughout, except that in the early spring the plums get two or three applications of nitrate of soda ; one pound to a tree at each application. This gives them a very luxuriant foliage, but makes the fruit a little later in ripening. It is to avoid this late ripening of the quinces that they receive little or no nitrogenous fertilizers. The quince trees are doing best on the lowest parts of the orchard, while peach trees alongside of them are doing best on the highest parts. The orange or apple quince, the old stand-by, is the only variety grown. The crop last year on this quince orchard, we are told, sold for $3,500 — on the trees. There are about 6,000 trees. The cherry trees received the same high cultivation as the others, but are not pruned back. The Early Richmond, one of the best of the Morello type, is the chief variety grown. If we visit Messrs. Hammond & Willard's orchards and nurseries we shall have to do some travelling, for they are scattered here and there in fifteen, twenty and thirty acre lots, two or three miles apart. They have the largest fruit nurseries in this section ; while W. D. Smith has the most extensive nursery of ornamentals. Mr. Willard's orchards are all under very clean cultivation. They consist mostly of plums and peaches, but the varieties in the orchards are as mixed as the men on a checker-board, for Mr. Willard is a firm believer in work- ing over a variety that does not suit him. In nearly every plum orchard we find them hard at work capturing the " little Turk " with the " bugging machines." Mr. Hammond still has faith in spraying and is waging war on them with London purple. It might be pleasant for some of us to spend more time in the beautiful orchards about here, but we must hasten on. At the Cornell University Experiment Station at Ithaca, forty miles further on, we may find a number of young Russian Apricot trees heavily loaded. This may be encouraging to some of us from the Niagara district, who have planted rather largely of this fruit and are still doubtful as to the success of the experiment. We may congratu- late ourselves, however, on being able to beat anything we may find elsewhere in grape growing. In Stamford Township may be seen a two-acre vineyard, only three years from planting, that this summer bore ten tons of grapes. I am sorry to say, though, that these went to the wine factory for $20 per ton. 26 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. In another vineyard almost across the road from this, where the soil is just as good and the vines twice as old, there was not one-quarter the crop. Good cultivation is the secret of the difference. If on our way to Chicago last summer we had stopped off at Lansing, Michigan, we might have seen at the State Experiment Station there, a striking experiment on the effect of sod in an orchard. One half of the apple orchard was under good cultivation and the other half in sod. Although there was little or no fruit on any of the trees this year, the contrast in the vigor of the tr(es was very marked. The foliage on those in sod was turning yellow at the end of August, while those under cultivation were still as fresh and green as in June. Leaving now the orchards and fruits we will continue from Cornell, along the winds and curves of the Lehigh Valley R.R. to New York, to see some of the large market gardens of the east. The first place visited is the establishment of the great seedsman, the late Peter Henderson. Here I expected to find large seed testing grounds, but found that the grounds, and greenhouses covering nearly a couple of acres, are now almost entirely given up to the growing of ornamentals for sale. But out on Long Island are to be found a number of the large gardens that help to supply New York and Brooklyn. At Jamaica, ten miles out of Brooklyn, is one of the finest vegetable gardens on the western end of the Island. There are thirty acres in potatoes. These are planted one foot apart in rows two and a half feet apart, opened by a fertilizer drill, wiiich by means of projections on a wheel following in the fun ow measures and marks the spot for each piece of potato. The potatces are not hilled, but the ground is gradually woiked up to them with the cultivator. The potato beetles are kept in check with Paris green applied with a barrel sprayer, spraying four rows at once. In potato growing, however, I value more the experience of a Niagara grower who raises twelve or fifteen acres every year, and is pro- bably one of the most successful potato growers in that district. He takes his seed potatoes out of the cellar a couple of weeks before planting time and puts them in a warm shed to start the growth. Just before planting they are cut and sprinkled with freshly slacked lime. Experiments with and without liming show a marked difference in favor of liming. His favorite method is to plant in a well manured clover sod, plowing in the potatoes in every third furrow. The potatoes are dropped eighteen inches apart on the shallov ed or mould-board side of the furrow. As soon as the tops begin to appear above ground, a harrow is put, on and the ground thoroughly harrowed. In cultivating the soil is woiked gradually to the rows. Out of a large number of varieties tested the most profitable early varieties are the Early Ohio, Toronto Queen and Burpee's Extra Early, and for late varieties the Empire State, Rural New Yorker No. 2, and Beauty of Hebron. But we must stay in the Jamaica garden on Long Island to see the sights in growing rhubarb and asparagus. There are about four acres in rhubarb, the plants standing 4 J x 2 J feet apart. These are cropped but two years in the open ground. The roots are then token up and forced in the greenhouses for winter market. The stalks are of immense size, very few of them shorter than a foot and a half. The asparagus, Conover's Colossal, is truly colossal, each stalk being eight or ten inches long and as big around as a hoe handle. To suit the fashion of the New York market this is all bleached perfectly white. The bleaching is done by banking the earth in the spring twelve or fourteen inches high over the crowns of the plants, and as soon as the stalks appear on the sur- face they are gathered by cutting from below with a long knife. They are then bunched in two pound bunches, cut square at the bottom, washed clean on the outside, packed in barrels, and sold in New York for fifteen cents per bunch. The immense market wagons used by all the New York and Brooklyn gardeners are quite in keeping with the extent of the business. These wagons alone cost $300, and generally carry all that can be drawn on a good road by one team of horses. There are plenty of fine gardens to be seen on Long Island, but to see one of the most extensive vegetable gardens of the Eastern States, if not in the whole of the United States, we must visit that owned by W. W. Rawson, of Boston, the author of that FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 27 valuable little book " Success in Vegetable Gardening." Mr. Rawson has two hundred acres in garden, and devotes thirty acres to the growing of cauliflowers. The soil is a rich sandy loam, and kept filled with manure. Although so extensive, the closest system of cropping is adopted. All of the smaller vegetables, as beets, onions, carrots, radishes, lettuce, etc., are grown in rows one foot apart and kept clean with hand weeders and the Arlington scuffle hoe. This hoe has a gauge on it regulating the depth to which it can be worked, making it quite a safe tool, even in the hands of an awkward workman. There were eight or ten very large greenhouses in connection with this garden, where vegetables are forced for early market. One of the largest houses is 400 feet long by 50 feet wide, and another of the same size is being built alongside of it. This large house is devoted entirely to the growing of cucumbers It is divided lengthwise by six walks. The vines grow on each side of the walks and are trellised over head, forming six beautiful green arches 400 feet long, under which the cucumbers hang in abundance, where they can be easily seen and gathered. The White Spine is the only variety grown. These are picked when about eight inches long, and sell in Boston at from $6 to $25 per hundred according to the season. They were planted about the 1st of January, and occupy the house till August, when the vines are cleared out, and a crop of radishes and lettuce grown for the Christmas market, before the cucumbers are again planted. Other gardeners ia the neighborhood who have not such houses, grow the cucumbers under sashes, resting on long frames made by setting planks on edge. A foot of manure is put in the bottom and covered with a half a foot of loam. When the vines have filled the frames, and the weather is warm enough, the sashes are taken off and the vines allowed to run at large. When the crop is off the frames are removed, the land plowed and planted with celery. Probably we have spent time enough for the present among the fruits and vege- tables, and those who have an eye for the beautiful may wish to spend some time among the ornamentals to be found in the Arnold arboretum and the city parks. We will stop to speak of only one or two of these. One of the handsomest hardy climbers very com- mon here and in many parts of the state of New York, is the Japan Ivy (Ampelopsis Veitchii). This will climb and completely cover a brick or stone wall with a beautiful mat of bright green leaves. Unlike the English Ivy it is deciduous, the leaves turning to a bright crimson in autumn before falling. To what extent this may be grown in Ontario is doubtful, but it is well worthy of a more extended trial. The purple beech {Fagus purpurea), with its large dark purple leaves, is a very pretty lawn tree much grown about Geneva. At La Salle, in New York State, a few miles from Niagara Falls, may be seen a fine collection of hardy ornamentals on the grounds of E. A. Long, one of America's most popular authors on landscape gardening. One very pretty clump here cannot fail to attract our attention. It is a mound having for its centre the purple leaved plum (Prunus Pissardii), and around this a border of the smaller growing Cornelian Cherry (Cornus variegata), with its varied green and white leaves. Probably most of you are already weary after all our wanderings, so I will leave you here to rest and enjoy the beauties of the scene, within hearing of the roar of Niagara's mighty cataract. Dr. Beadle : In reference to the Japan Ivy, I presume it will grow well enough here ; it grows well in Toronto. All that it neids the first two years of its life is to protect it a little, especially to cover up the surface of the ground over the roots with a few leaves. No matter if the plant does get killed back for the first year or two, it only . enables it to spread more ; and if it does not get killed back it ought to be cut back so as to keep a mat of foliage all up the wall. If properly trained, it is one of the most beautiful climbing plants we have for those who wish to cover a wall. (Hear, bear). It will cling by its own tendrils. The end of the tendril flattens after it touches the wall, and seems to adhere to it very much as we say the fly's foot adh-res to the glass as it is walking over it. It look* as though there is a little vacuum unier the spread of the tendril, and if you undertake to tear it off you will break the tendril, but you wont break this little adhesive portion from the wall at all —you will have to scrape it off. It fastens itself as it climbs, and makes a perfect little sheet of foliage, that during the summer mer is bright green, and in the autumn is of the autumnal hues of our ordinary Ampelopsis. 28 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Mr. Turner : We have the Japan Ivy in Cornwall unprotected. Mr. McNeill (Windsor) : It is finer on the north side than on the south side. We have some fine examples of it in Windsor. Prof. Craig (Ottawa) : I would like to ask the writer of the essay if he learned the name of the variety of Russian apricot that was in the vicinity of Geneva. Prof. Hutt : No, I did not get the name. I have an idea, though, it is the Alexis. Mr. McNeill : One of the most remarkable things in that paper, to me, is the experience in the matter of spraying. Prof. Cook of Michigan, and the Cornell student and everybody else, reported that all you had to do was to go out and spray your trees, and curculios and everything else would disappear ; but here we find them back again to the old-fashioned article, and it appears to me a little explanation is necessary from the gentlemen at the experimental stations. I find, without exception, all favor the new modes of spraying. Here we have our good friend reporting that right along here spraying has not been a success, and they are going back to the older — and apparently the better — methods. That struck me as rather peculiar, and I was not prepared for it after what I read in my other reports. Mr. Pattison (Grimsby) : I spoke to Mr. Willard, of Geneva. He can't trust an ordinary man to go ahead and spray properly. We all know, particularly in the case of plum trees, if they are sprayed with too strong a solution, it will not only injure the tree, but may kill it. In a short time, enough damage may be done to completely offset the value of spraying ; but where there are small orchards, and you have men that you can trust, as in our district, as far as curculio is concerned, plum-spraying is actually satisfactory. Prof. Fletcher (Ottawa) : During four or five years I have had a good deal of correspondence in reference to the result of spraying, and I summed it up lately very much as this gentleman has said — that if the work is done carefully the remedy is quite satisfactory ; but if it is not done carefully, or if you trust people to do it who are not fit to do it, the results will be disappointing. The experiment stations have employed men who have taken probably more care than the ordinary orchardist and fruit-grower takes in carrying out those experiments, because the one object they have in view is to know whether that remedy is satisfactory or not ; whereas the fruit-grower's first idea is to save the crop, and not the absolute question of whether it is a satisfactory remedy or not. Where the work is done carefully, with due regard to the circumstances of the case, the results are satisfactory. A discovery of very great importance, namely, mixing lime with the arsenical poisons was made two years ago. I think it should be made known as widely as possible. The lime has a neutralizing effect on the causticity of these poisons, and the uncertainty will be less than if you use the Paris Green, and trust to others to do the work ; but this is the very place where such matters should be discussed, and in fact, is the one question I came to hear discussed at this meeting. Mr. M. Pettit : Will lime-water neutralize the poison as well as lime % Prof. Fletcher : No ; lime-water, I believe, is not strong enough. Prof. James, who I see is present, can tell us if this is the case as well as anybody. Prof. James : I should think lime-water would hardly do, because lime-water is very weak. Dr, Beadle : I submitted that question to the chemist at Ottawa, and he wrote me a letter. In that letter he shows why lime-water wil! not be sufficient. You cannot get enough lime into the water to answer the purpose, because if you try to increase it by increasing the quantity of water, then you will dilute your other solution too much. I think that is about the result he arrived at. Mr. Caston : There is another idea that paper brought out that we sometimes might learn something from the Americans in the matter of implements. (Hear, hear.) There seems to be a great deal of ingenuity about them ; they seem to be the first to invent anything that will lighten and cheapen labor. I think a man in Canada is kept back if he has not the proper implements. The President : I will name as the Fruit Committee : Prof. Craig, E. B. Edwards^ and Geo. W. Cline. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 29 EVENING SESSION. Mr. Gaston : I want to ask Prof. Fletcher in reference to an insect that is so very common that we never took much notice of it in past years — that is the grasshopper. Dar- ing the last season, that was one of the most destructive insects we had in our section, because, after they could not do any more harm to the farmers, they invaded the gardens and ate the young "^ apple trees, and sometimes attacked the apples themselves ; and they sometimes j destroyed the vegetable gardens also. I think this is a pretty difficult insect to deal with. Some years ago, when he was very bad out in Kansas, one of the comic papers represented him as a soldier, and called him General G. Hopper. We want to know how to fight him ; because it is the opinion of a great many that if we do not have severe frosts to destroy the eggs, we will have enough of them. If they increase in our section in tin same proportion as they did last spring, there will be enough of them to eat up every green thing in the country. I thought that Paris green was a sufficient cure for almost any insect, provided you could get it to eat it. I tried it on turnips, but the grasshoppers devoured every turnip. They even ate part of the bulbs. I tried Paris green first mixed with water, but the turnip leaf is so glossy that it will not stay on it. Then I tried it with plaster and flour, and it would adhere to the leaf, but the mystery was that those leaves were all eaten, and on examination I found only one dead grasshopper ; and I am inclined to believe he died from natural causes. (Laughter.) The Paris green seemed to have no more influence on them that it would on a graven image. I consider Prof. Fletcher one of the best authorities on entomology that we have in this country, and I want him to tell us how to fight Gen, G. Hopper, if he comes next summer. GRASSHOPPERS. Prof. Fletcher : I feel somewhat that I am in a delicate position speaking here this evening. You had your programme already made out, and 1 do not believe in any outsider coming in — especially myself, who had not the possibility of telling you whether I was coming or not, so that there was no arrangement made ; but I shall speak for a short time on your invitation, and I hope that what I say may be suggestive of further questions on matters upon which I may be able to give you some light. As to the grasshoppers, I do not wish to put myself up as a prophet, but I think we shall not have the same visitation as we had last year— -in the same districts where those insects were bad this year. The excessive increase of any particular pest is due generally to some exceptional circumstance ; and, as you are all aware, last summer we had exceptional drouth in many parts of Ontario. From the crop reports you will see that the grasshopper pi *gue extended over some areas in Ontario. This gave a chance to the grasshoppers. Regarding the suggestion that a cold winter would destroy the eggs, it is just as well for everybody to understand that the most excessive cold is not going to affect the eggs of any insect at all. The eggs of insects are prepared by nature to stand the conditions of the climate where they are found — in all places, at least, where an insect pest increases in large numbers. Insect eggs have been submitted to very great temperatures of heat and cold — far greater than are found in any place in nature — by artificial means, and they have not been found to destroy the eggs at all unless the eggs were brought into unnatural con- ditions. The life of our common grasshopper is simply this : The eggs are laid in the late autumn. Each female lays about four pods, or collections, of eggs The eggs are arranged in four rows, and there are seven to ten in these rows. The eggs are deposited by the female, which bores a hole in the ground, generally in the sand — and in passing I may mention that grasshoppers are generally more abundant in sandy districts. When the eggs are laid they are covered with a glutinous material by which they hold together like a little pod. The eggs are beneath the surface of the ground, and when there, no extremes of cold will affect them in the least ; but we find by experiment that if these pods are broken up, or brought into an unnatural condition, they are easily destroyed. 30 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. In the States of Minnesota and Dakota, where grasshoppers are numerous every year, and sometimes extremely so, and do a great deal of harm, one of the best remedies is supposed to be to plow up the stubble late in the autumn, by which the eggs are exposed to the winter frosts and laid bare so that they may be attacked by their enemies — predaceous birds, and other insects and animals. Where this is done, the occurrence of these insects next year is very much less, so much so that the State of Minnesota passed a law making it necessary for the farmers to plow their stubble in the autumn ; and if they don't do it, it is done by the State, and the farmer is charged with the amount of the labor. The next means relied upon is a machine called the " hopper doser," or tar pan ; and this consists of a pan ten feet long by ftwo feet wide, turned up at the back 18 inches and at the sides are side pieces of wood or iron soldered in. To these at each end rings are attached and this pan is drawn over the fields or pastures — and you will pro- bably all have noticed that grasshoppers are most injurious in pastures of long standing. That simply means where the eggs were laid. We find these insects are very particular as to the choice of a proper place to lay their eggs ; and in this part of the country they are laid in old pastures. In the West they are laid in stubble fields ; and where these stubble fields cannot be plowed regularly in the autumn it is found very profitable to draw the hopper-dosers across the fields in the spring. On the top of this pan is placed some gas-tar or kerosene emulsion, or water with a little kerosene on the top. These are drawn across the fields before the insects have got their wings. Roughly speaking, it would be about the 1st of July in Ontario when these insects develop their wings. The eggs hatch early in spring ; the young grasshoppers pass five moults, and then they develop their full-grown wings ; but before that is done they are very largely at our mercy, and if these tar pans are dragged over the fields they are gathered in great numbers. In Minnesota they are destroyed by thousands of bushels in the spring months. This is found a practical remedy. Probably in western Ontario, if these insects are in such num- bers next year, it will pay farmers and others to apply this remedy to their pastures — because in the early part of the year the young grasshoppers live in the pastures or in the grass meadows ; and although we do not notice them very much in the hay lands, they are generally there in very large numbers ; they do not show so much and the extent to which hay lands can be injured without it being observed is very great. In experiments carried on by Professor Osborn in Iowa, 35 per cent, of the grass could be saved on crops which were measured out and treated by these pans being drawn over them three or four times during the early months. That being the case, how much better it would be for all farmers systematically to do this : for not only are there grasshoppers which destroy this important crop of grass, but there are numberless other smaller insecbs. These insects that Mr. Osborn was treating were a small leaf hopper, similar to that called thrip, on vines. This diminishes the crop of grass every year ; and if these grasshoppers are abundant next year, farmers ought to be on the look out early to make use of this remedy, because until the injects get their wings they are unable to fly very far from where they are born. As to Paris green on turnips, it is very important for fruit-growers to know that it may be made to adhere to such plants as the turnip and cabbage, and all such as have that waxy glaucous covering, by mixing sosp in the water before you mix the Paris green. As to Paris green not having effect on grasshoppers, I think possibly it had effect on a good many but their places were taken by many others. There is a remedy sometimes used in California — mixing bran and arsenic and sugar together ; and this is made into a sticky paste, and about a teaspoonful is used about the bottom of each vine in vineyards. The grasshoppers do not fly very much in hot weather, and instead of mounting into the vines they ate this poisonous material and were killed. In experi- ments I tried five years ago at Ottawa, when the grasshoppers were very abundant, I made some of this mixture; but there I saw very little effect, because no sooner were the grasshoppers killed by this mixture than they were eaten up by their companions. A little flour in water will also make the Paris green stick. in regard to the plum Spraying with Arsenites. curculio discussion, it is a very important thing that we should recognize how we stand as to that. Either spraying Paris green is a good thing, or it is not. I am not con- FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 31 cerned whether it is or is not, except as an entomologist. We have been advocating this remedy for ten years, and if it is a failure our work has to be done over again. The number of successful experiments has so far overbalanced the unsuccessful that the latter are not worth mentioning. The records of five years correspondence are almost univer- sally in favor of spraying ; yet we must not forget that failures are often not reported — and that is the one question I want to ask you here. Are there any that have failed, after having taken the proper precautions, and carried out the directions with care 1 I know very many instances of success. I know very well that Prof. Weed, of Ohio, sprayed alternate trees with Paris green, and checked the trees that were left unsprayed. On the unsprayed trees most of the plums fell ; on the sprayed trees 75 per cent, remained. I remember when the remedy was first proposed, Mr. Hilborn sprayed here and there through an orchard of a hundred trees ; and the sprayed trees were the only ones that had any fruit on them. Mr. Rolph has told me of an instance where he sprayed, and the crop was so large as to break down the trees. I have tried spraying, and my correspon- dents have tried it, and it has been successful. Now, if this method is a failure we want to know it so that we may change our methods and save the loss that has occurred. My conclusion in regard to spraying plum trees for curculio and apple trees for the codling moth is that the protection is sufficient in all instances to warrant people in applying it. Mr. Sidney Fisher, of Brome, in the County of Knowlton, Quebec, never sprayed his trees till this year, when he used the Bordeaux mixture and Paris green to treat at the same time the black spot of the apple and the codling moth, I saw his orchard in September, and he challenged me to find a single injured apple in the orchard. There were some trees that were well loaded with fruit. I could not find a single apple in his orchard that had a codling moth injury in it, and I don't think there were any that had black spots. From my experience I think the generalization may be made that 75 per cent, of the crop of plums and apples may be saved by spraying trees — in- proper proportions and at proper time — with these poisonous arsenites. If I am wrong in that, it is important to the rest of Canada that I, at any rate, should know it, because I have the responsible position of making the recommendations every year to the farmers and fruit-growers of Canada. With regard to the use of lime mixed with the arsensical poisons, for my own part I prefer Paris green, and I put in my mixtures an equal amount of Paris green and freshly slaked lime. It is true that London purple, being an arsenite of lime, is a little more convenient to mix with the lime mixture called Bordeaux mixture ; but if you put a small surplus of lime in your Bordeaux mixture, Paris green is equally successful. Paris green is a substance with an exact chemical formula which demands a certain percentage of arsenic. London purple, being a waste product, has not that set and constant amount, therefore it is not so sure. What we want is an exact proportion of poison, so that we may get the result that we look for. Mr. Boulter : Which is the best time to spray the plum trees 1 Prof. Fletcher: As soon as possible after the flower has dropped. Mr. Boulter : And the apple tree ? Prof. Fletcher : Directly after the petals have dropped, Dr. Beadle : I think it is advisable to spray before the blossoms open at all. Prof. Fletcher : For what 1 Dr. Beadle : For the scab. Prof. Fletcher : Oh, for the scab on the apple, certainly. The Secretary : Sometimes spraying for plum curculio seems to be a perfect suc- cess, in other seasons it does not. How is it that in some seasons we seem to attain per- fect success, and in others we do not 1 I have been wondering whether it was not be- cause we did not make the first application early enough, and whether it is not an advantage to apply it on the young leaf even before the blossom appears at all 1 Do you think that the parent curculio eats the young leaves, and that by poisoning the young leaves they might thereby be destroyed 1 32 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Prof. Fletcher : Yes, I think it might be a good suggestion, for this reason : The plum curculio is about before the leaves open, and it has also been found, in confinement, to eat not only the young leaves before they open fully, but also the young bark and the young twigs ; and therefore if the poison could be made to act on the parent beetle it would be a good remedy ; but we do not know exactly what is the effect of this treatment. We do not know if the insect is poisoned by eating the leaves, or whether the females are prevented from visiting sprayed trees. I think there is no more representative body in Canada than this to which we can appeal as to the value of such remedies. We should have a sufficient number in this room who have either failed or succeeded in their use to settle this question at once. For my own part, 1 cannot think of a discovery more important to fruit-growers than the discovery of these methods of spraying trees. In a large collection of different plants you will find some varieties or species in the genus are attacked by insects while others are left untouched. That points to the fact that some are injured more than others. I think that some of the failures may have arisen from the fact that some plum trees are more susceptible to the attacks of the insect, or the insect is more attracted to them ; and where the very decided reports of success have followed, it may be that the insect is not so much attracted. All this could be checked in a series of experiments carried on for two or three years. There are one or two insects that have not appeared at all this year, where they were very destructive before, and that brings me back to speak about the grasshoppers. We know that all insects that appear in very large numbers are attacked by their own parasites. It is supposed that every insect known has its own special parasites, and sometimes these themselves are attacked by parasites. Some of these parasites are described from the actual insect from whieh they are bred. When grasshoppers are abundant, you will find many of them that have red mites on them ; these are parasites which are feed- ing on the insect and destroying a large number of them. Again, there are parasites which live inside of them. Sometimes, in crushing a grasshopper, you will see a large white maggot, like a meat maggot. This is one of the tachina flies which are very active in destroying the grasshoppers. The egg is laid on the skin of the grasshopper after hatching. It eats its way inside, and lives upon the juices of the body until it is full grown ; it then emerges and after a time turns to a fly. Many of these insects are destroyed by the gordius worms, which may sometimes be seen in water swimming and look like apiece of horse-hair. It is supposed by the ignorant that horse-hairs thrown in water will turn to these worms. It is nothing of the sort. These are parasites which have lived in insects, and then got into the water, where the eggs are laid, and then they enter the insects again in some of their preparatory stages, and live inside them as para- sites. Speaking of insects which were not so abundant as usual, the white cabbage butterfly, which is usually so abundant at Ottawa, was noticeably absent this year. We usually have to sprinkle our cabbages two or three times a year with pyrethrum powder ; this year it was hardly necessary at all. This year one of the worst pests was the root- maggot. We found this might be controlled with sufficient success to make it pay by mixing hellebore with water and putting it around the roots. Some experiments were made with salt, and these pointed certainly to success ; but in some experiments I tried the results were so contradictory that they will have to be tried again before any definite state- ment can be made about them. One insect which I should like to ask St. Catharines or any western fruit-growers about, is the peach-bark beetle — a very small beetle. I found it very abundant last spring at St. Catharines. It was a very wet day, and the gum which had exuded from the bark in some of the peach orchards could have been scraped off in handfuls. On minute examination I found it was the beetle that had been boring in the bark. I doubt if it enters the wood at all ; but it was an injury to the tree to have the bark injured to the extent it was then. I should like to know if any of these gentlemen have tried any alkaline washes. With regard to borers, it is known that the best measures are preventive ; for successful treatment it is necessary to find the time the beetle is abroad and lays its eggs on the tree. This would probably, with this insect, be in June. As we have no peach trees growing at Ottawa, I have not the opportunity to test washes on the bark, but I presume any of the well known alkaline washes or kerosene emulsion would be satisfactory. The Secretary : Tell us what the insect is like. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 33 Prof. Fletcher : It is hard to describe. It is very small — not longer than a six- teenth of an inch — and under the microscope it is very easily recognized by the shape of the antennas, the blades of which lie together like a fan ; and it is the only insect that attacks the peach which has the antennas of that kind. It lives burrowing in the bark. The Secretary : It would escape our attention easily ? Prof. Fletcher : It would unless you were examining to see what caused the gum on the bark. Mr. Fisher, of Queenston, brought it to my notice first, and then Mr. James Sheppard sent me specimens afterwards. The fruit pests of the year have not been very important. As I have not prepared any address, I will not take up any more time, but if there are any questions to ask, your time will be better employed in asking them and I will do my best to reply. Mr. Craig : The apple curculio *? Prof. Fletcher : What is generally discussed under the head of apple curculio is nothing but the plum curculio ; and the plum curculio attacks apples almost as much as it does plums. There are some features about insert pests that are hard to understand or explain. In the State of Maine their worst enemy is the apple maggot. I do not know a single instance in Canada where this insect has caused any trouble at all y and yet it is common through all the country, feeding in the fruit of the hawthorn. There is hardly a bush that you can examine that you don't find some of these apple maggots, and I have bred it frequently, as well as the apple curculio. The latter, in the district around London, has been found injuring apples ; but it is rare in my experience to find it injuring apples. I have some plum curculios that were bred from apples from the Eastern Townships, which were brought me in the spring, attacked both by these and the codling moth. To spray with Paris green should in most cases be sufficient. I believe in this orchard Mr. Craig brought me those apples from the spraying had been done and it was not successful, whether it was that the Paris green was not of a sufficiently pure nature, or that the spraying was imperfectly done, we do not know ; but it was a careful man that did it, and a man who has had good success in the use of these poisons before. There is no book treating of the apple but lays great stress on treating the canker-worm. At Ottawa it is most exceptional for that insect to attack the apple at all. The maple and other trees were almost defoliated. It is an easy insect to fight ; it is merely a matter of spraying the trees when the larvse are seen upon them. I have no doubt that the apple curculio could be treated the same way as the codling moth, and at the same time. Mr. Boulter : What proportion of Paris green is used for apple trees for spraying ? Prof. Fletcher: One pound in 200 gallons. It is very important to observe that proportion, and not put one pound in ten gallons, as some people do. A Delegate : The oyster-shell bark -louse ? Prof. Fletcher : It is better to treat this pest twice, early in the spring before the buds burst, and in June when the bark lice have legs. This is only for a few days after emerging from the mother scale. It crawls to a suitable place and inserts its beak through the bark, and at once begins to form a waxy coating for itself ; and by the autumn it is simply a scale covering a bag of eggs, and these eggs will not hatch till the following spring. Kerosene emulsion made of coal oil and soap suds — two gallons of coal oil to one gallon of soap-suds ; add ten to twelve times the amount of water before you u^e it. A spray-pump is a necessity now for fruit-growers, and you probably all have them ■ if you have not, it is a very good thing for you to get. Mr. Beall : I know of two persons this year who have used the Bordeaux mixture with Paris green, and I have good reason to know that the same formula exactly has been followed ; both used precisely the same quantities of everything. One of the men failed entirely, insomuch that he destroyed the leaves of his trees so as to nearly ruin his orchard, or at least injure it very materially. The other had no injury whatever. On strict enquiry afterwards it was found that where the leaves were injured the lime had been two or three years old, but it was slaked, of course — would that have made the difference 1 3 (F.G.) 34 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Prof. Fletcher : Decidedly it would make a very large difference. It would simply be chalk by that time, and have very little effect on the copper mixture. Mr. Beall : You would recommend to have new lime 1 Prof. Fletcher : As new as you can get it. If it is not quite new, use double the quantity. Everybody who has tried to make the Bordeaux mixtures finds it is a very inconvenient thing, because the lime made in this country is very difficult to slake thoroughly. In Australia the lime is made from marble, and it slakes readily into a powder ; in England it is made from chalk, and does the same ; but our lime does not easily disintegrate. It is easier to put in a larger amount of iime than you require, and get the milk of lime off it, and not bother with the residue afterwards. What does not run through your sieve, throw it away — don't bother with it. In mixing lime with Paris green, the proportion I find convenient is one pound to one pound » — the same amount of lime as of Paris green. Mr. Boulter : What quantity of Paris green would you want to kill ordinary tent caterpillars 1 Could you kill them by spraying with the mixture you have men- tioned ? Prof. Fletcher : Undoubtedly They leave their tent to go on to the leaves, and when they eat the leaves they die. That is strong enough for anything — one pound in 200 gallons. Mr. Edwards : How often do you recommend spraying apple trees ? Prof. Fletcher : It depends very much on the season. For the codling moth the recommendation has always been to spray it directly the petals drop from the flowers. There is an idea, among apiarists at any rate, that when the honey is being secreted in the flowers spraying trees is liable to poison the bees. Whether that is correct or not, we do not know ; we can get the results we want by spraying at the time I mention. Then, after that, a fortnight later, it is considered well to spray twice, at any rate ; and three times is surer. Mr. Edwards : Are there other worms that bore into the apple later in the season 1 Prof. Fletcher : No ; but there are two broods and sometimes there is also what we call a half brood — that is, an exceptional brood will develop — a brood that should have gone over into the winter will emerge in the fall and lay their eggs where the apples come together. Sometimes it is a very large brood, but generally it is a very small one. Mr. Edwards : It was a very large brood this year in Peterborough in July and August — in some cases the fruit was almost eaten up. Prof. Fletcher : Was that even where they had been sprayed ? Mr. Edwards: The spraying had been done in the early part of the season. Mr. Patterson : 1 have noticed that after soraying thoroughly the early part of the season, along the end of July and August there comes along another brood. Prof. Fletcher : Yes, sometimes a large brood and sometimes not large. In California there are always three, and sometimes four, broods of the codling moth. Mr. Hilborn : Can a tree be protected from the moth by mechanical appliances 1 Prof. Fletcher : Yes ; but many of the caterpillars will spin their cocoons before they get up to the protectors. I do not think it is such a practical remedy as the appli- cation of Paris green. Mr. Hilborn: A firm in London who manufacture these protect >r3 claim that Prof. Saunders says they will prevent from 75 to 80 per cent. Prof. Fletcher : Their claim is probably made on Prof. Saunders' book on injurious insects, which was written before the Paris green spraying was as well known as at present. I saw considerably over fifty specimens in one of the bands which was exhibited at London at the last annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Ontario, FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 35 where one of these wa3 put on the tree. They cost ten or fifteen cents each, and whether it would pay the fruit-growers is, of course, a matter for them to settle for themselves. Dr. Bridle : E think they would be very much more effective in catching the female canker-worm. Prof. Fletcher: Yes, and the fences of the c inker-worm are unable to crawl over them while they are new. Mr. Caston : I do not see, if an insect is able to crawl up a tree, why it should not crawl over this protector. Prof. Fletcher : They slope outwards from the trees and are very smooth inside when new. Of several specimens I watched, I saw nearly all drop as they got on that smooth surface. I did not find that they crawled over them while they were new. But as to the canker-worm, there is no doubt the remedy is to spray your trees while the cater- pillar is on them. The great pest in Manitoba on their shade-leaf maple is the canker worm ; and in the streets of Winnipeg for the last two or three years these trees have been almost defoliated by canker-worms. This year Mr. Fonseca, of Win- nipeg, used a spray -pump, and got soaae others to do ic, and the trees were to a large extent saved. Another pest there was one of the aphides, or plant lice. The town clerk of Selkirk wrote to me, and [ recommended him to use kerosene emul sion, and he wrote back that they had sprayed several hundred large trees and saved them. That was on the ash leaf maple- Mr. M. Pettit : In the Niagara district this spring the plum tree3 were very badly injured by the aphis on the under side of the stem of the plum, and on the young growth of wood. It made its appearance quite early and kept on increasing until the plurm were the size of a marble. Where it was very thick over the fruit leaves it checked the growth of the trees, and the fruit withered and dropped, aid it weakened the trees very much. We sprayed with kerosene emulsion. Where you can get that on to them it is all right ; but it is simply impossible to cover any proportion of them, they were so thick ; and you could not spray so as to strike up under all the leaves and touch them. If it appear another year, should we commence earlier, before they become so numerous, and what is our best means of fighting them 1 — because it is going to be a serious matter in growing plums. Prof. Fletcher : Were they black plant-lice ? Mr. Pettit : Yes, but they appeared green when young. Prof. Fletcher : That species has been successfully fought in the States — in New York and New Jersey — by using kerosene emulsion. The eggs are laid on the trees, and pass the winter there, and then they hatch in the spring, and ii you treat your trees early enough you will have much less trouble. Mr. Pettit : How early would you recommend 1 Mr, Fletcher : I think as soon as the buds burst. Mr. Pettit : They could be reached at that time ; but it is simply impossible when the foliage is thick. Prof. Fletcher : They are sometimes very injurious. One great pest in British Oolumbia last year was the apple aphis, and I have received a large number of letters saying that large fifteen year old trees had been destroyed entirely by the apple aphis. The kerosene emulsion has been tried by some satisfactorily. For plant-lice one part of emulsion to twelve of water would be sufficient strength. Mr. McNeill : Is there any connection between the disappearance of these and the appearance of the little orioles, and the little bird that appears at the same time? I have actually seen those little birds go along and just eat them in countless hundreds — duck around and gorge right into where there was a mass of those insects — eat them out by the millions. 36 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Prof. Fletcher : I think the summer yellow bird would, but I don't think the orioles would. Mr. Edwards : Year before last I saw a large number of these on the trees, and the kerosene emulsion did not seem to have any effect on them. I sprayed it on and almost destroyed the leaves. I made an emulsion of two parts coal oil and one of soft soap. Prof. Fletcher : There has been a good deal of harm done by the wide publication of an erroneous formula called the Oook formula. Prof. Cook tried to simplify the kero- sene emulsion, and he got it so simple it would not work. The Riley -Hubbard formula is the one that is successful It has been worked out very carefully It is : Two gallons of coal oil and one gallon of soap suds — made of a gallon of water with half a pound of hard soap. I should like if anyone would let me have his address so that I may send the printed formula to him. It is as follows : Mr. Edwards : I would suggest to our secretary the publication of the formula at the time it is needed. The Secretary : That was done last year. Mr. Edwards : One of our members not only destroyed the oyster-shell bark lice,, but produced a much heavier growth of the trees, by a solution of carbolic acid, diluted with water, I suppose. Prof. Fletcher : It is almost impossible to get the crude carbolic acid — which is the article that is nearly always supplied — to mix with water at all, unless you first emulsify it. It can be made into a carbolic acid emulsion — which is made very much in the same way as the coal oil emulsion. Prof. Cook gives a formula, and he thinks a great deal of the carbolic acid, and it is very useful, no doubt, but the difficulty to get it to mix is very great. Mr. Boulter, who has a particularly clean orchard, treats it with domestic lye made from ashes, and with very satisfactory results — so much so that I had very great pleasure in drawing public attention to it in my annual report two years ago. In New Zealand and other countries they use concentrated lye diluted. Mr. Boulter put the ashes in a barrel and let the lye run through, and reduced that about one half. On the Experi- mental Farm we have trees almost as good looking as Mr. Boulter's, and Mr. Craig uses a soap wash every year. Mr. Beall : How is it applied 1 Prof. Craig : With a white-wash brush, on the main branches and the trunk. Mr. Race : You will find that louse at the very tips of the smaller branches. Isn't it necessary to spray those 1 Prof. Fletcher : Undoubtedly. It has only the power of locomotion for about three days. It comes before that young shoot is being made, and it settles down on that young bark where it is thin. It then drives its very fine beak through the young bark and remains fixed there for the rest of its life. Where there is green bark it will attach itself to any part of the tree. Mr. Pattison : I have found an excellent remedy for both the borer and the bark louse is to wash the trees in June every year with a mixture of washing soda, soft soap and water. Prof. Fletcher : You get the same alkaline wash I have spoken of. With regard to the bark louse, some fruit growers claim it can be prevented from injuring the trees simply by feeding the trees, and that is part of Mr. Hillborn's method — to dig ashes around the trees in large quantities. Mr. Hilborn : There is another insect in our part of the country that eats the cherries and the pears — the slug. Prof. Fletcher : Very easily treated with weak Paris green. It is more particularly injurious to the oak-leaved mountain ash and the hawthorne with us at Ottawa. The President : How are you going to deal with it on the cherry 1 It is just at the season of the year when the cherry is pretty nearly ripe. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 37 Prof. Fletcher : I don't think there would be very much danger in putting on a very weak Paris green mixture. I have used that generally. Mr. Smith : There would be no difficulty in using slacked lime. Dr. Beadle : Have you had any experience in regard to the Bordeaux mixture in keeping it for any length of time — for a fortnight or so — to see whether it had lost its efficiency ? I am under the impression it ought to be used pretty fresh. Prof. Fletcher : The first recipes for the Bordeaux mixture said : " Keep it for a time." That meant a day or so. If it is kept for a long time I think it does lose its strength. I enquired from Prof. Shutt, the Chemist, and he said, as far as I can remem- ber, that some change took place. Mr. Boulter : A friend here says he took ordinary brick clay and rubbed his apple trees as a coating. Prof. Fletcher : That would prevent the eggs being laid. Mr. W. M. Orr : How long does the curculio act on the plum 1 Prof. Fletcher : I think about three weeks. Mr. Orr : Does spraying with Paris green effect the larvae 1 Prof. Fletcher : No. Mr. Boulter : If you could tell me how to destroy the potato bug on tomatoes T would give you a donation. Prof. Fletcher : I think the only way is to plant potatoes near them and trap them. I must not take up more time, Mr. President. I am extremely obliged to you for allowing me to introduce this question of the value of spraying with the arsenites for insects. I know the plan is of enormous value to fruit growers ; but I had heard lately rumors that the method was discredited by some ; but what I have heard at this meeting proves that this is not the case. ♦ The President : If it were not for tiring Prof. Fletcher out, I am sure we would all like to have him remain on the floor longer. (Applause.) We have Mr. G. W. Cline and the Secretary who have been practising these customs for some years. Let us hear the result. Mr. G. W. Cline : I have had quite a bit of experience in spraying Paris green. We have been at it ten or twelve years. I guess I was the first one to start it in our section, and I have had very good success. Sometimes through the rains it is not as satisfactory as I would like. It is pretty hard when you spray in the morning and it rains before noon, and when you spray in the afternoon it rains before night. However, I generally have a very good crop of plums, and have succeeded very well also with pears, though the curculio was very bad on pears. The Secretary : How many times out of ten years have you failed with spraying your plums ? Mr. Cline : I have not failed once. The Secretary : You have had a partial failure some years % Mr. Cline : Oh, some years my crop would not be as heavy as others. Mr. M. Pettit : Have you left some unsprayed some years 1 Mr. Cline : Yes, and they never came to perfection ; they all fell off. Mr. Boulter : Has any member been troubled with the curculio in the Damson plums ? Mr. Cline : A good many persons have Damson plums in our neighborhood, and they always have a crop of them. The Secretary : What do you think you spend per year in spraying plums ? Mr. Cline : I generally spray my plums about five times in the season. I have sometimes sprayed them only three times. It does not cost very much. I use three 38 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOC TATION OF ONTARIO. ounces of Paris green to forty gallons of water. I have never injured any trees, except to take some leaves off, when the water would begin to thicken in the bottom of the barrel. I commence spraying just as soon as the little covering drops off the plum. I have never found a curculio yet until after the blossoms were gone, and sometimes for a week afterwards. It is generally cool weather at that time, and the curculio won't work in cold weather. On a warm night they will work as lively as can be. I have left my trees watching for curculio for a whole week, and perhaps on Satur- day it would come hot, and on Monday morning there would be any number of curculios and the plums badly stung. The Secretary : The force of my question is this : that if you, after tea years' experience, have so much confidence in it that you will spray your orchard — which is a large one — five times in the season, it is a positive proof of the good results of your experience. Mr. Cline : I don't think I could get the success in any other way. I jarred them for several years, and, of course, it is tremendous work. You have to do it in the even- ing. Very seldom you find curculio on the tree in the day time ; but from six in the evening until dusk, and in the morning from daylight until seven o'clock, they are thick, and then is the time we always had to jar. I found it this year a great deal easier in spraying. I got a horse power pump from Lockport, and I find it is a light job now to spray, compared with the hand pumps. Prof. Fletcher : Do you know the name ? Mr. Cline : It was the Victor I got. It has worked very satisfactorily. It is driven by cogs and chain. The price is $70. It cost about $10Q with the duty. Mr. Hilborn : Do you find the foliage injured ? Mr. Cline : No, I sprayed this year also with the Bordeaux mixture for the rot four or five times, until the leaves were white with the lime — I had a good deal of rot — and I think it helped them. I know it helped the Flemish Beauty pears. Where I didn't spray I didn't have any, and where I did spray I had a very fair crop. The President : Now, Mr. Woolverton, we would like to hear from you. The Secretary : I think Mr. Cline has ventilated the subject very well. I have also been testing it for eight or ten years past, and every year I spend a great deal of time in spraying my orchard. I do not omit it any season. I do not know that I need give you any greater testimony of ray confidence in it than that fact, both for plum trees — though I am not so largely in plums as Mr. Cline — and also for the curculio in the apple and pear, and for the codling moth. In the latter I am confident of the great benefit to be derived from it. The codling moth has been exceedingly troublesome in the Niagara district in the past. Our apple crop has been frightfully diminished by this insect, and since we are using Paris green regularly we have a far smaller proportion of wormy apples. Dr. Beadle : What about apple scab 1 The Secretary : I have been trying faithfully copper mixtures and some seasons I felt confident that there had been great benefit from it, but some years when we have tried most faithfully there has been no scab at all even on trees not sprayed, so that I don't feel prepared to report that I have had complete success yet. Mr. Cline : Have you had good success with the Paris green on the codling moth this year *? The Secretary : No, not very good on account of the rains. Mr. Cline : This is the worst season I have had. I have had more wormy apples than any year for ten years. There didn't seem to be any until just as the apples were ready to pick, and then you could notice they were getting full of such all over. It may have been a late brood — too late for the spring. Mr. M. Pettit : Is there any way that a fruit-grower can determine the quality of Paris green ? A little of some brands put in a glass of water will color the water and appear to stay in suspension. Other brands you put in and it seems to curdle a little, or FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 39 collect together and settle more, and not color the water so much. Now, this brand that colors the water more, we consider the best to use. I would like to know if there is any- thing in this. Prof Fletcher : I should rather think it would be the other way. The Paris green should settle partly at the bottom • but I think the best way of telling whether Paris green is pure or not is to dissolve it in ammonia. If it thoroughly dissolves it is pure. Mr. M. Pettit : We are not chemists. Prof, Fletcher : You need not be. Get a little spirits of hartshorn — or ammonia, for which it is another name — from the druggist. What is in the water is somethirg in suspension, but it should not stay in suspension — it should sink to the bottom. Measures have been taken now to have all the Paris green that is sold in Canada of a pure and known grade. That is now being considered — (hear, hear)— and I think before very long there will be some legislation to insist on it. Mr. Edwards : I have heard amongst farmers and others a great deal of dissatisfac- tion expressed with regard to the strength and quality of Paris green ; and if some measure of that sort were taken it would be very satisfactory. Mr. Fletcher : At any rate it would regain confidence. I find this, as a matter of experience, that if there is any id- a about a remedy not succeeding, ninety-nine per cent. of the people won't try it at all. As a matter of fact the adulteration of Paris green never amounted to ten per cent, of the samples we tested ; but the idea got abroad that it was impure, and it was no use putting it on ; so, instead of putting on a little more, or tryi g to find that out, they wouldn't put it on at all. So with this spraying, if there is any doubt about it a large number of people will not use it at all . I have found by experi- ment that it is worth a great deal, and therefore it is going to pay everybody to spray Paris green over their trees. Mr. Boulter : I have been told by'people selling it that Paris green is very expensive — about 40 cents a pound ; that it is all adulterated to a greater or less extent. Prof. Fletcher : That is not the case. I have been told by the man who mskea two-thirds of all that is sold in Canada, that when their travelers go out through Canada and offer Paris green at, say, 20 cents, the buyers say, " No, we want it second grade ; " and they insist on having it, and he cannot get them to buy the best grade at about 5 cents more. The difference is between the pure and the second grade. They are prevented from selling it as "pure " Paris green, but they sell it as " genuine" Paris green. Prof. Craig • I know some agents who sell this article to druggists as " pure " Paris green and Paris gre^n " off color." The difference is 4 or 5 cents a pound. The difference in the actual value of the insecticidal powder is several dollars a pound — not only in the actual damage it does in preventing the spread of spraying, but as loss of faith in the remedy. Mr. Tweddle, of Stony Creek, has been conducting some experiments with me this last year in spraying plum trees for curculio, and one effect he seems to have attained is that Paris green applied with Bordeaux mixture is not as effective as Paris green applied alone. His experience is that the mixing weakens the toxical effects of the Paris green. That is very important to know ; and if there are any present who have had experience 1 would like to know it. Mr. Tweddle's whole experiments this year have pointed to the fact that insects must have been very abundant, because I visited his orchard early in October and was surprised to find the trees that he had sprayed faithfully with Paris green had the apples largely on the ground. Mr. Pattison : Don't you think it was an extraordinary late brood that didn't get poisoned at all 1 Prof. Craig : He sprayed the 25th of July the last time. Mr. Cline : Do you know if these were the same varieties of trees 1 Prof. Craig : No. Mr. Cline ; Take the Duane's purple ; you can hardly keep curculio off them. 40 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Mr. Race : Last year in the county of Perth we were troubled with curculio for the first time in my recollection, This year I used Paris green alone, and my neighbor used the Bordeaux mixture. We applied it about the same time, and were the only parties in that district that had any plums at all, so I am very confident of the success of spraying ; but my experience was that my success with the Paris green alone was greater than his, althought he put on just as much and did his work as thoroughly as I did. A great many of his plums did drop, and we found they had been stung by the curculio. In my case it was a very rare thing to find they had been stung. Prof Craig : It is very often difficult to judge by a glance in an orchard, or even by looking through it, of the actual benefits of any spraying experiments. I have often at the end of a season's work been discouraged, in looking at the trees that had been sprayed, and chose that had not, that I was unable to see a more distinctly marked difference ; but on picking the fruit the result showed up very much more plainly and distinctly than I was led to suppose it would. Mr. Race : You think the Paris green is most successful. Prof. Craig : I threw that hint out as a feeler. I shall try and get exact data on it next year. Mr. Edwards : Will the spraying be as effective for the second brood of the codling moth as for the first, that is, those that lay their eggs between the apples, and so on 1 Prof. Fletcher : It will be more difficult to apply, on account of the large amount of foliage then on the trees ; but where it can be applied it will be probably as effective, because any surplus of moisture will run between those apples and lodge there, just where the eggs are laid — in the calyx or cup of the flower. I do not remember seeing an apple injured where it hung alone; it is where there are two or three together. I think it would pay you to spray, but I don't think it would be as effective as the first spraying. Mr. Edwards : When should that spraying be done 1 Prof Fletcher : In July. The first time I have taken the first actual beetle at Ottawa is about the 26th May. Mr. Cline : I have found they make their first appearance about the 1st June. Prof. Craig : Has anybody present had any experience in spraying peach leaf curculio with Bordeaux mixture ? Mr. Hilborn : This last spring it was not so bad as a year ago. We thought it was on account oi the weather. A year ago we had a very wet, cold, backward spring, and the trees were very much injured. This spring trees that escaped the best before were the most injured. Mr. Smith : What would be your remedy for that 1 Prof. Craig : Some information was given to me a short time ago which was new to me, and I asked the question in order to bring it out. A horticulturist from Australia told me he had most complete success in spraying peach curculio with Bordeaux mixture four times. It kept their trees in perfect health ; and peach curculio there is one of the worst difficulties of peach growing. They began before the leaf was nearly out, and the sprayings were, I think, about a week apart. FLOWERS AND THEIR RELATION TO US. Mr. W. M. Robson, of Lindsay, presented the following paper : By way of introducing my subject permit me to give a brief historical sketch with a few intimations on their commercial value. It would indeed be difficult to assign a greater antiquity to any industrial art than that which may be claimed for floriculture. The traditions and historical notices of this art refer to periods of very remote antiquity ; ancient legends celebrate the gardens of the Hesperides and of the Alcinous, and authentic his- FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 41 tory tells of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, by means of which a mighty king sought to reconcile his Median Queen to the flat and naked country of her adoption. The Persians appear to have cultivated gardens from their earliest period. The Grecians followed in the same steps ; they formed gardens not merely for fruit and vegetables but for the cultivation of flowers. With them the narcissus, the violet and rose were in high repute, myrtle and box trees were clipped in fantastic forms, and flowers out of season were produced in their forcing pits ; for violets in profusion could be bought in the markets of Athens while the snow was thick on the ground. In Ancient Rome flowers and fruits were placed under the guardian care of special deities, and floralia or flower festivals instituted. Indeed to such a pitch of extravagance was the passion for flowers carried that at one period it became necessary that sumptuary laws should be enacted to restrain it. Still the extravagant love of flowers predominated, for, at one single supper given by the luxurious Cleopatra, the roses alone are said to have cost an Egyptian talent — about $1,000 of our money. Nor was the love of flowers confined to wealth alone ; — the humble hermit's cell had its little plot of ground for the growth of a few choice flowers for the chaplets and garlands of some favorite saints. The same love, admiration and devotion continued through all stages of history ; for we find the immortal bard of Avon, through the fair Ophelia, so beautifully describing the virtue of flowers and herbs (in her method of madness), and still onward in their aggressive and subduing influence to the present modern times, where their worth and value is becoming an important factor of commerce, yielding large revenues in different parts of the old continent and thus giving employment to tens of thousands. But pursuing this idea my subject becomes unlimited, and still more so on estimating tropical productions, their merchantable spices and perfumes, of such immense value to them and the world, only to be overshadowed by the speculative wealth in Horticulture on this continent. Think of $6,000 paid for one rose (the Bennett) and the fabulous prices attained for the orchids and many other new and rare flowers. Then if wealth is the pursuit of this period, here is an avenue open to it. But I have grave forebodings that in this age, those beautiful gems of earth, that are exhaling a bountiful fragrance, enriching and exhilarating our very existence, are scarcely receiving a reciprocal response of gratitude or attention that is commensurate with their universal beneficence. It must be admitted that the present epoch of time is pre-eminently materialistic, speculative and inventive, and in this there is a danger of our finer feelings becoming susceptible to their absorbing influence and alienating us from the beautiful. But pardon this digression in blending the useful with the beautiful. Flowers being my theme, let us review their status : Old as humanity ; broad as the universe in their adaptation ; deep beyond expression in the affections of our people ; high as the flight of imagination can describe in their chastity, innocence, beauty and fragrance ; emblematic of Heaven's best gift in their refreshing mission to the sick and suffering ; enjoyable alike by the monarch and lowly peasant; poets and writers of all ages have vied in the lavish description of their charms and influence ; enjoyable alike in all states and con- ditions of life without any reaction of feeling ; expressive of human affection at births, marriages and deaths ; woven in the victor's wreath ; flung as grateful tributes to valor, to patriot, statesman, or orator, who is able to captivate by deeds of daring, or thrill with eloquence ; talisman of love and sincerity to youth and maiden ; pleasing and refreshing reminiscences to maturity and age ; to all, refining and inspiring, breathing delightful perfumes, floating like rich incense o'er the earth, soothing human sorrow, exalting and ennobling character, touching a responsive chord in humanity, to the Giver of all good for those types of divine beneficence — surely such qualities ought to awake a vibrating chord of love, sympathy and devotion in every recipient heart, as it did in Scotland's greatest lyric poet to the modest mountain daisy : Wee modest crimson-tipped flower, Thou'st met me in an evil hour For I maun crush amang the stoure Thy tender stem To spare thee now is past my power, Thou bonnie gem. 42 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. The Secretary : What flowers are the most satisfactory in your garden ? Mr. Robson : I think the rose is the king of flowers. The President : Mr. Beall, let us hear from you on this subject. Mr. Beall : I have a number of hybrid roses, we have no dfficulty in keeping them. All I could say would be to encourage hybrid roses instead of the common summer roses, because there is scarcely more difficulty in growing one than the other, and it is pljasant to have roses when every other person's have gone. We always have roses until the snow comes. In winter we lay them down, put a piece of wood on them, or some cedar brush, or something of that kind. The Secretary : You cannot grow La France rose in Lindsay out of doors 1 Mr. Beall : No, I have not succeeded in doing it. I don't think there would be any difficulty if special care were taken to protect the roots. I don't care for growing any- thing that requires extra pains ; it doesn't pay. There is no difficulty in growing and protecting the hybrid roses. The Secretary : Can you mention the one that has given you the greatest satis- faction last year "? Mr. Beall : The one that has given me the greatest satisfaction every year is the Lena Turner. It is beautiful in shape, and in the conformation of its petals, and it has a very fine flower. Its greatest beauty is it is constantly in bloom. We can always find a rose on that bush. The color is very bright, but rather of a deep pink. I sei t some buds to Dr. Beadle and Mr. Mitchell, but I never heard that they have been successful in propagating them, and I cannot find it in any catalogue now. I believe it was from Dr. Beadle I got it, perhaps 25 years ago, and I am very anxious about the matter because the old bush is getting weaker. Mr. McNeil : What is your method of pruning roses 1 Mr. Beall : We never touch them in the fall of the year. Bend all down ; high branches will shoot up four or five feet high. Those are all laid down in the winter. In the spring we leave no shoot more than a foot or a foot and a half high. The Secretary : Do your summer prune ? Mr. Beall : No, of course we occasionally cut out old wood. I would pay ten or twenty times the price for the Lena Turner that I would for any other, for the great satisfaction of blooming the whole summer long. I recollect one year we had fine beautiful roses on one branch in November. Of course we hadn't very much frost before that. Dr. Beadle : I have tried several times this last eight or ten years, and I cannot get it — cannot find anybody who is growing it. Mr. Race : Would you recommend confinement to a few varieties 1 Mr. Beall : I would recommend every person to grow all he can find room for. The more that are grown the better for the family and for everybody else I would certainly choose the varieties that would bloom the best. I have a great deal of satisfaction with the old Jules Margottin. Mr. Race : Have you Jules Margottin growing on its own roots 1 Mr. Beall : No they are all budded roses. I would not take the trouble with a rose growing on its own roots, because I can't find any person that keeps them more than two or three years. I want it to last as long as I do. I don't think any man can find a better rose than the old John Hopper. I believe that is the very first produced in England — one of the very first at all events — and I don't know of any better rose to-day. Mr. Edwards : Would you give some roses that could be grown successfully here ? Mr. Beall : We like the Camille de Rohan. I have the Marshall P. Wilder, but it does not suit me at all — it is a great big coarse rose. Caroline de San Sal I don't care much for. The Baron de Rothschild and Gen. Washington are good roses. The latter is not double enough, but it is a very fine rose, and of good color. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 43 SECOND DAY— MORNING SESSION. The President : Ifc is usual to have our financial report submitted as early in the session as possible. I will ask the Treasurer to read his report, and then the Auditors to present theirs. FINANCIAL STATEMENT, Mr. Woolverton read his report as Treasurer as follows : TREASURER S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1892 3. RECEIPTS. Balance on hand Members' fees $ cts, 153 78 . . 2123 39 1800 00 Advertisements . . Bound volumes and binding 294 87 48 80 Back numbers etc 8 16 EXPENDITURE. $ cts. $4429 00 Canadian Horticulturist 1613 98 Salary, Secretary, Editor and Clerk 1200 00 Chromo lithographs . , 339 55 Directors' expenses 192 07 Commission 186 18 Express and duty 175 52 Plant distribution 118 58 Postage and telegrams 107 33 Printing and stationery 94 08 Stenographer 66 25 Electrotypes 55 65 Book binding 54 92 Discount 23 74 Committees 23 44 Auditors 20 00 Care of rooms at meetings 5 00 Russian exchange 3 00 Petty cash 1 50 Balance on hand 148 21 $4429 00 "We, the undersigned Auditors, having examined the various books and accounts kept by your Secretary - Treasurer and carefully compared them with the vouchers, have pleasure in testifying to their correctness, and the careful manner in which the books have been kept. E. B. Edwards F. G. H. Pattison Auditors. Dated December 6th, 1893. Mr. Edwards read the report of the Auditors as appended to the Treasurer's report and added : I have much pleasure in emphasizing the fact stated in the report as to not merely the correctness, but the satisfactory way in which the accounts are kept. This is the first year in which I have been Auditor, and it has given me a very great pleasure to see the thorough and systematic way in which all the accounts are kept, enabling the Auditors to complete their work with satisfaction to themselves, and 1 hope, also to the Association. I have much pleasure in moving the adoption of the Treasurer's report as audited. Mr. F. G. H, Pattison seconded the motion, and as the second auditor endorsed Mr. Edwards' remarks as to tbe correctness and neatness with which the books were kept. The motion was put and carried. The President : It has been our custom to proceed with the election of officers the second day, and although the programme says this would be done on the last day, I think it would be better to continue our custom, as we have always a full meeting the second day. Mr. Race : Would that require a motion ? The President : I think it would, because I think there is a motion to the contrary ; is there not, Mr. Secretary ? 44 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. The Secretary : Yes, the reason the programme mentions the elections as taking place on the last day is that at Brantford the opinion was expressed that this would be better as the members would be better acquainted with one another and more able to judge who were fitted for the various offices. I presume, however, that we are prftty well acquainted with one another by this time. I have no objection myself. Mr. Race : After due consideration last night by the Executive it was decided to submit the question to the meeting this morning whether we had better depart from the arrangement of last year and go on with the elections this morning. £ would move that the election of officers be proceeded with this morning. Mr. Smith seconded the motion. Mr. Beall : I would like to ask Mr. Edwards if this would make any difference to the people here. Are there any considerable number who had intended to be here at the election of officers 1 Mr. Edwards : No, I don't think so. I am sure it was not the intention of the people of the County of Peterboro' to come in and swamp the meeting in connection with the elections. (Laughter.) The Secretary : The reason I gave last night to the Directors for proceeding at once with the election was that the new officers ought to get together before they leave the Convention and lay plans for work, and go home feeling that they know what they are going to try to carry out during the year. The motion was put and carried. The President named Messrs. Alex. McNeil of Windsor and T. M. Grover of Norwood to act on the Nominating Committee. The three chosen by the meeting were : Messrs. Turner of Cornwall, M. Pettit of Winona, and Dr. Beadle of Toronto. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FRUIT EXHIBITS. While the Nominating Committee were at work, Prof. Craig reported for the Fruit Committee. He said : You will be interested to recognize your old friend, Ben Davis, from British Columbia. Grown in that genial climate it takes on quite a handsome appearance. I think the limits of improvement are comparatively narrow in the Ben Davis, though in its home it is very much better than we can grow it in Ontario. An interesting little apple, to which I may draw your attention later in the report on new fruits, is this Pomme de Fer, literally the Iron apple, which originated in the Province of Quebec. It is a small dark red apple, and keeps easily till June. From Mr. Robson of Lindsay. We now come to an interesting exhibit of W. H. Dempsey , the fruit of the labors of the late P. C. Dempsey, so long known in con- nection with our Society. This consists of apples all raised from the seed of the Northern Spy and crossed with the Golden Russet, and exhibits very well the work we may expect when we go into the work of hybridization. Another interesting cross is the cross of the Duchess pear with the Sheldon ; and this is the product. You see the progeny resembles the Sheldon considerably, and it has the same characteristic — gritty flesh — of the Sheldon, only more intensified I think. There are large gritty granules about the core of this that depreciates the quality considerably. Showing how apples may be preserved, we have specimens from Mr. Beall of Lindsay of the Lawrence. These apples are part of the crop of 1892, and are in perfect eating condition. They were kept in an ordinary cellar without more than ordinary pre- cautions. (The Professor here showed by illustrations taken from the table the advan- tages of cultivation, one apple having been grown in an old pasture and the other having received high cultivation. Both were of the same variety, yet the latter was twice as large as the former.) The report was then read as follows : Exhibit of selected fruit by the Secretary : Gilpin ; Jonathan from Quebec ; Blen- heim, Ontario ; iEsopus' Spitzenburg, British Columbia ; Newell, from Wisconsin — a flattish green apple, keeps till May ; Ben Davis, British Columbia, large, fine colored ; Beii Davis, Quebec ; Long6eld ; Wealthy, Ontario ; Canada Red ; Pomme de Fer. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 45 Mr. Rob3on showed Agawam Grapes ; Fameuse, an extra good plate without scab or spot ; Josephine de Malines ; Fallawater. J. H. Toole, Orillia, exhibited La Rue, Hurlbut, Fisher, Pewaukee, very fine speci- mens, well colored ; Ben Davis ; Mr. Leaf, Colvert, very green ; Golden Russet ; Mr. Toole, Pomme Grise ; Mr. Gillet, Wealthy and Fallawater ; Mr. Wiliis, Talnian Sweet ; Ribston Pippin ; Belmont, by Mr. Willis. Exhibit of Hybrids by W. H. Dempsey : No. 80, cross of Golden Russet and Spy, large oblate crimson with light dots, calyx closed basin moderately large, round, regular,, stem J to f inch long ; cavity, deep, narrow, russeted ; flesh, yellowish white, firm, crisp, juicy ; acid, quality fair. Mr. Demspey says tree is a fair grower and apparently a fair bearer. Walter — same origin as last —large, round, or oblong, yellow ground overlaid with splashes and stripes of light and deep red ; calyx, closed deep ; stem slender set in a, deep, narrow cavity ; flesh, white, soft, melting core, very small ; quality only fair at this date, though now past its best, a handsome apple. Same origin as last. Medium to small, round, dark crimson ; flesh, firm, woody sub acid, not promising. Seedling apple W. H. Dempsey, medium to small, round, dark crimson ; quality > not to be commended. Pear, cross of Duchess and Sheldon ; about same size and appearance of Sheldon flesh, peculiarly granular about the core, very interesting as the product of hybridization but hardly valuable from a commercial standpoint. Lawyer, exhibited by Thos. Beall, Lindsay, in good condition. Remarkable from the fact that it is from the crop of 1892, showing great keeping qualities. Vale Mascal Pearmain also Ontario. Seedling, grown by F. Orandall, medium size, flattish, greenish, and believed by your committee to be Belmont. By T. H. Race, Mitchell, Ont., large handsome, apple, has been called Spanish Pippin, resembling Spy in appearance, but poor in quality. By A. M. Smith, Lawrence pear, Keiffer pear, Princess Louise apple. G. W. Cline, Keiffer pear. By W. S. Turner, Cornwall, Shiawassie Beauty, Golden Russett, Scott's Winter, Bourrassa, Northern Spy, Mcintosh Red, Fallawater, Ben Davis, E. B. Edwards, Blenheim Pippin, Canada Red, Northern Spy. Mr. McGibbon : La Rue, Roxbarry Russet, Northern Spy, Ben Davis, Fallawater, Ben Davis. The Secretary moved the adoption of the report, Mr. Beall seconded it. Carried* John Craig, Chairman. REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE. Mr. Pettit read the report of the Committee on Nominations, and moved, seconded by Mr. Smith, its adoption, which was carried. The full list appears on page 2. A COMPLIMENT TO THE RETIRING PRESIDENT. Mr. Boulter : I think it was the proper thing for the Ontario Government to make preparations to have the fruit-growers of this Province properly represented at the Worlds' Fair, and 1 believe their choice of a representative was a wise one. I wish to move : 46 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. " That the thanks of this Association are due and hereby tendered to our retiring President for the action that he took whilst representing Ontario's fruit interests at the World's Fair in placing our exhibit to such advantage." From personal observation during a month's visit to the Fair, I know the choice was well made, and that our representative tried to do his duty. You all, as patriotic Cana- dians, felt your blood tingle when you knew what Canada had done at that World's Fair. Americans who thought we had a cold country that could produce nothing, found that we can compete with them in any products almost, we may say. To-day we stand on record as one of the greatest fruit producing countries on this continent. Our apples have ranked five shillings a barrel higher in the British market than any to the south of us, and I believe to-day they will rank higher than ever. Outside of the national view, I believe we will be benefited financially by the exhibit we made at Chicago. Mr. Caston suggested that this matter be deferred till the new President took the chair. The President : I will now ask our friend Mr. Race to come forward and take the Presidency of this Association. I thank you, gentlemen, most sincerely for the cordial manner in which you have supported every effort of mine as your President during the last two years. In leaving the chair [ feel that I am parting with gentlemen who have done everything in their power to advance the interests of the fruit-growers of this Province, and in every act of mine I have received their support and advice in every respect. I ask you, gentlemen, to tender that same courtesy and kindness to our new President, who will now take the chair. I have much pleasure in introducing Mr. Race, the President elect. Mr. Race : I am sure, gentlemen, that L thank you very heartily for the position in which you have placed me here to-day. I may justly boast that I am the first news- paper man who has ever occupied this position, and I also boast the honor of being the only newspaper man who has been, or is at the present time, the President of a Farmers' Institute in Ontprio. I have had a great interest all my life in agricultural matters, and I am still as deeply interested as I ever was in horticultural matters. I believe I am becoming more enthusiastic year after year. Sometimes we imagine there are too many professional men introduced into this son of thing, but as long as a man is a professional man and at the same time a practical man, I think probably the two qualify him better than one who is only giving one side to a question. I take the theoretical side of this, and I also do a good deal on the practical side. I do a great deal of work in connection with horticulture. I have to do so. I am generally up pretty early in the morning in the summer time working among the fruit and flowers. I trust I may do honor to the position you have conferred upon me. I am heartily in accord with the sentiments expressed in regard to the ex-President. We thought he was a man so eminently qualified for the position and the duties that were going to devolve upon the the President at Chicago, that we thought he was the right man to keep a second term in office, although it was contrary to precedent ; and I trust I may be able to fill the duties as satisfactorily. It shall ever be my endeavor to do so. You have heard the resolution that has been proposed by Mr. Boulter, that the tha'iks of this meeting be tendered the retiring President for the very efficient manner in which he has filled the chair, and for the manner in which he has performed the onerous duties that devolved upon him in connection with the Ontario fruit exhibit at the World's Fair. Mr. Caston : I take great pleasure in seconding the motion. I think we would be lacking very much in our duty as fruit growers if we failed to express our appreciation of the remarkable success that has attended the labors of our President as Commissioner for Ontario at the World's Fair. I think we are all proud of the success that Ontario has achieved there ; I think it will be more profitable for the Province than all the immigration agents that we could send out. In the selection of the Commissioner, the right man was put in the right place, and we owe our gratitude first to the Government, secondly to Mr. Awrey, and last to our ex-President, who has so ably tilled the duties. It required a man who was thoroughly conversant with the capabilities of Ontario — a man of energy ; and above all, a man with a great amount of executive ability. All these qualities we had in our ex- President. We ought to be proud of the FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 47 position our Province has taken at Chicago — due in the greatest measure to the ability of our representative. I doubt if we could have got any man who would have filled the position better, and we are only doing our simple duty in recognizing his work. I do not forg'et our Secretary either. We all know him, and know what kind of a man he is. Of course he was not so directly connected with our provincial exhibit, being a Dominion officer ; but we know he would not be dallying around the Midway Plaisance instead of attending to his duties. (Laughter). The motion was put and carried amid applause. The President : I have great pleasure, Mr. Retiring President, in extending to you the vote of thanks of this Association for the very efficient manner in which you have performed all the duties that have devolved upon you during the past year. Ex-President Pettit : Gentlemen, I am sorry it is just this time of day. (It was nearly noon). 1 would like, in reply to this resolution that has been so kindly tendered me, to present a very short address as the President's Address, in which I trust I would be able to embody what I would like to say to you on this resolution. If you could bear with me for ten or fifteen minutes I would do so. (For this address see page 5.) Mr. Pettit continued : I would like to say a little more on this subject. I have spent the last six months with men engaged in the same work as myself, fighting, with every energy possible, to win for our Province that credit that she ought to have. Every State was doing the same ; and yet we met as men together on the most friendly terms, and the six months were the happiest I ever spent. From the day I entered that building till the day I left, I never heard one word unkindly spoken between us. You will not often see that at large exhibitions of this kind. Another feature of the case was this : We had men from the finest fruit states of the Union as judges ; every man was a foreigner, and I believe the verdict he rendered for Ontario was a true one. I believe it was rendered in the best of his judgment ; and instead of looking as we do sometimes to the other side as being in advance of us in fruit culture, and as our pattern in other respects, I say, gentlemen, they want to look to Ontario for their pattern. (Hear, hear, and applause). Trace it where you will throughout Ontario's exhibits at the World's Fair, — I care not whether it is in agriculture, in stock, in fruit-growing, or any other branch of industry — and you will find she stands at the head of almost any other country that exhibited there. (Applause). They have difficulties to overcome in our neighboring states, they are not placed in a happy position anywhere to-day ; in many respects, they are far from markets. They have greater distances to reach the markets of the old world, that we have convenient to us ; and I do not believe their agriculture is equal to our own. Look in the matter of cheese. We have heard of the United States being the great cheese country of the world. How is it with us to day ? We went there in the spring of the year, and out of 134 awards offered to the whole world in the cheese industry, Ontario took 125 of those prizes. (Applause). Americans said afterward they thought Ontario was a little slow because she didn't take the other nine. (Laughter The only reason she didn't take the other nine was that she was just short nine cheeses (Laughter). We had another exhibit to make in the fall of the year, collected from all parts of Ontario ; and what did Ontario receive there 1 Ontario received 99 per cent, on cheese at the fall exhibit. (Applause). In our horticultural department what did we do 1 The awards were not all out when I came away, but 1 know we have awards I innumerable in our fruits. How did we get them ? Those awards were decided by weights, and our weights were ahead of other countries We also got another award for our style — the nice way in which Ontario's exhibit was placed. We got an award there which but one other State in the Union got. Then we have got numerous awards in our educational exhibit ; and we have got one award which I think is a credit to the Province of Ontario — a credit to our country in every sense of the word ; we received a national award for our system of education. (Applause). Could we ask more than what I have mentioned ? I say it is enough to make a Canadian prouder and prouder every day of his life. I was proud of my country when I went there ; I am prouder of it to-day, because we have the people, the country, the soil, the climate that will produce _____ _ _,,.„ 48 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. to look at ; the fruits of many countries ripen at a season of the year when the weather is too warm. We are thousands of miles nearer to the foreign market, our fruit ripens at a later season of the year- our apple crop — the great staple crop to benefit our country — ripens later ; and those fruits can be placed in the markets of the world very much earlier, and I would not be surprised to see a great many of our American friends writing back to us to supply their winter trade. I visited a large number of the cold-storage ware- houses in Chicago, and I found a large quantity of their apples were Canadian. They got them for late keepers because they could not hold their own. I believe there are very few parts of this Province that cannot produce apples of the very best quality, every locality can produce some quality in far greater excellence than other localities. If you want certain choice varieties you have to go to the northern part ; if you want other varieties you have to go to the south. We are capable of producing varieties that will supply the world for nine months in the year. When we see our grain product over- abundant, at prices too low to be profitable to the farmers of this country, cannot we wisely increase our product in some other line, as we are doing in cheese — as I believe we will do in butter before long and connect with them the fruit — the apple — industry as well 1 Further than that : I think our manufactured product in the fruit line should be pushed more than it is. I had a conversation with a German from Hamburg, in Chicago. He comes out to this country every year to purchase large supplies of provisions for Hamburg. He says there is a grand opening in that country for our apple crop. He looked over our apples and said : "That is the stock we want, and we want large quantities of it, and I will be glad to open up communication with you." The Government of this country is sending Mr. Robertson — perhaps the greatest author- ity we have in our country on butter and cheese — to speak on the subject in Britain, and they have made a mammoth cheese to be drawn from one end of the country to the other. I believe the butter industry will receive the same attention I believe if Mr. Robertson would take our fruits also, and advocate them in Germany and other countries, we would greatly widen our market, and instead of curtailing the production of fruit in this country we would increase it largely, for we have the market that will bear a large increase with profits to the producer. Now, gentlemen, I thank you most heartily for that resolution you have passed. I appreciate most fully the words you have expressed ; but I appreciated your assistance the more when I was in Chicago. I felt there that I was to fight your battle, and without your assistance at home I could do very little ; but it was that assistance you gave me, and your liberality in your contributions and selec- tions, that took the world's prizes — not my work ; and that gave me thanks louder than anything else I have received at your hands. I was proud I was connected with that institution ; I was proud that I had the privilege of being your represencative th^re ; and any man who goes forward out of this country to represent the paople of this Province or of Canada in a competition like that, with the world, can truly rely that he has behind him the best and foremost race of people in the agricultural, horticultural, or any other field, that will stand up for our country and place it where it i3 destined to stand — at the head of any other country of the earth. (Great applause) The President : I know, gentlemen, that you have all listened with a very great deal of pleasure and interest, and I believe a great deal of profit, to the remarks which have been made by the retiring President. I do not think it would be well to emphasize those remarks, or to repeat them, lest we might, like Alexander of old, begin to smite ourselves in the side that we have no more worlds to conquer in that line. (Liughter). I have had an increasing hope and expectation for the last two or three years that what Ontario has won for herself in the way of cheese, she was also likely to win in the near future for her apples ; for I am fully convinced from my own observations in this country and in the States of the Union, that there is not another apple produced on the continent equal to this one that we produce here in Ontario. It is not necessary to ask for any expressions of opinion on any remarks on this address. I think you are all ready to receive it, and to express your gratification in the manner that you Have done ; and as it is now time to adjourn, probably we had better adjourn till, say, two o'clock. Mr. Smith : Oould we spare about five minutes longer while we are on this business 1 FRUIT GROWER?' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 49 The President : I think so. Mr. Smith : While I am fully in sympathy with all that has been said and done in regard to the work of our late President, I think we ought not to forget that we have another member of our Association who has taken a very prominent part in that work, although not a representative of our Fruit Growers' Association. We all know the part that our esteemed Secretary has taken there ; and although he has not been working as directly for Ontario, he has been working for Canada, of which Ontario is only a part. (Applause). We are one country, and I think the honors of Ontario and Canada ought to be equally divided ; they ought to be identified ; and I have much pleasu? a vote of thanks to our Secretary, as an appreciation of his labors at the World's Fair during the past summer. I know something of the labors that he performed there, having been with him a few weeks, and I think this vote of thanks is but his due. Mr. A. H. Pettit : I have much pleasure in seconding that motion. I can assure you that I saw the great work the Secretary was doing for this country of ours at the World's Fair. I did not wish to refer to that department, or to trample upon his territory, as I wished him to have an opportunity of expressing himself more fully in that line. Mr. Edwards : As one who was present at the Fair, and saw the splendid exhibit of Canada as a whole and of Ontario in particular, and observed the excellent work of the Secretary as well as the ex-President, I wish to add my expression of appreciation of the work that has been done. I think it is fortunate for Ontario that she had not merely our ex-President as the director of the Ontario exhibit, but that she had our Secretary as the chief director of the whole exhibit for Canada ; and I think it is a matter of which we have reason to be proud, that our two officers were the chief men in our Province and in our Dominion respectively. The motion was put and carried heartily. The Secretary, in responding said : If there were time I would be very glad to reply at some length to your very kind motion, because there are a great many points which I believe would be interesting to you, which I might bring before you. However, I hope that I shall have opportunity in other ways to give you those points, so that you may read them, and it is not necessary for me to take up time here to place them before you at this late hour. But I do wish to most heartily thank the Association for their great kindness to me in the indulgence which has been shown me by the directors and members of this Association, because I fully understand my position as its servant ; and in taking up the work that I did at Chicago I had necessarily to give less time' and attention to the work of the Association during the last year. I feel this. However, I may say that I did not lose sight of your interests and the interests of Ontario while looking after the interests of Canada as a whole. With regard to our own Associ- ation, I felt proud to make an exhibit of the literature which has been pub- lished by it during the past years ; and our fourteen volumes of the Canadian Horticulturist, and our bound Reports showing work during so many years past, were placed before the judges at Chicago, and I am happy to tell you received a diploma and a medal for their merits as literature in the Department of Horticulture. I would like to add my testimony to what Mr. Pettit has said as to the noble place the Province of Ontario has taken at the Fair. We had some 8,500 square feet in the Horticultural Building devoted to Canada. Of this, more than half was occupied by the Province of Ontario. (Applause.) So prominent was thft Province of Ontario in all the exhibits that I had to fight for Canada to make it appear as important in the eyes of the world as the Province of Ontario. (Laughter.) Ontario made such a noble exhibit, and was so well brought before the public, that it might almost be looked upon as a separate nation. Indeed, I noticed, in one of the American papers a reference to the great nations of the earth which were exhibiting at Chicago, and it gave the list in some such way as this : Great Britain, Germany, France and Ontario. (Laughter.) We certainly have reason to feel proud of the number of awards taken by our Province. Out of sixty-six awards made to Canada for the various exhibits, and to the Provinces, Ontario has taken about two- thirds. There were several additional awards which I can speak of that are not included in Mr. Pettit's list because the individuals who exhibited sent their exhibits through 4 (F.G.) 50 FRUIT GKOWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. the Dominion and not through the Province of Ontario. One of these is our esteemed friend Mr. Boulter, who has taken an award for his exhibit of canned goods. There is one thing I would like to refer to with regard to the benefits to us. I think we stand a great d^al higher in the estimation of the world than we did before the Fair — not only in the e)es of foreign nations across the water, but also in the eyes of our neighbors in the United States. You would be surprised at the prejudice that exists against Cmada ; and the " Yankees," as we call them, are more strong and more difficult to be convinced in regard to the resourcts of Canada and her people, than any other nation in the world. They lie here alongside of us, and they are jealous of us, and they are accustomed to belittle our importance ; bat when we went there with our exhibits, side by side with the exhibits of the various states of the Union, they had to admit that we excelled them in our apple products, and that we were a far more import- ant country than they thought. Many of them would ssk us, ': Is it possible you grow these fruits 1 How finely colored they are ! Surely you grow them under glass1?" It was a constant source of astonishment to the thousands who walked through our courts, that we could produce such fruits under ordinary conditions in Canada. We proved to them what they were very slow to admit, indeed. I think results will be seen in the future, to our interest and general advantage. I am sure there is a market opening up in the west, and should it be, as seems probable, that the duty is to be taken off apple3, and we should be able to put this fruit into the United States, I believe we shall find an increasing market for our apples on that side of the line. In Chicago the constant enquiry among commission men was for Canadian apples, and particularly our excellent Canadian Northern Spy — an apple that does not take so hi#n a place, perhaps, in the English markets ; but in the Western markets and Chicago the Canadian Northern Spy is the great apple in demand, and it will bring a very high price. I had enquiries from numerous large dealers in apples, not only from Chicago, but from States west, who were in the habit of ordering not only in carload lots, but tens and twenties of cars, asking about Canadian apples. At present the duty is almost prohibitive. Another thing : I believe we shall receive benefit in this Province in the way of colonization, and the kind of colonists that we want — not the kind that will be induced to go to the North-West Tenitories and so on, who have not perhaps a great deal of money, but the exhibition of what we can produce in the gardening line is likely to induce men of means to come to Canada. These are ihe men that we want in our older Provinces — men who will pay high prices for our land, and so make our lands more valuable. I believe this is not one of the least benefits to accrue to Ontario from the exhibits made at Chicago. (Hear, hear, and applause.) SECOND DAY— AFTERNOON SESSION. The Secretary : Perhaps everybody here does not know, as I do, that Mr. Beall has undertaken some work that I think is of considerable importance to us. At Lindsay he has been instrumental in forming a local horticultural society, which is affiliated with us ; and this has worked so successfully there that Mr. Beall is inaugurating an under- taking to establish similar societies in adjoining towns and in other places. Now, if this scheme of Mr. Beall's works, it would be a very good one. Indeed, I think, if it could be extended throughout the whole of the Province, so that societies affiliated with ours could be formed under the Agriculture and Arts Act ; it would be an advantage to them as well as to us, and should be considered more fully in all the towns in Ontario. The President : When we adjourned we had no secretary for this Association. Since that time the directors of the Association have met, and the secretary pro tern will announce the result. Mr. McNeill : At a meeting of the directors of the Association, called to order by ihe President, it was moved by Mr. Oaston, seconded by Mr. A. M. Smith, that Mr. L. Woolverton, M.A , be continued as secretary of the Association and editor of the Horti- culturist for the ensuing year at the same salary as last year. Carried unanimously. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 51 The President : You hear the report ; is that your pleasure ? D*\ Beadle : We have no pleasure in the matter. That is entirely in the hands of the directors. (Laughter.) The President : The directors did not really make the thing a final matter in that meeting. Dr. Beadle : It is final in the hands of the directors. The so3iety has no power in the matter ; you can report to the society what you have done, bat they cannot help themselves. The President was requested, by vote of the Convention, to appoint a Committee on Legislation. The President : We have a paper here on " Raspberry Culture." I think, and some other of the directors think, that that would be a matter of interest to those who are present at this meeting, and we think well to call that question right on now. RASPBERRY CULTIVATION FROM AN AMATEUR STANDPOINT. Mr. R. B. Whyte read the following paper : Before discussing methods of cultiva - tion and varieties I would like to put in a plea for the more general cultivation of this the most delicious and in every way the most desirable of all small fruits. Only those who have grown them or have had the privilege of buying them freshly picked, have any idea of the delicate aroma and sweetness of the best of our cultivated raspberries, while in length of season, ease of cultivation and amount of crop for the space occupied, they have the advantage of any of the small fruits. By a proper selection of kinds you can have fresh berries on your table for five weeks or more, and the yield is so large and the cultivation so easy, that there is nothing to prevent any gardener — even though he has only a city lot — growing all that an ordinary family can use. No special soil is required ; any ordinary friable soil is good enough so long as it is drained as well as it ought to be before being made into a garden, for though the raspberry will make good use of all the moisture that comes from above it is very impatient of stagnant water at the roots. Neither can you expect the best results if your soil is very sandy ; so much water is required during the ripening season, that in a very dry and sandy soil the fruit is apt to be small and lacking in juiciness unless water is liberally supplied. The perfect soil is a heavy sandy loam that is fairly retentive of moisture and does not bake during hot weather. By far the best time to plant is in the fall as soon as the leaves have dropped. Procure your plants from the nearest reliable nurseryman and as soon as received unpack and cover the roots with moist earth until ready to plant ; do not expose them to the air any longer than is necessary. Exposure of the roots to the drying action of the wind and sun is the chief cause of plants failing to grow. Plant two to three feet apart five to seven feet between the rows according to the vigor of varieties. Weak growers like Brinckle's Orange do not require more than five feet, stronger growers like Cuthbert need six, while rampant growers like Shaffer require seven feet between the rows. Before the ground f i eezes cover with rotted stable manure one foot on each side and 3 or 4 inches thick. During the next summer they do not require much attention. You can grow a crop of peas or beans between the rows if you like, but be sure and keep them free from weeds, cut off any laterals that may appear within two or three buds of the main cane, cut out any weak shoots and all suckers that you do not want; in the fall cut back the main canes to 4 or 5 feet high according to their vigor, mulch with manure as when planted and bend them down as close to the ground as possible, putting on them pieces of board or scantling or anything heavy enough to keep them under the snow. No other protection is necessary even for the most tender varieties. During the second and each succeeding season the treatment is the same. As soon as the frost is out of the ground I remove the covering and tie the canes to stakes driven about a foot into the ground close to the plant. I find the cheapest and most convenient 52 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. stakes can be made from what is calling "furring" 1J x 2 in., used to nail lath to in house building, cut into 6 ft. lengths and pointed, the most satisfactory tying material is a cheap, soft, jute twine. When tied up spread the mulch between the rows and lightly fork it under. Never use a spade. The roots are so close to the surface that they are very much injured if spaded. To keep down weeds and suckers I use a Planet Junior double wheel hoe which reduces the labor of weeding to a minimum. For a small garden a very good substitute is a " Orescent hoe" — an improved form of the Dutch hoe — sharpened on con- vex and concave sides so that it cuts equally well both ways. As soon as possible after the fruit is picked cut out all the old wood and surplus canes, leaving four to six to each hill, tie them loosely to the stake to prevent their being broken by high wind, and no further attention is required till the autumn. When the leaves fall I go over the rows cutting back all branches to six inches long and the main canes at five feet; they are now ready to be laid down for the winter. This is the system of pruning I have practiced for fifteen years and am every year more convinced that it is the correct one for our climate. There is no variety that I have grown so hardy that it does not winter-kill more or less during our severe winters and sometimes to the snow line, ruining the crop for that year. The only safe course is to lay them down, and to do that they must be grown long and limber so that they can be easily bent. Another advantage of long canes is that the fruit being higher up on the plant it is not so liable to be soiled by the rain splattering the earth on it. It is also much more easily picked than if on a low .growing branching bush, and being better exposed to the sun and air, they are finer flavored. When picking for immediate consumption I always take those along the top of the rows, finding them much sweeter and richer than when protected from the sun's rays by the leaves. The question of what is the best raspberry to grow is a very difficult one to answer. So much depends upon conditions of climate, exposure and individual preferences that it is impossible to say of any one variety that it is the best one to grow under all circum- stances. During the last fifteen years I have grown over 20 named varieties and have fruited 21 seedlings of my own. Out of the named kinds I have kept 8, though not all of equal merit, yet as having all some points of excellence about them that make me reluctant to part with any of them. Before discussing what I consider the eight best sorts for amateur cultivation, it may not be uninteresting if i give you a brief account of those I have dis- carded and in what respect they fell short of my standard. My raspberry experience began with the Olark and Franconia. The Olark is a large, sweet, juicy berry in quality, the very berry for home use ; but with me it was too shy a bearer, not a vigorous grower, and was supplanted by other varieties as good in quality and more productive. Franconia is a large, fine-colored, well-flavored berry and a very heavy bearer. I think it produced as much fruit as any berry I ever grew, and would be a very profitable berry to grow for a near market, but for the amateur to whom quality is the first consi- deration, it has the serious fault of having a very large seed, still it had so many good points that I discarded it with considerable reluctance. Crimson Beauty I procured specimens of from the introducer, but two years sufficed to show its worthlessness. Neither in size, quality or productiveness was it superior to our wild berry. The Philadelphia at one time a very popular variety, and which is still grown some- what extensively for market, fell far below my standard in size, color and quality. It is a very heavy bearer of small dark-colored, poor -flavored berries quite unworthy of a place in the amateur garden. The ITansell is a an early medium sized, fair quality, but with me was too shy a bearer to bo worth keeping. The Marlborough is a very large, bright-colored early berry, and I have no doubt a very profitable variety to grow for market but is the poorest -flavored berry I havegroun, being altogether too insipid to be worthy of a place in the amateur's collection. About the Turner as a fruit I can say nothing, but with it as a plant my experience is so singular that I will give it to you in the hope that some of yOu may be able to FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 53 account for the phenomenon. Five years ago I procured 20 plants from a well-known rursery firm, they made a good healthy growth the first season. In the spring there was a fine show of blossoms but no fruit set. Thinking that probably some peculiarity of she season was the cause I gave them every care and the following spring had the finest-look- ing row of plants I ever grew — a magnificient show of foliage and blossoms, but not a solitary berry did I get. I would very much like to know if any one else has had a similar experience and how they accounted for it. Everbearing berries is the name given to some varieties that in addition to the usual summer crop fruit again in the autumn. I got some plants from a friend near Montreal under the name of " Everbearing Red." I found that the summer crop was a very small one, and that we never got more than a few scattering berries in the fall, as they were always caught by early frosts before they had time to ripen. They might be a success farther south, but with us in eastern Ontario they are valueless. Saunders' Hybrid sent out by our Association in 1880 is a hybrid between a red rasp- berry and a black cap ; Johnson's Sweet possessing some of the characteristics of both types, the softness and juiciness of the Reds with the flavor and habit of growth of the cap berry. I fruited it for several years, but though very satisfactory in productiveness and quality it was eventually supplanted by the Shaffer of the same type but much larger. My experience with the black cap family is limited to the Mammoth Cluster, Tyler, Gregg and Hilborn. The first three I have discarded, but still retain the Hilborn and will refer to it later. The Mammoth Cluster at one time the mo3t famous berry of the class is now very little grown, having been supplanted by others of doubtful superiority. The Tyler is a very early, good flavored, fairly productive berry but too small, in no way superior to the Rubus occidentalis of our woods. The Gregg is much larger than Tyler but inferior to it in flavor and productiveness. I never could get a paying crop from it. Indeed it is doubtful if any of the cap berries are productive enough to be worth growing in a small garden. In my collection of what I consider the 8 best raspberries and none of which I would like to part with are three reds — Cuthbert, Herstine and Heebner ; three yellows — Golden Queen, Brinckle Orange and Caroline ; one black cap, the Hilborn, and one Purple Hybrid Shaffer. Of the reds the best-known and I believe the most extensively cultivated of all rasps is the Cuthbert, well-known to all raspberry growers, a large, fine-flavored, firm berry, very productive, holding on well to the receptacle, therefore not apt to drop till picked, a combination of good points that make it one of the be3t for amateur cultivation and the best of all for market. It is the only red raspberry that reaches our Ottawa fruit stores in good condition, looking fresh and attractive, while Philadelphia shipped at the same time looks sodden and mouldy with the boxes not more than three-quarters full. The Herstine is too soft for a market berry, but for home use I prefer it to the Cuth- beru. It is a very large, fine-colored, sweet and juicy berry which I have grown with great satisfaction for ten years and have yet to see a fault in it. The Heebner which I got from my friend, Mr. W. W. Hilborn, five years ago — and who, I believe, controls it — is a very fine berry of the same type as the Herstine, as large and juicy, rather finer-flavored and I think more productive — for amateur cultivation upon the whole the best red raspberry I know of; it and the Herstine ripen about the same time a week before Cuthbert. If growing only one yellow I would take the Golden Queen, sometimes called a yellow Cuthbert — hardly so vigorous a grower — but otherwise very like it, except in color, which is a very pretty pale yellow. Its only competitor for first place among yellow is Brinckle's Orange which is considered by most raspberry growers to be the finest-flavored of all rasps, and it is undoubtedly a most delicious fruit, large and vary handsome but unfor- tunately too delicate in constitution to stand the extremes of our climate. It can, there- fore, only be grown with great care, and even with the best management they are some- times winter-killed. In texture it is too soft, except for home use, but freshly picked, with a suitable allowance of sugar and cream, there is nothing that I know of in the fruit line that can equal it. 54 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Caroline does not compare in size or flavor with Uolden Queen or Brinckle, but has some good points. It is an immense bearer of beautiful pinkish yellow berries of the black cap shape and type, and though not equal to Brinckle in flavor is still very good. The Hilborn, the only black cap in my collection, is considered to be one of the best of the class, but with me the fruit is too small and too dry to suit my taste. Like all the caps it is very short-lived and difficult to manage in a small garden I have had to renew my plants every three or four years, a serious drawback when space is valuable. The canes grow so stiff that they are difficult to lay down for winter and often break during the operation. Altogether I doubt if they can be profitably grown by the amateur. Indeed since the advent of the Purple Hybrids, their equals for canning, and very much their superiors for table use, it seems to me that their usefulness has departed. The best of the Hybrids is the Shsefferj a large purple berry, verv productive and vigorous. It is much liked by some for table use, but is rather too acid for my taste, lis color is also against it for that purpose, but as a canning berry it is unequalled. The canned fruit is of a beautiful dark reddish purple color, the seeds not near so prominent as in the canned black cap, and the flavor is much superior to any other berry that I know of. In addition to these named varieties I have fruited 21 seedlings of my own during the last three years, five of them black caps, four of which proved worthless and were thrown out ; the other, I think, will be worth propagating. The rest are all red, some of them of no value, but most of them very good, and a few of them of great excellence. Nos. 3, 6, 7, 13 and 17 1 have propagated, and they are now on trial. No. 17 is the largest raspberry I know of — too soft for snipping, but a very handsome berry and very productive. No. 7 is also a very large berry — firm and bright-colored, with a very refreshing slightly acid flavor that has been much admired by those who have sampled it ; foliage large and dark green, canes strong and vigorous. No. 13 is also a very large, sweet-flavored, fine berry between 7 and 17 in firm- ness. No. 6 resembles No. 7, is not quite so large, and differs from it it flavor. No. 3 made a good showing on the original plant, but did not do so well last year when set out in the garden. It did not fertilize properly and some of the berries were imperfect. If it retains that defect the coming season I will discard it as there are too many good varieties in existence to perpetuate any others that are not equal or superior to the best of those now grown. The seedlings here described appeared at different times as stray plants in various portions of my garden, probably from seeds of the cultivated varieties, but I am unable to give the exact parentage in any case. Mention is made of them here, with the object of creating a greater interest among fruit-growers in that most fascinating of all horticultural work, the production and development of new varieties. The President : Now, we will allow a reasonable length of time for discussion. Mr. Whyte : I will be happy to answer any questions or reply to any criticism. The Secretary : Will you tell us more about your method of pruning? It is quite different from what we adopt in the southern part of Ontario. We cut them short, two or three feet from the ground in the growing season, and you prune them up quite high with the object of laying them down 1 Mr. Whyte : The only sure way of getting a crop every yen* is to lay them down* A friend of mine told me he did not lay them down, and he lost every vine in the severe winter. I find no difficulty in binding a cane as thick as my finger if it is sufficiently long. We have every winter practically snow enough to cover them. The President : You don't require to lay the Marlboro' down ? Mr. Whyte : I laid it down. The President : Up near Stratford we can bring the Marlboro' through the winters easily. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 55 Mr. Whyte : Are you subject to 30° below zero ? The President : No. Mr. Whyte : That fetches any of them. The Secretary : Tell us when you do your pruning, and how ? Mr. Whyte : As soon as the fruit is off, if thpre are any very rampant I prune them then. If you prune the new wood any way severely there is too much centre growth when the frcst sets in in the fall. It is the last garden work I dp, after my grape vines are pruned, to go through my rasberries and cut them back to five or six feet. Mr. Edwards : Don't you prune them during the season at all ? Mr. Whyte : No, not unless they are growing too rank. As a rule I don't meddle with the canes till the fall, and then I cut them all down to five or six feet, and cut off all the branches back to the main stem. Mr. Turner : Cornwall is not far from Ottawa not much difference in temperature ; still one of our members— a Mr. Leitch — has his raspberries growing in hedge form ; does not cut them down. He had a splendid crop this year — grows them four feet high. Mr. Whyte : There is this difference at Cornwall — they have the St. Lawrence river. Even though my Cuthberts would stand the winter without laying down, I would lay them down. I have left up plants, but I find those laid down fruit earlier. The President : The Hillborn Black will stand 20° below zero. Mr. Whyte : I left half of my Hillborns up last season. The plant was not killed outright, but the tops of a great many branches were killed. I was more than ever satis- fied that it paid to lay them down. I have between 200 and 300 plants, and on a Satur- day afternoon I can lay the whole lot down. The President : Can any one in this immediate district give us any informa- tion ? Mr. Giles (Peterborough) : I have quite a lot of Cuthberts and the black cap. I never lay them down. I have brought them through several years, and get a fair crop every year. The Secretary : Have you compared the results where you laid them down and where you did not, in the same year, to see whether you got a better crop by laying them down ? Mr. Giles : I have never laid them down, but they have generally sprouted out most years right to the tip ; not even the tip wp,s affected to any great extent. The President : What is your method of pruning 1 Mr. Giles : Well, I prune the Gregg by the rules laid down in the Horticulturist and other papers, but the Cuthbert I did not prune at all — I just let them run for three or four years and then cut them down, and have a new plantation pretty much all the time. Mr. Smith : The cultivation of the plants afiects their hardiness. If you cultivate them late in the summer and keep up a tender growth they are liable to be injured in winter. If you give them good cultivation the fore part of the summer, keep the ground well stirred and get up a good growth, and then leave your ground alone and let them harden up, ripen up their wood toward autumn, they will stand the winter much better than if you keep cultivating till the snow comes. Mr. Hilborn : I can corroborate what Mr. Smith, says. We have sometimes below 30° in our section, and we have never laid down the Cuthbert yet, and have a fair crop, by ceasing to cultivate early in autumn. I think it is a very important point in a great many other things besides raspberries, to have the wood well made and hardened up before the cold weather comes. If the plants are killed back a few inches, we cut that in the spring, and they throw out sufficient laterals to give a fair crop. Mr. Boulter : How late do you cultivate 1 56 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Mr. Hilborn : I never cultivate much after the middle of the summer. I make it a point to have the ground thoroughly clean, and then I don't put the cultivator in again that season ; I don't touch them again till the spring ; but I get in among them in the spring and encourage a good growth then. I always leave the old canes till the spring. Mr. Stinson (Peterborough) : I grow four raspberries — the Souhegan, the Gregg, the Shaffer and the Red Outhbert. I don't prune the Gregg in the summer at all, and find I have better results ; the others I prune down about two feet. The Souhegan I prune to get the branches. Last year my berries came through all right, but two years ago they killed badly, which was the general experienie around here. The red raspberry I don't prune in the fall. In the spring I cut out the old wood, and if they arp. killed I cut back the cane as far as it is killed. Leaving the old wood on during winter protects the plant by allowing the snow to lodge. Mr. Fisher, (Orillia) : I grow Cuthbert and Caroline quite extensively. I don't do any cultivation of the Cuthberts after I finish picking. I consider that is one of the great secrets of the plant being hardy; next spring we cut out old timber. The Caroline will stand more frost than any other raspberry, and will bear more berries — at least at Orillia. Mr. Turner : I don't see how these men can take a pride in a garden or a plot of ground of any description if they don't keep it clean. If there is anything I dislike to see, it is a dirty garden. These men can't grow raspberries that way without having a dirty garden ; you must cultivate. The idea of these last two gentlemen saying they don't cultivate any after picfcing the fruit ! It is ridiculous ! Your garden is full of all kinds of weeds, and these weeds are going to seed. I am the greatest enemy of weeds, I don't allow a weed of any description to go to seed in my garden, summer or fall. I cultivate up to frost. I decidedly object to this idea of dirty gardening. I think both the last speakers are entirely wrong. The President : May be these gentlemen do not consider simply hoeing out weeds to be cultivating. Mr. Caston : Icanassuie Mr. Turner he is mistaken. He can come and see my garden, and this gentleman, too, in Orillia. The Cuthbert fruits pretty late with us, and by cultivating up to that time we can manage to keep our gardens perfectly clean. I can't account for it except that Cornwall is a very wicked place, and hai a greater visita- tion of weeds. (Laughter). Mr. A. H. Pettit : I want to go one better on the Cuthbert. I have seen the Cuthbert two seasons in Manitoba perfectly sound without being frozen back, and per- fectly good crops. In August and September they usually have dry weather ; the wood ripens and matures, and is not killed back ; and there they certainly have lower tem- perature than we have here. So I think you will find the Cuthbert perfectly hardy under ordinary circumstances. The President : Mr. Hilborn, will you tell us your experience 1 Mr. Hilborn : My experience with raspberries has been that the pruning-back system has done the best. I don't quite agree with Mr. Whyte in the method of pruning, although I have seen his garden, and I must say that he has very fine raspberries, and he puts a good deal of work on his garden and has it perfectly clean and in good shape, At the same time, I think they can be grown more cheaply for market by the other system of pruning back, that is, the planter allows the canes to grow the first year until they are about a foot high, then pinches back, lets them branch out and does no more pruning till the following spring ; then he cuts back any surplus wood. The second year he allows them to get about two feet high before pinching back. In pinching back you must be a little particular. If you take off too much of the tip of the new growth, the cane does not recover ; it does not appear to make a good growth afterwards. If you take off the whole of the tip, it sends out the last lateral without branching out, and you miss the object in view. I would say, take off 4 to 6 inches of the cane when it comes to 2J or 3 feet high, according to the age of the plant. Do no more pruning till FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 57 the following spring. Do the cultivation early in the season ; start as soon as you can in the spring ; keep down all suckers and weeds until about the end of the picking season, and after that allow the wood to ripen up. Mr. Orr : Would you recommend fall plowing1? Mr. Hilborn : No, I think not, from my experience. Of course, that might be varied in some localities, but, on the whole, I would not like to touch the ground in the fall. You cannot do that without breaking more or less of the roots, and I like to leave all the roots without injury, as they retain the moisture which helps to sustain the life of the plant during winter. The President : I think it would be well to understand that Mr. Hilborn is from the Lake Erie shore, and that the methods of cultivation there would not suit the season here. The Secretary : Would Mr. Hilborn recommend the shortening system of pruning for cold sections, or wouldn't he consider that the laying down would be a better system 1 Mr. Hilborn : That depends on th6 m*n. If a man will give careful attention, as Mr. Whyte does, laying down is the best; but the shortening-in system will work with an ordinary cultivator. More quarts can be grown at a less figure, take it as a whole, by growing in that way. My first experience was in Lambton County, quite a distance from the water ; at present it is along the Lake Erie shore, and for a time I was at Ottawa. Taking it in all three sections, I think on the whole the shortening-in principle will work best with the majority of people. The President : I gave up the cutting-back system three years ago, and I find I can get a nicer berry, and have a bush that is easier to work among, by allowing it to grow right straight up, and not cut it off till the following spring. I also find you will get a nicer berry produced from the stalk than from the lateral that has been gent out the August before. Mr. Smith : Would not that involve the necessity of tying up the canes 1 The President : Sometimes I drive a stick right down the centre and tie it to the stick ; but my canes grow very high, and when I find that they are over-high and I am afraid they will blow down in winter time I cut back in the fall. I always cut back to 4J feet. Mr. Hilborn : That is all right where the work is done properly, and those who give careful attention can succeed very well and get a finer quality of fruit grown in that,way, but the great majority would give what we call only a slip-shod method of cultivation, and I think that is more easily done with the pinching-in system. Mr. Whyte : The raspberries grown on the top of a plant exposed to the sun, have a very much finer flavor than those grown below the leaves. From the amateur's stand- point, quality is the first consideration rather than a large crop. Short pruning, there- fore, is not suited for amateurs. I am surprised to hear that some growers do not culti- vate after the crop has been picked. I would a great deal rather not grow raspberries than have my garden grow in the foul condition that it would be in. I don't understand about leaving them without pruning till the spring. Some of mine would be 12 feet high if I did not cut them back twice in the season. What an awkward thing to liy down ! Prof. Craig : Mr. Whyte has described the ideal method of growing raspberries for home use from the amateur standpoint. It is just a question for growers to decide whether or not they can be grown with profit on a large scale with the fine fruit that Mr. Whyte gets. In Wisconsin, a large grower, who grows 25 to 30 acres, lays down his plants every year, and finds it pays him to do it. In a series of experiments last year and the year before I found it paid me in this way, that the bushes laid down and covered, grown tall, as Mr. Whyte described it, were a week or ten days earlier than those not treated in that wny, and were sufficieatly more productive to pay for the cost of the labor. That is with all varieties rivalling in hardiness with the Outhbert. I don't think with Hansell and Turner it paid me to do this, but with such varieties as Cuthbert, Hornet, Clark, and all that type, the results were very satisfactory. 58 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Mr. Boulter : I have 40 or 50 acres in raspberries. The Shaffer is not good for canning at the factory ; it goes all to mush like the Cuthbert, and uses too much sugar ; and we have discouraged it so much that this year there were at least 50 acres plowed up in Prince Edward county. I know to-day of 500 or 600 cases of Shaffers in tin cans, that were sent to Winnipeg at 20 cts. a dozen less than it cost to put them up. I would not spend money on raspberries that had not good flavor. If you go into raspberry culture for money- making, you must put them seven feet wide — even the Cuthbert. We pinch them off when they get about three feet high. Then the laterals start out. When we let the canes grow too long they weaken and freeze. We don't lay down the plants — too much labor; yet I have seen the thermometer down to — 30°. We have lost them only one year. We cultivate with potato hoeR. The Outhbert is a different berry from the Shaffer — one grows from tips and the other from suckers. We put them about twelve inches apart, and in a couple of years we have the rows filled right up. We give them thorough cultivation about two weeks before the berries ripen. In the fall we plow, and throw the dirt well up to the bushes ; that keeps them up so that they don't break down with the snow, and plow that around them in September thoroughly. Keep the manure from under the rows — they will draw all out three feet from the side all right. I believe strawberries also can be successfully grown. I paid a man $1,000 for what strawberries he brought me off three acres. Mr. Whyte : Stakes only cost 2J- cts. apiece, and they last four or five years. We have canned 25 or 30 cans, and it is the universal testimony that the Shaffer cans better than any other, and has a better flavor. I have not heard anything yet that has disturbed my opinion. Mr. Boulter : There is a difference between offering canned fruit to a guest, who is not going to be critical, and trying to sell it. APPLES FOR THE FOREIGN MARKET. The President : It has been suggested that we might discuss with profit to growers in this section, these questions ; and I wouid call on Mr. Edwards to open the discussion : Q. What three varieties of apples should we grow for the British market 1 One early winter, one mid winter, and one late keeper. Q. Are there any other good ^markets for Canadian apples, besides Great Britain, and what varieties are in demand ? Mr. Edwards : I made one shipment to the Old Country in connection with a friend of mine, and I found that the nett returns from all the varieties sent were about $1.89 per barrel here. The Blenheim Orange, of which I sent 27 barrels, realized exactly $3.13 here after all expenses were paid. All the rest — including Northern Spy, some Ben Davis, some Russets, Rhode Island Greenings, and two or three barrels of Fameuse — which should not have been sent at all — netted exactly $1.57 per barrel ; so that the Blenheim Orange netted within one cent of being twice the returns of the others. It would strike me, therefore, that the Blenheim Orange was, for the British market, a more profitable variety than any others that were sent at that time. It sold readily at a time during last year when the markets were quoted as being from 10 to 16 shillings, and where no other variety in the same shipment realized more than 16 shillings the Blenheim realized 18, 20, 22, and one barrel as high as 25 shillings. The trees bore well also. The President : Which of the three classes would you put it in ? Mt. Edwards : It would be called with us a mid-winter apple. The Secretary : With us, in Southern Ontario, it would be called an early winter. I think the apple has been very wisely brought before us, and deserves all that has been said in its favor. It is one of our best apples for the British market, and one that grows clean and good, and is therefore very desirable. In mentioning two others — including FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 59 the Blenheim as an early winter — I would suggest the King as a mid- winter apple. That apple is growing in value every year in the British market. The last returns that I read classed it away up. It is constantly growing in favor and rising in price, but the difficulty is in procuring it in sufficient quantity — the tree is not a good bearer. The fact has been brought before our Association in times past that the King apple will pro- duce better if grafted upon the Talman Sweet ; and if this is true it opens out a remedy. Of course for a late keeper the Roxbury or the Golden Russet are about the only apples that we can plant. For the British market the Spy does not seem to succeed as well as it does in some other markets. It does not bring as high a price as either of those we have been speaking of. The Baldwin carries so well that it stands well in the British market. The President : What are the bearing qualities of the King in this district 1 A Delegate : Poor. J. G. Galvin (Peterborough) : Also the Baldwin. I find^tl ejWagener one of my best. The President : Do you find the Wagener a hardy tree here 1 Mr. Galvin : Fairly hardy ; but it is a grand fruit. The President : For the early winter % Mr. Galvin : Yes. The President : A short-lived tree 1 Mr. Galvin : Yes ; but very productive while it does live. Mr. Beall : With us the Ontario apple is doing exceedingly well. This last winter we have had scarcely any winter apples of any variety — all have failed except the Yellow Bellflower — but the same trees, for instance, that would produce from a bushel to two or three barrels last year, would produce this year only from ?half a dozen to a peck, and then what we had were very poor. The same [rule would^ apply to all other of our winter varieties — scarcely a good apple in all. The President : Can some one suggest a later apple than the^Blenheim or King 1 Mr. Edwards : I believe the Ontario apple will in a'few years from now be one of the most profitable that can be grown in this country. %I understand they have been sent already to the English market, and have brought first-class prices — equal to the best. Mr. Smith : Is the tree considered quite hardy in this section 1 Mr. Edwards : Yes, perfectly hardy. I have not seen the slightest indication of anything else. I have several trees. There is only one question yet to be considered in regard to it — as to the length of life of that tree. It may partake of the short life of one of its parents. The fact that it bears so early and so very abundantly would show that that is one of the possibilities. I believe there is nothing to show that that is the fact ; but that is the danger. The President : What has been the experience in this locality in connection with the Spy as a profitable apple for the British market ? Mr. Beall : In growing apples for profit, there are a good many things to take into account. The trees will cost the same, perhaps, but the Northern Spy will take, in our locality, from 12 to 15 years to come into bearing, and not more than 25 per cent, of the trees will ever come to a bearing condition — they never live that long. No doubt it is principally because of the bad condition in which they are planted and cared for. I know of cases where there has been proper care and no loss. Then the Ontario will produce as much to the tree, and will come into bearing in the second, third, or fourth year — or the third year after planting from the nursery — and will bear almost every year. The reports we have from the Ontario apple in the British markets show that it is fully up to the Spy, or a little beyond. The President : They have not had very much experience yet in the British market with the Ontario apple, as it is a comparatively new apple. The Ontario was introduced to take the place of the Spy, largely on account of the tree coming into bear- 60 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. ing so -much earlier. The Ontario is a direct cross between the Wagener and the Spy. It partakes largely of the properties of the Spy, and the tree partakes of the properties of the Wagener by early bearing ; but up in the Huron district I have found the last year or two that the Ontario is not going to be a long-lived tree ; it is going to fail, as the Wagener tree does. It is going to be a heavy bearer, and it is already showing all the indications of scrubbiness. Mr. Robson : I would acquiesce in what the President says about the tree, and also corroborate Mr. BealPs statement. I never saw anything so abundant in fruit as the Ontario apple is when grafted on the Talman Sweet. It was covered with fruit, and very fine specimens, every one of them. I think grafting on the Talman Sweet would be the very best way to produce the Ontario apple. Mr. Oaston : I think that the same might be said in regard to some of the best of our commercial apples — the best way to produce them would be to graft them on Tolman Sweets. I have had a number of years' experience now in growing an orchard, and I would plant a great number of Tolman Sweets, because I don't know of any better stock. It is very hardy, and very suitable for grafting on. You can form a nice top on it ; and I would graft on to this the Northern Spy, the King, and from what Mr. Edwards said, I think I would be inclined to try the Blenheim Orange, which is a comparative stranger to me. Only once I met it in our section, but it seems to be grown in great perfection in Oxford county. There is another apple I would like to try — the Newtown Pippin — that brings the very highest price of anything I have been able to see that has been sold on the Liverpool market. Do any of our Niagara district growers know anything about this apple 1 Does it succeed there 1 Would it be likely to succeed in any other part of Ontario 1 Would it succeed if grafted on hardy stock 1 If so, it would be one of the best apples we can get. I should judge the best way to proceed in this locality, and in many parts of Ontario, would be to plant only the very hardiest trees, and plant a number of Talman Sweets, or something that is very hardy, and then graft while those trees are young. The President : How many years ? Mr. Caston : It depends on the growth of the tree. As soon as I get a limb as large as my thumb that would hold a graft, I would begin and take a third ot the top off the first season, and and a third the second season, and the third season I would finish it. Graft far enough out from the body of the 'tree so that you will have your top not too close together. In that way we can bring the Spy into earlier bearing, and the King into more productive bearing ; and I think we ought to grow more of those apples. We find that the King stands next to the Newtown Pippin in commercial value, and it certainly is a splendid apple and it is hard to equal it in flavor at this time of year — and I think that would be the best way to proceed. Now, we have another among the new varieties that I would recommend from experience so far, and that is the Pewaukee ; it is an early and abundant bearer. It is an extremely hardy tree — as hardy as the Duchess It is a seedling of the Duchess and is nearly as handsome as the King, though not up to it in flavor. I would like to hear from some in the Niagara district, whether we could grow the Newtown Pippin top-grafted on hardy stock. Mr. Smith : It is worthless in the Niagara district. The Secretary ; It is one of the oldest apples in our district, but one we don't grow because we can't. It is more liable to scab than any other. At the World's Fair there was shown some magnificent samples that were grown in New York state ; and the superintendent of that exhibit said that they were grown clean and beautiful by the application of copper mixtures by spraying. Should we be able to overcome this difficulty in that way, we shall be able to grow that magnificent apple. Mr. Caston : Wherein does its great excellence consist ? The Secretary : Its good appearance, good size and very high quality. Of course its quality is its great recommendation. There is a yellow Newtown Pippin and a green Newtown Pippin. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 61 Mr. Smith : Which do you consider the best 1 Dr. Beadle : It is the green they send to Great Britain. Thirty years ago we planted out about a dozen trees at home, but we never got any fair fruit. It always from the very start began to scab. From all the trees we would perhaps get a peck of apples that were fairly good ; and it kept going on from bad to worse until we could not get a solitary apple that was any good. Then we abandoned the idea that we could cultivate it. Now we have got new light on the matter of the apple scab, it is possible we may be able to grow it. It was just as true in ail western New York as it is in the Niagara district — it scabbed ; but there was just that one particular locality on the Hudson River about five miles long by a mile wide, where they could grow that apple to perfection, and they did and took great pains to treat it as a choice apple — pack them up in paper as they do oranges, pack them in half-barrels and get as much for a half- barrel as we do for a whole barrel. The President : The Newtown Pippin has been tried in Goderich dislrict. It has not been troubled with the scab there, but it is never going to be a profitable apple on account of the great amount of cultivation necessary to bring it to perfection. Mr. Robson : There is another apple come out — Magog Red Streak ; I would like to hear about it. Prof. Craig : That has been brought out on account of strength and hardiness of the tree. The apple will not rank with the Newtown Pippin, Ontario, or even Blenheim Pippin. It is not sufficiently attractive either. In this district, where apples take on a very high color, it might be sufficiently attractive, but as ordinarily grown it is not a handsome apple, and I don't think it is one that can be very generally commended. Mr. Turner : The Pewaukee is a favorite with us, and hardy also — a fine large fruit. The President : I don't think too much can be said in behalf of Pewaukee. It is a good bearer and very fine shaped apple. Mr. Curtis, an old resident of Peterborough, told of his great success in small fruits. He recommended vigorous measures against grass and weeds and suckers. The President : Prof. Craig has something to lay before us, anl I think we had better hear from him now. Prof. Craig's paper was illustrated with the aid of a large chart showing apples of same variety grown in different localities. MODIFICATION OF FRUITS BY CLIMATE. Mr. John Craig, Horticulturist, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, read the fol- lowing paper : The variations and modifications wrought by the influence of climate on plants and their products has long been a topic of interest and a subject of research and I might add of speculation by the student of botany and natural history. Much has been written with regard to the effects of climate on plant and animal life, and we find great variation in plants as a variety is moved from its original centre Of development. Again, we find particular acquirements and special provisions made for certain plants whereby they are enabled to endure the rigor and vicissitudes of the climates in which they have been developed. Thus it is that we find with plants natives of a dry climate, that their leaf surface and stomataor breathing tubes have been reduced to the smallest possible area and number, thus giving the least possible opportunity for evaporating moisture. Examples of this class are found in the hot and dry climate of New Mexico and Arizona where the fleshy and prickly leaved cacti abound. In the character of other products the modifying influence of climate is al^o observable. 62 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. I have mentioned the change in the character of the leaves or foliage. There is also a distinct change in the color and shape of the fruit as well as the size, weight and color of the seeds This latter peculiarity has been noticed by Thomas Meehan in comparing the weight ot seeds of our American trees to their European allies. This modification of plants and their products may be direct, and influence the immediate progeny or it may be indirect and the variation is preserved through long years by means of natural selection working in the wake of gradual change Some of the interesting features connected with the late Columbian Exposition to the Horticultural student were the variations shown by the same variety of fruit grown under different soil and climatic conditions. In fact so wide is the variation in apples of the same variety that frequently the Ben Davis of New Mexico or Arkansas for instance is quite unrt cognizable to the fruit-grower who has been acquainted with this variety, say as grown in Michigan or Ontario. A brief study, as opportunity offered, was made by the writer, of the variations of form of a few of the standard of apples as grown in different apple regions of the northern continent. In this study, while the larger share of the incentive may be of scientific interest, yet most fruit dealers recognize the fact that the form of the apple has an important bearing on the shipping and consequently keeping qualities of that variety. It is well known to shippers that a round apple of regular form will ship and carry much better than an oblong irregular and ribbed variety. So that in looking over the diagrams which I am using as illustrations you will easily see wherein this question of variability of form has a practical bearing. Taking Ontario as a centre and travelling westward, the round apple seems to become elongated and to have reached a distinctly oblong form. When we arrive at the Pacilic coast in British Columbia, Oregon or Washington, with this lengthening tendency is developed prominent ribs on nearly all varieties, with frequent wrinkling about the calyx. The same changes are noticed when the variety is carried eastward into Maritime Provinces, but to a less marked degree. With regard to color — travelling east and west from the point mentioned, the coloring and marking becomes less vivid, except in the case of the Blue Pearmain which in British Columbia and Oregon is as highly colored as the same variety grown in Quebec or Ontario. Another point not clearly shown on the diagram is the increasing size of the core and seed cavities in the western apples. In discussing the variations it is not difficult to say that it is a change due to climate, and there let the matter rest, but why should the variation always proceed in the same direction *? A study of the development of an apple from the blossom is an interesting one. L. H. Grindon in his charming little volume on fruit trees, describes it and the flower as follows : (t The upper portion of the flower stalk is deeply concave, the sepals of the calyx springing from the margin as do the petals and the numerous stamens, while in the centre are five slender pistils. The curious should note this carefully since the apple as regards structure is one of the most remarkable productions of nature. The rule in plants is for the ripe fruit to consist only of the matured ovary. In the apple the matured ovary is the smallest portion of the fruit. Soon after the petals drop, the vase- like top of the peduncle becomes gradually distended with juicy tissue. By degrees it adjoins itself to the petals within. These at last become completely embedded and constitute the core (French, Ca&ur), the heart. A horizontal section of the ripe apple shows plainly where the adhesion took place, this being indicated by the green fibres. A ripe apple is thus in truth a fruit within a fruit." The elongation of the ovary noticed in the specimens grown near the seaboard seems to be favored by climate, and the longer growing period gives it an opportunity to develop in this direction. On the other hand, in the drier and hotter climates of the interior the ovary is more rapidly developed and opportunity for elongation is not afforded, therefore the fleshy part of the apple is laid on laterally. We learn from this brief glance at the modifications of fruit as wrought by climate^ that each apple has its particular locality where it reaches the highest state of develop. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 63 ment. Thus we find that Ben Davis of Missouri and Iowa surpass in beauty and quality, those grown elsewhere. Although they will not keep as long as if grown in Wisconsin or Canada. Again the Northern Spies and Kings of Ontario — and of par- ticular sections of the Province — are unexcelled by those grown elsewhere. Nova Scotia has long been famed for the fine quality and appearance of her Gravensteins — which after all are produced with the best results on a comparatively limited area. It is manifestly very desirable that the fruit-growers of the province should study these cases of local adaptation in order that in the present era of close competition they may be able to place Canadian fruit products on the markets of the world with profits to themselves and credit to our country. The President : I will name Messrs. A. H. Pettit and McNeill and Dr. Beadle, the persons to constitute the Legislative Committee. Mr. A. H. Pettit : I would urge very strongly to appoint a larger committee, not less than five, and that they fairly cover and represent all parts and interests of the Province, then when their report comes that it should be open for discussion. The President : Well, in order to expedite matters I will enlarge that at once by adding Mr. Edwards and Mr. Boulter. Prof. Craig : I intended to have said something on the fact that Ontario growers have one of the finest climates ki the world in which to grow the finest apples ; but that has been so well brought out by the ex-president that I will not detain you longer. The Secretary : I have been growing Gravenstein. The trees are probably thirty years of age — they were planted by Mr. A. M. Smith ; they are very thrifty and healthy and bear regularly, and very good samples of fruit. I am inclined to think they are not excelled by even those beautiful Nova Scotia Gravensteins that we saw in their exhibit at Chicago. If they do not equal theoi they are very close to them. One summer I shipped ten barrels to the British market, and I was rather surprised as well as pleased to find that they sold at $6 a barrel. I am only sorry that I have not a large orchard of that variety. I believe it will be one of the most profitable fall apples we could grow to ship in those sections of Ontario where it succeeds. I do not know that it would succeed in other parts as it does where I live — on the borders of Lake Ontario. Dr. Beadle : A few weeks ago I received from Nova Scotia some samples of a Gravenstein apple which was a natural sport of a branch of a Gravenstein tree that has now been propagated for about eight or ten years. It has a much higher color than the ordinary Gravenstein app'e as grown in Nova Scotia. The letter stated that in Nova Scotia they had been unable to grow that apple with as high a color as they wished, and as they believed it grew in Ontario, but that this sport was about to relieve them of that condition and give them a high-colored Gravenstein apple, and as they had propaga- ted it now for a number of years they thought it was likely to prove permanent, and enhance the value of the Gravenstein in the British market. I think I could easily get some scions of this sport, and I thought it would be well to get some of our friends to graft it into their Gravenstein trees here, and see how it compares, in point of color and flavor and appearance, with our own Gravenstein. The sample sent us was a small apple, and the writer of the letter said that they were inferior in size to what they had had, but the best had been sent to Chicago and other places in the States in order to get the opinions of people there in regard to the fruit. I would like to see this tried side by side with ours, for it did not strike me that it was so much more highly colored than our Gravensteins. I have grown the Gravenstein for twenty years, and I never thought it lacked color- — a beautiful apple with a strong flavor ; and I quite agree with our secretary that if that apple were picked and promptly handled and got into the British market in good order, it would always command a high price, for it has a most beautiful appear- ance and as to quality is perfectly satisfactory to any Englishman's taste. Prof. Craig : I saw at Chicago specimens of this apple referred to by Dr. Beadle, and also received specimens at Ottawa. I received scions, and they have been top-grafted on both Wealthy and Duchess at Ottawa, and I have a diagram of the particular apple, which is called Banks' Red Gravenstein. 64 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Dr. Beadle : That is the one. Prof. -Craig : It is quite distinct from the ordinary Gravenstein, it has a better color. The President : They are advertising scions for sale in two of our Ontario papers. Mr. Beall : The late Mr. Dempsey showed me in his place two apples ; one was what everybody understands to be the Gravenstein, and the other was what he called the true Gravenstein. There was very little difference in appearance to an ordinary observer. One had a very much higher flavor than the other, but if it stood on its base it invari- ably had one side a little higher than the other — that is the good variety — and the other was quite flat. The inferior variety was much larger grown than the true Gravenstein. Mr. McNeil : This matter of variation in climate and soil as affecting fruit is an extremely interesting subject. Perhaps variation is not so noticeable in any fruit as in grapes. I don't believe Concords grown here are anything like those we grow in the west. On the other hand, we grow Delawares there to perfection, as far as appearance is concerned ; in fact I think the large Delaware is as fine a looking Delaware as they grow in the Niagara district ; but the few Delawares I have grown there have actually gone to waste ; they are sweet and very insipid — there is nothing about them to amount to any- thing. The same with our Niagaras — they are positively nauseous, nor are they as perfect in foliage and bearing as they grow in the Niagara district. On the other hand Concords grown in New York state are not at all the same as we grow ; they are a muddy grape and a thicker skin, and hang to the bunch well. Our Concords drop very freely from the stem as soon as they get ripe. Our vines come from Fredonia, and are the same vines they are using in New York State, so that it is not a matter of different varieties but a matter of soil and climate ; but I could tell the difference between the varieties by simply sampling them. It occurs to me that the directors of this Association might do service to the people by making a large map of their several districts, and noting the pecularities of fruit culture in the different sections of each division. I think I could mark out in Essex County, and shade off the number of districts that would show where different fruits could be grown successfully, and where they would not, and we might bring data together, and if we could not draw any conclusions from it ourselves, those that come after us possibly might. The Secretary : While we were speaking of apples, I was desirous of calling your attention to this sample of Jonathan, which was given me by Mr. Coleman, the Secretary of the Iowa Horticultural Society, who was superintendent of their exhibit at the World's Fair, and he told me that with him and in the State of Iowa the Jonathan was one of the most profitable apples they could grow. It brought more money than any other apple he put up for market. It is a beautiful dessert apple, has nice size, beautiful color and excellent quality. It seems to be perfectly at home there. I don't know that I have seen it anywhere else grown to such perfection as these samples are. It has been shown for some years at the meeting of the Western New York Horticultural Society at Rochester. They praise it very highly there as a dessert apple, but it does not grow so large in New York State as this. Samples were also shown from Quebec Province, but they are much smaller and not so fine as these. The President : It resembles somewhat our Cooper's Market. The Secretary : It is altogether a deeper red, and the quality is different entirely It is an excellent de*sert apple. It has only one fault — that it is inclined to drop, but then it should be gathered promptly. Another point I want to speak of. He states that it is a very hardy apple — that it endures 20° below zero quite well, without suffering in the least, and he sa\s it is a very early and a very regular bearer. Of course, its time of maturity is early winter. Now, I believe it would be worth our while to consider this apple, and perhaps give it a test here in Ontario. It is for that purpose I brought it here to show you. Dr. Beadle : I have grown that apple I suppose for twenty years ; rarely got it quite as large, taking the whole crop, as those two samples, yet frequently perhaps a fourth of those on the tree might be as large ; but I notice one peculiarity about FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 65 these — the weight of the apple. If I remember correctly the apple grown at St. Cathar- ines was not anything like as heavy as these. The quality of the apple is good. I do not call it a high-flavored apple. It begins to bear early and colors up beautifully. I have had them fully as bright in color as these, and it always takes the eye oa the market, yet I never marketed it. I have often had people come into the orchard saying, " What a beautiful apple ! " and wanting to know if they could get some barrels of it. The President : How does it compare with the Wealthy as a dessert apple. Dr. Beadle : The Wealthy is a better dessert apple to my taste. I don't call it a first quality apple. It is fair, that is all as grown by me in the soil in which I grow it — a sandy soil. Possibly with a clay soil and different exposure it might be a higher flavor ; , very probably it would be. Mr. Edwards : We didn't hear much about the Wealthy. What about that ? Prof. Craig : I think for the district of Ottawa, and other localities where we have cold, it is without exception the best winter apple that can be grown ; but it must be grown with this fact in mind — that it bears heavily, bears very young, and is there- fore likely to be short-lived, and must be cultivated highly. I have two rows of twenty trees each in the orchard, and have used it for top-grafting stock ; and for the last three years — it was planted in 1888 — it has been fruiting very heavily, every trfein the row. But in keeping it it must be picked eaily — that is to say, it must not be left on the tree till it has reached its most thorough maturity ; but if picked about ten days before — that would be on or about the 15th September — and kept in a cold cellar, I have had no difiv culty in keeping it over till April. But if left to ripen thoroughly on the trees it wiU mature in December and not keep much longer than the middle of January. Mr. Smith : Don't you find it to drop 1 Prof. Ceaig : That is one of its faults. The stem is long and it sways with the wind easily, and blows off somewhat readily. Mr. Smith : It is the only apple that has borne an abundant crop with me this year. Mr. Turner : I would like to hear of the Mcintosh Red — one of the best flavored apples we have. Dr. Beadle : Very subject to the scab in the Niagara District. Prof. Craig : It is the same fault with the Fameuse in that direction j but where it can be grown free of this it is a very satisfactory apple of high quality, and keeps about as long as the Wealthy. Mr. Edwards : Can the Wealthy be shipped to the old country with advantage ? Prof. Craig : Yes, it has been shipped, not in barrels, however, but in compartment cases — the apples being carefully selected. The President : I see nothing on the list with regard to the pear scab, and I think some here would like to hear about it. It is a matter that is creating some attention lately — particularly with regard to the Bartlett and the Flemish Beauty. I think Prof. Craig had better give us something on that before he leaves. A party near me was thinking of grafting some other varieties into his Flemish Beauties, but he did not know whether the spot would be transmitted from that variety to them. Prof. Craig : I have found a great many Russian varieties to blight in the vicinity of Ottawa. I have other varieties grafted on them which do not blight and the disease has not attacked the graft ; and in the same way the varieties not subject to scab, grafted on Fameuse, have not been affected to the same extent as the Fameuse apple grown on the same stock on its own tree ; so that reasoning from that point of view, I don't think the disease would be transmitted in any constitutional way by reason of the union. I am glad to chronicle some very striking successes by fruit growers on the Island of Mon- tre d in spraying for the prevention of pear scab. Flemish Beauty is about the only variety that is grown there to any extent, and in the last four or five years they have been very much troubled with the black spot, and cracking, which is very much allied to the ordin 5 (F.G.) 66 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. ary apple scab. I have suggested spraying with the Bordeaux mixture, and I have reports this fall saying that while the pears have not been entirely free, yet the results have much more than paid for the cost of application. In conversation last evening with Mr. Murray Pettit, he said that while in many cases he did not think he had any results, yet in the case of the Flemish Beauty sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, he thought it had paid him to do it. The President : Do you think that spot on the Flemish Beauty will yet be over- come so as to save that variety of pear ? — because there is a strong feeling through the Huron district to discard that variety altogether. Prof. Oraig : Alongside the collection of Newton Pippins grown in New York State, referred to by the Secretary, were specimens of Flemish Beauty very badly scabbed, and. others quite free. A card was placed on one of the latter, stating that these had been sprayed with the copper mixtures and the others, which were scabbed, had not been sprayed. There were also samples of the Seckel Pear with the same history, and if we are to take the evidence and words of these gentlemen — and I think we safely can — we are led to believe that the spraying for the prevention of this disease is going to be a paying practice. Mr. A. H. Pettit : I think last year you reported great success in reference to destroying mildew on gooseberries. Has it been successful again this year ? Prof. Oraig : Yes. Mr. Orr : Eight years ago my Flemish Beauties were paying $8 to $10 a tree. They have been failing from scab the last five or six year3. We hive been spraying the regular Bordeaux mixture, Paris green and lime, but they have become practically barren. 1 thought of top grafting them, but they have such beautiful foliage and are of such fine shape that we do not want to do it. Prof. Craig : There is no doubt that the disease (apple scab) can be stopped, because I have done it. This year I sprayed a row of crab trees in the orchard, which blossomed heavily, and after the blossoms had fallen and the crabs had attained the size of large-sized garden peas I noticed that the spot had made its appearance quite generally. I immediately had the trees sprayed, using Bordeaux mixture double strength ; that is, the old formula — six pounds and four pounds — taking care that every part of that tree was covered thoroughly. You know that all the instructions which have emanated from the Experimental Farm have said that this remedy was preventive, and therefore the applica- tion must be put on before the disease had a foothold Now, in this case the disease had a foothold ; but I tell you, gentlemen, I examined these trees ten days afterwards, and, in every case where the Bordeaux mixture had fallen on a spot of the fungus it simply scaled off and, while the apple was somewhat distorted, the disease was not allowed to develop any further. It just showed me that this is a question of doing the work thoroughly and well. I know the conditions that arise in connection with this spraying matter, because I have handled the pump and the nozzle and have made the mixture myself, and have gone through fifteen acres of orchard and I know it is one of the most disagreeable pieces of work imaginable ; but it is just a question with you fruit-growers whether you wdl do it and grow good fruit or fail by not spraying — and it is a question of doing it thoroughly. Speaking of experience in connection with goose- berries, I have some evidence here from Mr. Tweddle, a neighbor of Mr. Orr, whom I referred to before. He writes me : " The first brood of worms appeared in myriads shortly after the fruit set. A single application of Bordeaux mixture was given when the worms were first hatched, when only one-eighth of an inch in length, but not all were destroyed. When, two or three days later, worms again appeared and were large enough to destroy foliage rapidly, two more applications were made on the same day, going oppo- site ways on the rows and covering the foliags completely. This was completely successful in destroying the first brood, and also the second brood, for the lime in the Bordeaux mixture stuck the whole thing to the foliage and it remained all season, and if any sec and broad hatched they got their dose and vanished without delay. The currant worms must be easier destroyed than the curculio, else we muat attribute the loss from FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 67 curculio on plums, treated the same as the currant, to some other cause that is not apparent. No mildew or sun-scald appeared on the English gooseberries, yet both affected neighbors' plantations under similar conditions where no fungicide had been applied ; and this points to considerable benefit in these cases." That is the Bordeaux mixture with Paris green. Now, the use of sulphide of potassium has been so well demonstrated that I need not further urge its beneficial effects in preventing gooseberry mildew. Mr. A. H. Pettit : In mixing this Bordeaux mixture for currant bushes, do you use the same proportion of Paris green as when spraying for trees 1 Prof. Craig : I use the same proportion. It may be a little more than is necessary, but if you keep changing formulas you are apt to make mistakes, and the one that was recommended is certain to kill them. Dr. Beadle : One pound to 200 gallons of water 1 Prof. Craig : It was 4 pounds of copper sulphate, 4 pounds of lime and 4 ounces of Paris green to an ordinary barrel of water. Mr. Orr : With plums we make a perfect success of spraying, but the pear trees bother us, though we covered them with Bordeaux mixture till the trees looked as if they had been whitewashed. Mr. Race : What time in the development of the plum did you do this ? Mr. Orr : Before they bloomed at all. We have followed it up thoroughly for one or two years. The spot firsc appears when the pear is from the size of a pea to the size of a marble. We tried spraying before the bloom, then followed it up afterwards. Dr. Beadle : Don't you think the ammoniacal carbonate of copper would be a good mixture ? Prof. Craig : It is a matter of convenience for the grower and depends on which he can mix and use most easily. I have not found it any more effective. I would like to ask Mr. Orr if he left any trees unsprayed, and was the crop entirely destroyed 1 Mr. Orr : It has grown werse every year, until now it is utterly worthless. We had not a specimen fit to market last year or the year before. The Secretary : Yet they were treated with Bordeaux 1 Mr. Orr : Every year, with one exception. Prof. Craig : When did your treatment close this year 1 Mr. Orr : I cannot give you particulars. I was not at home this year. I can give you all particulars by mail. Mr. Caston : This scab seems to affect the Flemish Beauty pear every year. We find that when we have a season where in June, say, we have a considerable amount of close, moist weather — just the kind that will rust wheat — it affects the apple. These fungus diseases are pretty much of the same nature. Last year apples were compara- tively free from scab in our section, because we did not have that peculiar kind of weather that fosters it, but this year we had. The scab seems to affect the Flemish Beauty pear every year, no matter what kind of weather we have. I don't know how it is. I think the location has something to do with it. Where it is close and does not <*et a proper circulation of air, I think the scab will be much worse than where it is open. Mr. Smith : I have had gooseberries scalded by the sun and drop off really cooked in a very dry season, particularly where they have been somewhat affected by the fundus on the leaf ; and the foliage was not very heavy. The President : It rarely occurs except where the leaves have been stripped by the worm. Mr. Pattison: I grow a great many Flemish Beauty in the saon district as Mr. Orr, and this year they were perfectly clean — with a few unimportant exceptions. I did not spray at all — never have sprayed. His Prof. Craig had any experience in the treat- ment ot tomato rot with the Bordeaux mixture ? 68 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Prof. Craig : I have not personally. I think it has been used, but I don't think it ever can be a practical remedy in growing tomatoes, because the rot appears at a time when the tomatoes have to be marketed, and the Bordeaux mixture would stain them so as to be unmarketable. Mr. Pattison : This year the rot began very soon after the tomatoes were formed with me. A young friend, who lives not far from me, claimed that he had completely checked the rot on his tomatoes with the mixture. Mr. Turner : I think you will find that manure induces the rot in tomatoes. Mr. Whyte : I grow over 40 varieties of gooseberries. Last year it was very diffi- cult to keep back the mildew. This year I had no difficulty whatever with it. They received the same treatment as last year — half of them with copper carbonate and the other half with potassium sulphide. Prof. Oraig : While these diseases are of fungus origin, as Mr. Caston remarked, and their development may be assisted by certain climatic conditions — one of the prime help- ers in this being great moisture of atmosphere — yet we cannot say that the climate causes them, although it may assist them. Mr. Caston : Scientific men tell us that the germs of these diseases are always present with us, but that some seasons are more favorable for their development. That is what I meant to say. Mr. Orr : I was collecting fruit for the World's Fair for six to eight weeks, from Aneaster down to Niagara — all through the Niagara Peninsula — and I only met two specimens of good Flemish Beauty pears that I could send on to Chicago. Prof. Craig : What were the conditions surrounding those specimens ? Mr. Orr : I don't know. They were grown half a mile from our place. One weighed about a pound, and the other about 15 ounces. Mr. Race : The Flemish Beauty in our locality has become positively useless. Mr. A. H. Pettit : A great many fruit-growers in our section think a dry season is more favorable to mildew than a wet one. Prof Craig : Powdery mildew is very common in a dry season. Mr. Hilborn : I have found the best remedy to be to change the location — plant in a different part of the farm every season. It is always worse in the dry season with me. Mr. Boulter : This year was the worst for rot on tomatoes that we ever had. Hundreds of bushels had to be thrown away. It commenced in the end, and worked right down through. We did not think it safe to take any of these tomatoes for the fac- tory. If they were put in crates, after a day or two the spat would work down through the tomato — black all the way through. Prof. Craig : I do not know that I can state that it could be controlled commer- cially. I do know that it can be prevented in a small way, and has been done. The Secretary moved the adjournment of the Convention until 7.30 p.tn — it being now 5.30 p.m. Carried. SECOND DAY.— EVENING SESSION. The President : We will goon and take up a few questions. S >metimes it is very well to have an experience meeting, especially when it is not over large ; and here is a question on the programme that will very likely draw out some valuable information, and we would like every one of you to nave something to say on it. Suppose we take up No. 4 : — " Give instance of the largest yield of apples from any one tree ; giving variety of tree, soil and cultivation V Who among you will venture a few remarks on that 'I Mr. Caston : Mr. Woolverton, I think, can lead us off. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 69 LARGE YIELDS OF APPLES. The Secretary : Mr. Berigough says he supposes this is the department for " fish stories " to come in. (Laughter ) I hold in my hand one or two communications in answer to this question. I will start out by telling you my own experience. The largest yield that I know of in my orchard was from a large Rhode Island Greening tree, I should say eighty years of age, grown in deep sandy loam, where it spread to an astonish- ing size. In one season we gathered from that tree 15 barrels of Greening apples ; and on another bearing season we gathered 20 barrels from that one tree I don't know whether anyone present will be able to tell a bigger apple story than that ; but if so, we would like to hear it. The Niagara district can beat any other part of the Province for a big yield. As to cultivation, this tree didn't have any. It was grown in grass, but the soil, being sandy loam, did not get bound and hard ; otherwise it would have required treatment. Then it was good rich soil ; and the great extent of foliage so perfectly shaded the ground beneath that the grass did not grow as it would otherwise. There is really no sod, although there was no cultivation. Mr. Whyte : My story is not so big as the Secretary's, for we are not expected to have as large ones near Ottawa : but I do know of a Duchess tree that for two years bore 30 bushels — about 10 barrels — each year. It did not get much cultivation. It was grown in an ordinary garden, but weeds were kept down below it. Mr. Turner.: Our late director, Mr. John Croil, had three Fameuse trees in front of his house, which three years ago bore six barrels each. Mr. J. W. Smith (Peterboro') : If we told such stories here they would put us down for story -telling. I am not saying it is not correct, but I would like to get a few grafts off them. (Laughter.) I would graft them on the Tolman Sweets. The President : What yield have you had out here on your Tolman Sweets 1 J. W. Smith : It is an apple that was not much taken in the market, but it takes better now. It is a grand tree to graft on — either it or the Ben Davis. I have had good luck in grafting on both of those. Jas. Toole (Orillia) : I took 22 barrels of Duchess off six trees ; and last year I took 15 barrels of Snows off five trees ; and nearly twenty years ago — it's a story I don't know as I dare tell — ["Tell it ! "] — at Frenchman's Bay I took 17 barrels of Fall Pippins off a single tree. The President : I think we may dismiss the Secretary now, and let him go home. (Laughter. ) Mr. Toole : That was a very old tree — about 60 years old. The President : Do you find the Duchess a profitable apple ? Mr. Toole : We can grow more Duchess in Orillia and neighborhood than any- thing else off the same number of trees. The President : Mr. Dempsey, we would like to hear from you. Mr. Dempsey : I have never had any of these great big yields yet. Seven or eight barrels is about the largest we had. I took seven barrels of Gravenstein off one tree last year. Mr. Oaston : Last year I took 8 barrels of Alexanders off a tree that was planted about ten or eleven years. The President : How does the Alexander stand out this way in the market or for home consumption 1 Mr. Caston : I think it will bear more for the time planted than almost any other tree. The apples are so large, they fill a barrel up very quickly. Mr. Beall : I would like to ask : how much money has any person made off one tree not more than twenty years of age1? I ask this because it is not apples, but money, people want off trees. I would rather have two barrels at $4 a barrel than six barrels at $ 1.50 a barrel. 70 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. The President : Was a large percentage of those apples fit for market 1 Mr. Caston : In the case of the Duchess they were nearly all tit for market, and also the Alexander. The President : Is the Duchess going to have a market 1 Mr. J. W. Smith : The Duchess is a fine apple in appearance, but it is not a market- able apple here, as far as I am concerned. Mr. Fisher : At Orillia we like the Duchess for profit. This spring I sold 60 barrels off 75 trees planted seven years ago last spring. I sent them north, through the Muskoka District, where there was a good demand this year right through to North Bay. The President : That is the best story we have had yet. Mr. White : What did you get a barrel for those apples 1 Mr. Fisher : I realized $2 a barrel. Of course I paid for the barrels. Mr. Patterson : A neighbor of mine claims that he got 18 bbls. of Greenings from one tree. Mr. Caston : I think we have heard from him already. (Laughter.) J. M. Smith : A good story can't be told too often. (Laughter.) Mr. Orr . Mr. Burkholder, near Hamilton, has a tree that I heard yielded 25 barrels, and that he received $50 for the fruit ; I think the variety was Tolman Sweet. He has one of the finest orchards I know of. A BATCH OF QUESTIONS ANSWERED. The following questious were on the programme : - (1) Is there an increase or decrease of orchards in Ontario ? (2) What change is observable in methods of cultivation 1 (3) What variety is most profitable 1 (4) Give instance of largest yield of any tree, naming variety, soil and cultivation. (5) Name best varieties for export, one fall, one early winter and one late winter. (6) What value have apples as food for stock 1 (7) Why do we hear so much complaint about foreign canned goods ? The Secretary read the following replies : Mr. Nicol, of Cataraqui, wrote : In answer to the questions proposed I would state* 1st. During the past three years there have been only a few fruit trees planted in this district. 2nd. There has been no noticeable change in the methods of cultivation, only young orchards seem to be more neglected than formerly. 3rd. Red Astrachan, Fameuse or Snow, and Golden Russet. 4th. That largest from any one tree that I know of was from a Blenheim Orange tree belonging to E. Wright, of Waupoose Island. The quantity gathered from that tree in 1891 was 15 barrels of good fruit. The soil on which the tree grows is clay loam on limestone rock bottom, on grass land pastured with sheep. 5th. Blenheim Orange, Ontario and G. Russett. 6th. I think sweet apples are worth fully as much for cattle food as Swede turnips, but I find that sour apples fed even in small quantities have an injurious effect on dairy cows. 7th. I believe it is because of the use of copper for greening, and dissolution of lead compounds in long kept cans which become corroded by the acids in which the vegetables are preserved. I notice that there is in the Canadian market at present a large quantity of French canned vegetables, such as peas, beans and asparagus. In France canners of goods, for home consumption, are restricted, buc for goods branded for exportation there is no restriction. I think the canning business should be protected so that poisonous foreign goods should not be in competition with properly preserved Canadian goods. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 71 A. McD. Allan, of Toronto, wrote : 1. There has been an increase in orchard in the district, especially in Huron and Bruce and Grey, bordering on the water. And further there seems to be a disposition to further increase the area. 2. Orchardists are giving more attention to cultivation. We find the best results where orchards are cultivated. When they come into bearing that cultivation requires to be very light with regular manuring every year, and in light soils potash applied in liberal quantities. Cultivation to be kept up every season up to middle of August, when it should cease in order not to induce late growth. These are the points noticed by cultivators. 3. Duchess of Oldenburg, Gravenstein in Huron, and Colvert in northern sections ; Ontario in West Huron ; rest of county and Bruce, Baldwin, and part of Grey also ; other part Ben Davis. 4. Alexander, about 20 years old, gave 13 bbls. this year near Goderich, light sandy loam, cultivated and manured. Baldwin last year in South Huron gave 9 bbls. in heavy elao soil, cultivated, all first class fruit ; in orchard near this in vicinity of Zurich, in grass, gave 1\ barrels, not as good samples, same kind of soil. Trees, both about 18 years. The President : What have you to say to this question : Is there an increase or decrease of orchards in Ontario during the past three years ? We will speak of apple orchards first. That is a matter of deep interest, for we are aiming at an increase. Mr. Orr : In our section there has been a decrease of apple orchards. Many have been taken out, and there are none being planted in our section. The Secretary : It is the same in the vicinity of Grimsby, apple orchards are being dug out by the acre, and in their place small fruits — grapes, plums, peaches — are being planted. Prof. Craig : It would be interesting to growers from the Ottawa district to know that there is a possibility of finding a market up at Grimsby and Essex, because I have a report that the area of orchards in Russell and Carleton has been very much increased in the last three years. Apples, small fruits, including raspberries and strawberries, have been largely increased. Mr. Caston : The apple orchards in Simcoe County are certainly increasing, and we find more and more that it is better adapted to growing apples than any other fruit. I think it will come to this yet, that certain parts of Ontario which may be found adapted to the production of certain fruits will make a specialty of those fruits. Grapes and peaches will be grown in Grimsby and the Niagara peninsula and along the Lake Erie counties, while the apples will be grown further north, in what we might call the colder belt, and this will even up matters all round. As to a market for the Duchess, I could have sold ten times as many this year as I could get hold of. Of course the last crop was not large ; but I can always sell all I can grow and a good many more. Very few people have an idea of the population that lies along the Canadian Pacific Railway, from north of Ottawa right out to the Rocky Mountains; while up in Nipissing and Algoma there is a large population engaged in lumbering, mining, railroading, etc.; and everything they use of that kind has to be shipped in there. That is where we find our markets, and there will be a great market there for years to come. I don't think they will ever be able to grow tree fruits there with any degree of success. I doubt if they will ever be able to grow anything better than the grape in Manitoba. I believe that will be a great market in the future. Mr. Beall : I think there is no increase in my neighborhood to any extent. There are always a few trees being put in every year, of course. Mr. Turner : The increase in Stormont county is very slight. They increase more in small fruits. Mr. Dempsey : I am quite sure they are on the increase in our section. There is a good market for the Duchess. There is many a carload shipped out to Winnipeg from our section, and has been for years. 72 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Mr. Hilborn : I think the apple is not increasing very rapidly in our section. They are going more into pears and peaches, but in some sections the apple is on the increase. Mr. McNeill : I agree with Mr. Hilborn that in Fssex apple orchardsare decreasing rather than increasing. In Kent probably a slight increase. In Lambton a considerable increase. The peach and pear orchards are increasing in Essex very rapidly. The President : I notice that Mr. Allan in his paper reports that orchards are largely on the increase in the Huron district. I do not know whether I can corroborate that statement or not ; but this I do know — as I have for the last four or five years been iudge on the fruit lists in all the shows up in that tract- that the interest taken by the farmers in apple culture is very largely on the increase. They will gather around the fruit exhibit at these shows, and they manifest a deeper interest in the different varieties on exhibition ; and on every hand you find that they are anxious for information with regard to tne varieties and the value of the varieties from the marketable standpoint. Now, I think we may take for granted that that is the case all over the Province — that the farmers are becoming more and more interested in apple culture. Mr. Edwards : There has been a slight increase in the county of Peterboro', but not very marked. I think there has been an increase of interest among a certain few of the farmers in the county, and there has been some small increase generally throughout Canada, but it has not been very marked during the past few years. The President : You think that increase has been such as to justify the efforts of this Association ? Mr. Edwards : I think so, most decidedly. I may say this — and 1 say it in view of the fact that we have not had very many here at the meeting — that, notwithstanding that, the influence of this Society is spreading throughout the country generally ; and 1 know that many a man who has not been here at any of our meetings at all, is influenced and helped by the work this Association is doing. I have had that stated to me more than once — that it was a good work, and not to give it up even if the farmers did not turn out in large numbers ; that the interest was spreading, through the reports published in the newspapers and otherwise, and that the information given was proving of use. The President : It is a very good sign at our fall fairs to find farmers coming in with their pockets full of apples, and enquiring from the fruit judge what these qualities are. It is an evidence that the interest is increasing. We find that all over. Mr. D. W. Dumble : There is a vendor of fruit trees in the meeting, who will per- haps tell you how many trees, and what trees he has sold, and whether the sale is in- creasing or not. Mr. Trotter : I cannot say our sales are increasing very largely, but still we keep them up to a very fair proportion every year. This year we find quite a cry of " hard times." The farmers have been depending on their grain crops in this section, and of course prices are poor, and they seem to be very slow to take up fruit culture, al- though we are doing our best to encourage the growth of trees by putting the best trees in their hands. I think in the next ten years, probably, there will be a great change in this part of the country in fruit-raising. In several other sections where we have sales- men the sales are very good, especially in the Belleville district. In this district I cannot say the orchards are increasing very much. There are no large orchards being put in. They are principally of twenty-five to fifty trees. Fifty trees is considered a large orchard in this section. I notice the interest is on the increase, and I think in the course of a few years there will be quite a change. Mr. Caston : There is one other question here which ought to be discussed — perhaps not to night : " How should apples be packed and shipped V In many localities there are too many apples grown, or not enough ; that is, there are too many grown for the local market, and not enough to encourage men to come in and buy for export, and the market gets glutted, and people say there is not enough money in apples. Mr. Edwards : That is just how it is here exactly. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 73 Mr. Oaston : There is nothing to hinder any farmer from packing and shipping his own. He needs to know how to put them up and how to ship them. SPRAYING FRUIT TREES. Mr. A. H. Pettit : We had an interesting discussion to-day about the spraying of fruit trees to destroy the scab. Now, we had experiences, pro and con, and we want to convert every man to the theory and belief that if it is properly done, and at the proper time, it will accomplish the work. I have a resolution which [ intend to move, and have held it till Prof. Saunders was here so as to get his views on the question : "That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that our Director of Experimental Farms be requested to make, during the coming season, at several centres of fruit culture, a public practical test of the efficacy of the solutions recommended for the prevention of the scab in apples." I would suggest it may be done in this way : Let them come with their proper mixtures ; have it mixed before a meeting, say, of 25 or 50 fruit-growers ; select half a dozen trees of different varieties of fruits ; have practical tests made — have mixtures properly put up, and three of the fruit-growers will guarantee to give a repetition of that same spraying as often as directed ; and then let us at the end of the year proclaim thas that has been a bona fide experiment, practical and thorough, and we will begin then to get down to business — we will all get to work, or else we will all condemn it. I think it would be a step in the right direction. Mr. Orr : Is it your intention to confine that to apples ? Mr. Pettit : I mean to experiment as widely as they would think practicable to undertake. Let the test be made on apples in one section, pears in another sectioa, and include plums and anything else that we can and bring it before a meeting of fruit- growers so that they can watch the test through, and at the close of that test, if suc- cessful, say : " It has been thoroughly successful in our section of country." (Hear, hear, and applause.) Mr. McNeill : I take pleasure in seconding that motion, particularly as I am satisfied of the efficacy of spraying. Although I called yesterday for those who had had opposite experiences, there was no response. Yet to-day we have had the most pro- nounced experiences in opposition to spraying. Now, this thing ought to be settled once and for ever, and if the professors can devise a plan for settling it, they will be doing a benefit to the country that can hardly be estimated in dollars and cents. Mr. BoulteR : I think nothing has come before this meeting in comparison with this motion in importance. Something ought to be done if possible to obviate the serious loss to the fruit that comes from these [jests. Prof. Saunders : I think probably there will be very little difficulty in carrying that out, but as it involves expenditure it would have to be placed before the Minister. I would be very glad to do my best to recommend it. I may say that my colleague, Mr. Craig, has carried on experiments in that way for two years in part of the Province of Quebec, and it would be quite in turn to do something for Ontario if the Ontario fruit-growers so desire. In this connection I might mention that I recently had a visit from a gentleman who has large peach orchards in South Australia, and he says that they can keep peach curl in almost entire subjection by spraying the trees in the spring, before the foliage starts, with the Bordeaux mixture and then giving them another spraying just as the young shoots are coming out. In that way they have almost perfect immunity from peach curl. Mr. Pettit : I have the greatest confidence in the work that is being done for us in the Experimental Farm, but I feel as though we want to draw them in closer connec- tion with the fruit-growing interest. They are too great a distance from us. If they would come before a body of fruit-growers and have this thing practically demonstrated I believe we could convince the whole body of the effectiveness of the work, and the sooner we all become converts the better. 74 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Mr. Smith : I think this would be almost as valuable as the travelling dairy. (Laughter.) Mr. Orr : I don't think I have heard any gentlemen express the difficulty with plums ; the difficulty is with pears and apples. Mr. Pettit : Yes, I have heard complaints of that, and they have done different things without success. Prof. Saunders : Sometimes the difficulties are brought about by the differences in drugs used in spraying Sometimes the carbonate of copper would be of different strength when kept in powder form. The motion was put and carried. Prof. Saunders : Let a copy be sent to the Minister of Agriculture. Mr. Edwards: I would like to introduce to this meeting Mr. Kendry, the Mayor of Peterboro', who, unfortunately, was not able to be present at any previous meeting. The President : We are glad to have the Mayor with us. Sorry he was not able to be with us before. I am also sorry there is not a larger number to hear him. We would like to have him come forward and say a few words to us. Mayor Kendry : I am very sorry I have not been able to be here before to receive you, but I trust that has been done by gentlemen of the town. I see our Police Magis- trate (Mr. Dumble) here, and Mr. Edwards, and I know it has been done well. I was called away from town on business, and to-night I have had an engagement till the present time to try and arrange a union of Ashburnham and Peterboro', so that we hope the next time you come here, in place of coming to the town of Peterboro', you will come to the city of Peterboro'. (Applause.) I do not think I can say anything that would be of profit to you. I may say I am a judge of fruit, as far as the eating of it is concerned, but no further. (Laughter.) I thank you on behalf of the town for having done us the honor of this visit. THIRD DA^Y.— MORNING SESSION. Thursday, December 7, 1893. At a meeting of the Directors of the Association, held this morning, it was resolved that during the coming year each Director be asked to undertake the work of forming horticultural societies affiliated with this Association, the expenses of such Directors to be paid, and the Secretary was instructed to furnish each Director with necessary information. OPENING UP FOREIGN MARKETS. Mr. Orr moved, seconded by Mr. Oaston, the following resolution : " That this Association memorialize the Dominion Government on the benefits likely to accrue to the fruit-growers of Canada and the public generally by the appropriation of a sum of money for the purpose of opening up the markets of Europe to the fruits and fruit products of Canada by a judicious placing of experimental consignments at advan- tageous points and by calling attention to our products by a system of travelling agents or by other methods that may recommend themselves." Mr. Orr : It is not necessary to make any remarks on this subject. Our time is short The necessity of this motion must be apparent to all. The President : I think that is a matter that will be very clearly seen by all present. We all know the advantages we have reaped as a Province from the introduc- tion of cheese and other dairy products into the European markets, and we do not see FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION" OF ONTARIO. 75 any reason why similar efforts should not be made to introduce our apples, as their snperiority has been as readily acknowledged during the last three or four years as the superiority of our dairy products. This resolution may stir up our authorities to aid us in the introduction of these products. Mr, A. H. Pettit : This matter was referred to in my address. The action taken by our Government in the dairy interest has worked such great results that I could not see why they should not operate in the same way in the fruit interest, not only in fruits in their fresh state, but also in their manufactured form, if possible. The President : The Government is going to take some steps for a display in one of the exhibitions on the Continent next year, and that will be an opportune time to introduce our fruits to the Continent. Mr. Pettit : We can scarcely wait till the year 1900 for the World's Fair to come to develop our fruits in the different markets of the world. It wants prompter action than that. The President : But I understood action was to be taken next year. Mr. Pettit : Probably if this were placed before the Government strongly the Horticultural Department of our Experimental Farm would feel like taking the same interest in that branch of industry that our Dairying Department does at present in the dairy industry. Prof. Saunders : I might say in explanation that the Horticultural Department of the farm is entirely on a different footing, relatively, from the Dairying Department. The latter has a special vote of its own for carrying out dairy interests, which is administered by the Dairy Commissioner, directed by the Deputy-Minister. The farm work is carried on by a special vote directed by the Commissioner. The Dairy Commis- sioner is instructed to go all through the Dominion, giving our farmers such information as will enable them to manufacture uniform products and to make them of first-class quality throughout. Now, unless there can be a special vote got in that connection to help the fruit-growing interest it could not be managed out of the present vote which we receive for experimental farms, as that is entirely used. Indeed, every year we are more or less behind in our administration on account of the insufficiency of the vote to carry out the work we are at present doing. I would not say a word in opposition to the idea suggested in the resolution. It is a very good one, and the industry, I think, should be helped as much as possible ; but, in order to carry out that idea, it will be necessary to make some representations to the Government to indace them to give a special grant to the farm to enable them to do it. The President : As I understand, this is the primary step to an end, and the next step will be for this Association to send a deputation down armed with this resolution, and ask for the necessary legislation. The motion was carried unanimously. The President : We are very sorry that Professor Saunders has to go to Ottawa on the next train going east, and he has a few words to say to us. Prof. Saunders . There is just one point I would like to mention in reference to the lack of uniformity that is prevailing to a great extent in the descriptions which are made of our fruits from time to time in the Horticulturist and in the other publica- tions of this country. This lack seems to arise more or less from inattention or thought- lessness on the part of the writers. We have an able and excellent example in the work of Mr. A. J. Downing ; and anyone who studies that work will find that there is a uni- formity of character in the descriptions ; there is a regular succession of points, which he takes up in the same order in regard to any fruit, which enables any one who wants to study any phase of our apples to know at a glance just where he will get the particular point in regard to the fruit which he desires for comparison. For instance, in regard to 76 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. quality, it is always in the same place in the description ; and with Downing's work you can get the information you want in regard to the value of twenty or thirty apples in less than half the time that you can get it from the random descriptions that are being made now in the journals devoted to fruit culture by those who are describing fruits and describing them well. When there is no system in describing a fruit, very often some important points are overlooked. My object in bringing up this matter is, if the mem- bers think best, to get the endorsement of the Association to a regular order and method of describing fruit so that all the valuable points in connection with the fruit and the tree shall be covered in the description, and the latter as far as possible made uniform in our fruit literature. Now, Downing in describing fruits begins, taking the apple and pear, with the origin of the fruit, the character of its growth, the color of the wood, or other peculiarity, and its productiveness. The same would apply to the vine in describ- i»g the grape. If you want to know anything about the productiveness of the tree, you look in the first paragraph and you find it there, and it saves time — and time in these days is always a precious commodity, when we have so much to do. Then he takes the fruit, and begins with the size, dealing with the form, the color, the character of the stem and its cavity, the character of the calyx and its basin. Then the flesh is taken up, for its color, texture, juciness, sweetness or acidity, its flavor, and finishing up with the quality of the fruit, — whether it is first class, medium, good or very good. The Secretary could easily put this in proper form in the Horticulturist, so that the same terms should be used as far as possible by all describers, so that they would have the same relative meaning in all sections of the country. In some senses it is a small matter, and yet it is one that will, I think, have a very important bearing on the progress of fruit culture and the intelligent appreciation of those people who are not able to give very much time to the whole subject. Downing finishes up his description by giving the period of ripening. Now, any one who wanted commercially to look over our fruits, in regard to the fruits Ghat came in at particular seasons of the year, with a view of dealing com- mercially with our fruits, would only have to look at the bottom of the description to find when this fruit would be ready for market, if Downing's plan were followed. Other- wise you have to read the whole description, and that takes time. Then in plums and peaches the same order is followed. The character of the suture usually follows color, and whether the flesh is free or adheres to the stone is placed after the quality of the fruit. I would suggest that this matter be referred to the Secretary and somebody else, to think over the matter, and if there is not time to act on it at this session to bear it in mind and take it up at some future period, because I think it is a matter of considerable importance in connection with the progress of fruit culture. Mr. McNeill : I suggest that we adopt the form. Prof. Saunders : It would be a very good idea if the Association would adopt the form, and we would adopt the same form in the Experimental Farm, and it would ensure that descriptions would be complete, because every point would be taken up — at least every point would be suggested on the form. The Secretary : I fully appreciate everything that has been said, and will take care of these notes of Prof. Saunders'. I would be in favor of a committee being appointed of himself and Prof. Oraig to draft this for publication, so that we may have something permanent and something we can all use both in descriptions of fruit at the farm and in our Association, so that we can work together in harmony. Prof. Craig : As a member of the Fruit Committee I have uniformly used Downing's plan in describing fruits. Prof. Saunders . I have in my hand a paper which was handed to me by Mr. Shutt, our chemist, which, if you wish, I wil 1 read to you. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 77 NOTES ON THE CHEMISTRY OF THE COPPER SALT FUNGICIDES. By Frank T. Shutt, M.A., F.C.S., F.I.C., Chief Chemist, Dominion Experimental Farms. The preservation of orchards, small fruit plantations and vineyards from their minute and often microscopic foes is a matter of great importance to those engaged in the fruit industry of Canada, and a subject not without interest to all lovers of a garden. The value of certain copper and arsenical compounds for destroying these insects and fungus pests is every year becoming better known, so that the practice of spraying, is now no longer looked upon by fruitgrowers as a scientific fad of doubtful efficacy,, but rather as a sure and safe means for keeping both trees and fruit free from injurious attacks. Two years ago I wrote as follows, and the words will bear reiteration to-da "Properly applied, i c, at the right time and in the correct proportions, the copper fungicides have proved and are proving themselves to be of inestimable benefit in the orchard and in the vineyard. The increased value of the fruit has more than repaid, by a large margin, the outlay for spraying apparatus and materials and cost of application, and T believe the time has come when no fruit-grower can afford to ignore this useful means of preventing fungous diseases. Not the least important element in successful fruit- growing, now-a-days, is keeping in check fungous growths and destructive insects, and, for this purpose, our present hope lies in the application of arsenical and copper solutions. By the more extended use of them the hope is confidently entertained that the loss occasioned by injurious insects and fungi will be greatly lessened year by year throughout the Dominion." The intelligent manufacture and application of these spraying solutions is better carried out if the fruit grower understands — at least in outline — the chemistry involved in their preparation. The object of the present notes therefore is to state, though very briefly, the reactions which take place in making the more popular solutions and mixtures containing copper salts, in use as fungicides. The source of the copper (the compound used), in all these preparations is primarily copper sulphate or bluestone — a deep blue, crystalline salt, easily soluble in water, the chemical formula of which is CuS04, 5H20. Since the efficacy of copper sulphate as a fungicide has been well established — as illustrated by its beneficial action on seed wheat infected by smut spores — and sinse it i« the basis of the copper in the spraying mixtures and a material easily and cheaply obtained, the question is often asked " Why cannot a simple solution of bluestone in water be used for spraying V The answer may be very briefly stated. A solution of copper sulphate sufficiently strong to prevent the growth of fungus diseases would, so far as our present experience shows, prove injurious to foliage. The corrosive character of this chemical must by some chemical means — precipitation or neutralization — be rendered innocuous before it can be of practical value for spraying when the leaves are out. For the initial treatment of apple and psar spot, Mr. Craig, Horticulturist of the Central Experi- mental Farm, Ottawa, says : u Before growth begins in spring, spray with a solution of copper sulphate 1 lb. to 50 gallons of water." But he also states, " On no account should this be applied after the foliage has appeared, as it will severely injure it." And again, for certain diseases of the grape, e.g., downy mildew, black rot and anthracnose, the same authority says : " Spray the canes with copper sulphate, 1 lb. to 50 gallons, before growch begins." It is, therefore, evident that, save in exceptional cases, a solution of copper sulphate strong enough to be efficacious in destroying or preventing fungus diseases cannot safely be applied after the foliage has appeared. The solutions and mixtures about to be described allow the application of an adequate amount of copper, which at the same time is innocu- ous to foliage and effective as a fungicide. 78 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Bordeaux Mixture. This is perhaps the best known and the most highly valued and widely used of all the copper compound fungicides. Its formula, as now advocated, is as follows : Copper sulphate (bluestone) 4 lb. Lime 4 lb. Water 50 gallons Briefly, the directions for manufacture are : — The freshly burnt lime is allowed to slake and then well stirred with sufficient water to make a thin creamy mixture. This is now strained through coarse sacking into a barrel containing the dissolved copper sulphate and the whole stirred and made up with water to 50 gallons. The lime in solution precipitates the copper from the solution of bluestone as an insoluble material (cupric hydrate), the sulphuric acid combining with the lime to form sulphate of lime, which on account of its slight solubility remains to a a very large extent in suspension. The reaction is represented by the following chemical equation. CuS04, 5H20 + Ca(OH)2 = Cu(Ofl)2 + CaS04 + 5H20 Copper sulphate. Slaked lime. Cupric hydrate. Sulphate of lime. By reason of the slight solubility of lime — 1 part in 750 parts of water — the fifty gallons cannot hold in solution at once the amount of lime necessary to precipitate or throw out of solution the 4 lb. of bluestone. Since, however, the sulphate of lime (see above) for the most part separates out as it is formed, the same water again takes up more lime, which further precipitates cupric hydrate. This reaction is continuous and rapid until all the copper is precipitated. Finally, we have insoluble cupric hydrate, lime (from the excess u^ed) and sulphate of lime suspended in a liquid containing small quantities of the the two latter materials in solution. If sufficient lime has been added and the reaction is complete the liquid, after allowing the precipitate to settle, is colorless and should not give any brown precipitate if to a few drops a small quantity of a solution of ferrocyanide of potash be added — showing that all the copper has been converted into an insoluble form. To precipitate a definite amount of copper sulphate, a definite amount of lime is necessary — at least 3.5 oz. of freshly burnt lime for each 1 lb. of bluestone. In practice, however, in order to ensure the complete precipitation of the copper, and since impuri- ties always exist in the commercial article, an excess of lime is always used. No element of danger is in this way introduced, as the excess of lime is not injurious to foliage. It will not answer, as some have suggested, to use the supernatant lime water which can be poured off the undissolved lime — lime water in fact. Fifty gallons of such saturated lime water contain only sufficient lime to precipitate (practically) 2 lbs. of copper sulphate. As already remarked, it is owing to the sulphate of lime separating as it is formed, that fresh quantities of lime are dissolved, and can, therefore, react with the copper compound. By the evaporation of the spraying liquid the copper is left upon the foliage as the hydrate. Eau Celeste. This fungicide is made by adding ammonia to a solution of copper sulphate. The formula usually given for its preparation is : — Copper sulphate 1 lb. Strong ammonia 1^ pints Water 22 gallons The first action of the ammonia is to precipitate basic copper sulphate (Cu S04, 2Cu (0H)3) which, however, soon dissolves in the excess of ammonia present to form ammonium copper sulphate (OuS04, 4NET4 OH), a deep blue fluid. At the same time ammonium sujphate is produced and remains in solution. The evaporation of the fluid leases upon the foliage basic copper sulphate and ammonium sulphate. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 79 Copper Carbonate. If a solution of sodium carbonate (Na2C03, 10H2O) be added to one of copper sulphate (CuS04, 5H20), the copper is thrown down as a pale green precipitate. This is " basic carbonate of copper " (a compound containing both carbonate and hydrate of copper), and has the formula, CuC03, 0u(OH)2. It dries to a light green amorphous powder. In the above re-action sodium sulphate (Na2S04) is formed and remains in solution. The precipitate of basic carbonate of copper may be washed by repeated decantation, and thus freed from the sodium sulphate. Remembering that the weight of basic carbonate formed is, approximately, half that of the coppsr sulphate used, the addition of the required amount of water makes the spraying mixture known as " copper carbonate in suspension," the formula of which, as recommended by Mr. Craig, is : Basic carbonate of copper 5 ounces Water 50 gallons It is scarcely necessary to add that the form of copper salt left upon the foliage when dry is the basic carbonate (CuCO , 0u(0H)2). Ammoniacal Copper Carbonate. This spraying fluid results from the solution of the precipitated basic carbonate of copper, just described, in ammonia, and subsequent dilution with the required amount of water. Two soluble compounds are formed, ammonio-cupric carbonate and ammonio- cupric hydrate, which on drying upon the foliage leave basic carbonate of copper and hydrate of copper, respectively. The formula recommended is : Copper carbonate 5 ounces Ammonia 2 quarts Water 50 gallons From the excellent results obtained by the use of this fungicide it may be inferred that this fluid presents the copper compounds in a form which is at once inimical to fungus life and non-injurious to foliage. The fungicides, accordingly, fall into two classes. " Bordeaux mixture " and " copper carbonate in suspension." On the one hand, apply the copper in a more or less insoluble and precipitated form, while ammoniacal copper carbonate and Eau Celeste furnish it in solution. It is probable that the latter provides for a more equal distribution of the copper compounds on the leaves. From a chemical standpoint it might be inferred that the spraying fluids containing the copper in solution, if made according to correct formulae and applied at the proper strength, would prove more effieacious than the fluids containing the precipitated copper, though a slight variation in the strength of the latter fluids would involve, in all probability, less risk of injury to foliage. A part of this paper — that which refers to the chemistry of the Bordeaux mixture — was communicated to the Montreal Horticultural Society this year. The importance of the subject to fruit growers at the present time has induced me to complete the question of the chemistry of the copper fungicides and present the paper, thus extended, to this meeting. RESOLUTION re FRANCO-CANADIAN TREATY. . Mr. McNeill : I have a motion here that may call for a little consideration. Moved by A. McNeill, seconded by A. H. Pettit, that in viewof the large amount of capital invested in the grape growing industry of this country, and the great possibility of its further development, this association is opposed to the ratification of the H'ranco-Canadian Treaty, the provisions of which will most seriously affect, if not entirely destroy, this flourishing industry. Mr. McNeill: I ask your favorable consideration of this resolution, I think on very fair grounds. While we are all united on fruit-growing, it is possible that we are 80 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. not all equally interested in every department of it. For instance, at the present time I am not at all interested in apples, commercially ; I am not interested in plums : but, nevertheless, I take a deep interest in these fruits, and in acting with you here would act as if I were personally interested in the growth and sale of this particular fruit. It is the only way we can act, and I believe each one of us should look at the interests of each other here as if they were his own. I trust you are going to look at the grape interest as if it was your own interest. The report given by Deputy-Minister James the other day rather astonished some of us. He reported that there were at least 2,236,000 grape vines in Ontario alone, and if I mistake not another 2,000,000 were coming into bearing, so that within a very short time we will have over 4,000,000 grape vines here in Ontario. When we talk of millions we are getting into exceedingly large numbers, and an industry of this kind calls for very careful consideration. You can easily see, putting it plainlv, that the total grape industry is positively and practically overdone under those circum- stances. If all the product of these four million vines were to be put on the market at once in Ontario it would simply swamp the market. There is not anything like one-half that put on at present, and the market is exceedingly low. The provisions of this treaty are such that if it should pass it will most seriously injure — it would actually destroy — a very largo portion of the grape industry in this Province ; only those districts most favored as to soil and market and climate would be able to grow grapes at all. Hundreds of acres of vineyards will be plowed up if this treaty should ever become a settled fact. Now, as we are here to look after the interests of the fruit-growers, I think it becomes us to take such steps as we can on this subject. It is not a political subject ; it is purely and simply a fruit-growers' question, and as such I submit it to you. After giving the matter careful consideration and looking at the magnificence of this industry, I have come to the conclusion that it is necessary that we should use all our best endeavors to prevent the passage of this treaty, or at least to express our opinion upon it. I trust you will pass this resolution without a dissenting voice. Mr. M. Pettit : I think Mr. McNeill has pretty well covered the ground. There is no doubt that the ratifying of that treaty, or not doing so, is of the utmost importance to the grape growers of this Province. We all know that Montreal is the great outlet for the grape crop of Ontario, and hundreds of carloads of grapes that are shipped to Montreal are not used for dessert purposes. Well, from a prohibition standpoint, if our people in this Dominion will drink wine, why not grow the grapes in our own Province and manufacture pure native wine here, rather than import from a foreign land, paying thousands of dollars to support an industry in another country? I think that if this Association should remain in silence and not take steps to protect this very important industry it would fall far short of its duty. There is no question we have the soil and the climate and the people to manufacture all the wines, and as good wines as our people will ask for, and we are credibly informed that they can be laid down from the south of Europe — from France — so cheap that our manufacturers here cannot compete. Whether it is pure juice of the grape or not is another question ; but if people drink wine, why not manufacture it ourselves — the pure article — in our own country 1 (Hear, hear.) The President : The desirability of this resolution coming before this Association is this. We find that our Dominion authorities, since they have found out what a larg" interest this proposed French treaty is going to seriously effect, are disposed not to rati y it. It was not known before that the grape-growing interest of this Province especially, was anything like as lar^e as it really is. We believe a resolution of this kind, going from this Association, will largely strengthen the hands of the Dominion authorities in their disposition not to ratify this treaty. Mr. Caston : Of course we should look at these things in a broad sense — not in a selfish light at all. Are there any advantages to be derived to the country at large from this French treaty that would compensate for the loss that we would sustain by their wines coming in competition with ours ? Those who were at Brantford last year can bear testimony to the great excellence of the product of Canadian wine there. I don't think we could get a better or healthier product elsewhere. People will use it. The President : It is not a question for us to consider as to whether wine is a gocd article or not, from a temperance standpoint. We know that there is a great deal cf FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 81 wine consumed among our French neighbors in the Province of Quebec, and that wine is largely manufactured now from the grapes grown in Western Ontario. We have no more right to consider the matter of the wine than the Farmers' Institute has to consider the matter of the ale made from barley. We, as an Association, are interested in the pro- duction of fruit, and grape-growing is one of the largest branches of fruit production at the present time in the Province of Ontario. We want to increase it, and we cannot say whether you are to eat the grape or drink the juice of the grape ; and we believe if wine is made from the grapes, it is better to have that pure wine than to have the spurious article brought in from France to suppry the French appetite. That is the whole subject in a nutshell. Prof. Saunders, have you a word to say on this matter 1 Prof. Saunders : I don't know that I have anything special. I fully realize the difficulty that the fruit-growers of this country would be in in competing with wine made in France. In going through the wine-making districts of France some six years ago, I ascertained that the ordinary price of labor in the wine district for good workmen was about two francs a day — about forty cents a day ; and as we know, the cost of transportation is so little it is scarcely likely that our people here could compete with wine-makers there on account of that ajreat difference in the cost of labor. Whether we can produce as many grapes to the acre here or not, is also a question that perhaps would elicit some difference of opinion. The regular plan of growing there is the stake system — about four feet high, about two feet apart in the rows. It is just possible that they may have the better of us somewhat in their climate, and be able to produce more grapes per acre. They certainly have a great advantage in the matter of cost of manufacture, on account of the cheapness of labor ; and that is a point that wine growers of this country could not possibly get over. Of course I can say nothing on the merits of the treaty ; I am not sufficiently conversant with it in a general way. The President : We do not wish to rush this thing through without giving every- body an opportunity to say a word. It is a matter that touches the temperance question ; also the question of the tariff; so for that reason we do not want to rush it. Mr. Hilborn : In looking at it from a temperance standpoint, I think we should try to keep out these cheap wines. I do not see any other view to take in the matter. We do not want these cheap wine3 here. If we have any wines at all we might just as well have our own wines, even if they do cost more. The resolution was then put and carried. Mr. Trotter : There are two gentlemen here who have been engaged in raising plum3 and cherries for some time in this locality, and I think successfully. The President : We would like very much to hear from them. We have had nothing about cherries and plums from this quarter. Mr. Robert Fife : That you may not go away with the impression that we cannot grow cherries and plums around Peterboro', I will give you a short statement. It is eight years since I planted my first plums — about forty Imperial Gage — and three years ago I had my first crop, two years ago my second, and a year ago last spring there was none. This last season I picked about one hundred and sixty baskets. Later on I planted other varieties — altogether about one hundred and twenty trees. There are quite a number not bearing. I have had quite a success in cherries. I had about twenty-five baskets of various kinds this last season — sight or nine different kinds — some that are called tender, and yet they succeed Very well. I planted Montmorency, Louis Phillippe, and Governor Wood. The latter turned out very good. The President : Did the Imperial Gage have black knot with you ? Mr. Fife : No, not very much. I have not been troubled very much with black knot. There was a little on my cherry trees, but I guard against it as much as I can. Where I live there are people growing a tree or two in their gardens, and they don't keep it off, and no doubt it inoculates others. Mr. Boulter : How do you keep it off? Mr. Fife : I take the surest way — I cut it off and burn it. 6 (F.G.) 82 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. The President : Did you ever try spirits of turpentine 1 Mr. Fife : Yes, but I could not say it checked it. I saved one fine tree by using -coal tar, and it is doing better now than it did before. The Pond's Seedling plum I find is a fine bearer and grows well. It is thin, but you cannot expect to grow heavy crops on account of the size of the plum. It does not rot as badly as some others. I think the Imperial Gage would succeed best in this locality, with a man that was very atten- tive. They are like many other things — if you don't feed them you are not going to have much. Mr. Boulter : Have you tried the blue Damson plum ? Mr. Fife : No. I have tried the Shropshire Damson. It does well. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS. Prof. Craig : I wish to make a verbal report from the Committee on Experimental Stations. The Committee met this morning, and considered the question very carefully, and have formulated in part a scheme for carrying out the work, but have not had time to bring it to such a stage of completion as to allow it to be presented to the meeting at this time ; but I may say that they are a unit on the manner in which the work may be carried out, and would ask the indulgence of the Directors of this Association in the matter of time for further preparation and formulation of this scheme, which will be done by correspondence as quickly as possible. Their idea is to formulate a scheme as far as possible and submit a copy of it to each director for their approval and sanction, and for the directors to take such action afterwards as in their wisdom they see fit. If you approve of that, it would be necessary to continue the work of the Committee till such time as the final report is brought in. *The President : I think it would be as well for this Committee appointed last night for that purpose to be made a Standing Committee till they are able to report. The Secretary moved that this report be received, and that the Committee continue their work. Mr. Beall seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. M. Pettit : I would move the appointment of a deputation to urge the neces- sity of these resolutions we have just passed concerning the French Treaty, and if necessary interview the Government in reference to them ; and I would suggest Mr. McNeill, Mr. A. H. Pettit, and Mr. Boulter, as that committee. Mr. Turner seconded the motion, which was carried. PETERBOROUGH AS A FRUIT-GROWING COUNTY. By E. B. Edwards, Peterborough. This County, situated as it is between 44 and 45 degrees of latitude, and at a distance from and considerably above the level of Lake Ontario, has a severe winter climate, the thermometer frequently reaching from ten to twenty below zero, and rarely from twenty to thirty below. The air is, however, usually dry, especially with a low thermom- eter, and the winter is generally uniform, while the snow commonly covers the ground to a depth of from one to two feet, from December until the middle or latter part of March. The summer weather does not differ materially from that of other parts of Ontario, so far as its effect upon fruit-growing is concerned. The effect of the severe cold is to destroy the more tender fruit trees such as the peach and some varieties of cherries, plums, etc. But apples of nearly all the best varieties, many kinds of plums, pears, cherries of the Morello variety, grapes of some early varieties, raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries and currants will grow in this climate. Grapes, of course, require to be laid down in winter, and raspberries, the blackcaps especially, are generally laid down, and strawberries are also usually covered. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 83 Granted that the fruits I have named will grow here, if I am asked the question 41 Is Peterborough a fruit growing county1?" I am compelled to say, "It is not." If I am asked the reason why, I can give no better reason than to put it down to want of knowledge in the first place, and want of enterprise in the second. In all the townships of this large county there are, according to the municip 1 statistics, only 1,900 acres devoted to the orchard and garden. In North Monaghan, with a total of nearly 14,000 acres there are 162 acres of orchard, or one in 86, the best showing as to percentage in the county. Douro, with 38,000 acres, has 285 acres of orchard, or 1 in 135 ; Smith, with a total of 57,000 acres, has 401 acres of orchard, or 1 in 144 ; Otonabee, with 64,000 acres, has 400 of orchard, or 1 in 161 ; Asphodel has 209 acres of orchard, being 1 in 180; Ennismore, 86 acres, or one in 199; Dummer 205 acres, or one in 321. The average of these, the seven best townships in the county is 1 acre of orchard and garden to each 169 acres The other townships have such a small proportion of orchard that they may be quite left out of consideration, and in fact it would be unfair to take them into consideration, as they do' not compare with the other townships in the quantity of arable land. Pursuing the investigation a little further, we find that Asphodel has 21 farmers who have 2 acres and upwards of orchard, Monaghan, 47, Otonabee, 76, Smith 70, Douro 19, Ennismore 1, and Dummer 28, or 262 owners in the 7 townships have 2 acres each and upwards. The number who have more than two or three acres is very small, while probably not a half a dozen in the whole county have as much as ten acres each. Taking the adjoining counties for the sake of comparison, the county of Northumber- land has 6,858 acres of orchard, being an average of one acre in every 63 acres for its 9 townships. The townships of Cramahe is the best, with 1,245 acres of orchard, or 1 in 37 of its total acreage; Haldimand 1,240, or 1 in 61 ; Brighton 1,012, or 1 in 48 ; Hamilton 886, or 1 in 69 ; Murray 798, or 1 in 60 ; Percy 740, or 1 in 72 ; Seymour 633, or 1 in 98 ; Alrfwick 158, or 1 in 105, and South Monaghan 146 or 1 in 125. In the county of Durham, with 6 townships, there are 3,794 acres of orchard, or 1 in 57 of the total acreage. The township of Darlington has 1,183 acres of orchard, or 1 in 57 ; Clarke 801, or 1 in '85 ; Hope 725, or 1 in 88 ; Cavan 467, or 1 in 135 ; Man- vers 330, or 1 in 211 ; and Cartwright 288, or 1 in 128. In the county of Victoria the showing is not so good, there being only 1,525 acres of orchard, or 1 in 276 of the total acreage of the seven townships which make any returns of orchards. The township of Ops has 358 acres of orchard, Mariposa 340, Fene- lon 259, Verulam 205, Emily 152, Eldon 121, and Somerville 90. In the best township the percentage is 1 to 156, and in the poorest of the seven one to 680 of the total acreage. It will thus be seen that Northumberland has three and a half times the acreage in orchard that Peterborough has, and Durham over twice that of Peterborough, Victoria on the other hand being 375 less than Peterborough. As to the extent to which the different fruits are cultivated : Currants, gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries are generally grown by each individual for home use, a few market gardeners growing them for the local market, but there are considerable quanti- ties brought in for sale from outside places. They grow as freely and as well here as elsewhere. Grapes are not generally grown. The local market is largely supplied from the Niagara district. A few small vineyards exist, chiefly in the neighborhood of the county town. As a rule it is hard for local men to compete against the growers of more favored localities. Having regard to the question of climate, the competition from outside and the constant care required, it does not strike me that farmers in this county can successfully grow grapes for sale. But there is nothing to prevent any farmer having half a dozen vines for home use, of such varieties as Niagara, Brighton and Agawam. Cherries are little grown in this county, the Heart cherries not standing the climate. Plums are not grown to any great extent, but in the adjoining township of South Mona- ghan they are largely grown, the conditions being exceedingly favorable, and this township largely supplies the local market. Pears grow fairly well here, such kinds as Flemish Beauty, Bartlett, Olapp's Favorite, Lawrence, etc., generally succeeding, but of late years there has been serious trouble with the blight. There are no large pear orchards. 84 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Whatever may be said of other fruits, it is quite clear that Peterboro' can grow apples as well as any other place in the world, and it is in this direction that there is room for systematic development. It is not necessary to seek for Russian or iron- clad varieties to stand the climate. The best standard varieties can, with a few excep- tions, be grown here, and there are at all events varieties sufficient to form a first-class commercial orchard. And yet the great difficulty has been that people have put in too many poor varieties, too many early kinds, and too many kinds in any case. The result is that, so far as I am aware, there is not in the county a single orchard which can be said to be a satisfactory commercial orchard. There is consequently nothing to attract the best buj ers or to make it worth while for the owner to ship his own fruit. The Northern Spy is perhaps the standard apple in this section, and one that attains here a fine growth and flavor; The Duchess is also a great favorite, and is very fine in coloring and flavor for cooking purposes. The Fameuse or Snow succeeds fairly well, being fine in size, color and flavor, but it is inclined to spot badly some years. The Russet also succeeds well. With the writer the Blenheim Orange is in all respects the most satisfactory apple, the tree being vigorous and healthy, a regular bearer, and the fruit being largely first-class. Another satisfactory apple is the Canada Red, which appears to me to resemble the Pomme de fer of Quebec. It is generally free from spots or worm holes and a good keeper. The Rhode Island Greening is not in general very successful in this neighborhood, although I have a number of trees of this variety 25 years old. The King of Tomkins County attains a fine size and coloring" here, but the tree does not bear freely nor regularly. The Ontario has not been sufficiently tried here. An objection is made that the tree is not a good grower. Wealthy promises to be very successful in this section, Pewaukee and Mann will be very useful on account of their keeping qualities and hardy growth. I have not pretended to exhaust the list, but each grower seems to have his favorite variety, and in any case there are, as I have said, varieties enough that can be successfully grown to satisfy the wants of all. To sum up, I desire to emphasize the following points : 1. Peterborough county is well adapted to growing apples of the best varieties and possessing the best keeping qualities, the highest flavor and the richest coloring. 2. It will pay to grow winter apples for export, and the returns will average at least twice the returns of any grain crop that can be raised on the farm, and with less labor. 3. I would not encourage the average farmer in this county to grow for sale any other kinds of fruit, or to grow for sale summer or fall apples. 5. A decided advance is necessary before our county can be considered a fruit grow- ing county. How is this to be accomplished 1 Let me suggest a way. I would like to see 200 progressive men in this county who have suitable land, resolve to have a commercial orchard of ten acres each. To accomplish this successfully I would recommend them to combine to purchase trees from a reliable nurseryman, getting the best stock on the most favorable terms, and planting a limited number of varieties that are found to succeed best in their respective neighborhoods, regard also being had to the prospective market. I would recommend the planting of say 100 trees each the first year, 150 to 200 the second year, and the balance the third year, the whole ten acres being thoroughly and carefully worked each year with a view to its future use. The cost for trees and planting them need not exceed $8 to $10 an acre, even if men have to be hired to plant them. For a number of years hoed crops could be grown to advantage in the land, giving a present return for cultivation. The cash outlay for ten acres would be from $80 to $100. I think I am well within bounds to say that in ten years these ten acres will have increased in value by at least $1,000. I think I am also within bounds to say that in 15 years they will be bringing an interest on a valuation of $5,000 for the ten acres, over and above all expenses for labor. This would only a little more than double our present acre- age in orchard. But the new orchards would easily be worth four times our present orchards in producing power, and at least a million dollars would be added to the value of the farms on which they would be growing. If we cannot get 200 men we must be content with fewer, but there is no reason why the number should not be doubled or quadrupled. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 85 The President : I consider this a very valuable paper. It gives an amount of reliable data rarely obtained in such a concise way. Mr. Caston : I was going tc ask Mr. Edwards where he got his figures. Mr. Edwards : From the assessment roll. I would not recommend farmers to give up their farming and go in for fruit raising altogether, because in most cases the farm- ers in this neighborhood, I know, are not posted in the work of looking after an orchard ; but it strikes me that if they would have a definite object before them, which would be within moderation, and go at it deliberately and slowly, they would soon have an orchard that would be worth while, and get over one of the difficulties that exist at present — that we do not attract buyers to come in here and take our apples away. Our local market is overcrowded ; we have not sufficient to supply the foreign market satisfactorily, and the trouble is, we are just treading on each other's toes here in the town, and farmers, finding that they cannot sell apples, decide to sacrifice them at any price. Per- haps they are shaken down from the trees and brought into the local market. The result is that they do not bring their fair value, and there is no one to come in and buy what they have worth while. Mr. Caston : This is a very valuable paper, and suggests many lines of thought on the apple industry. I think there is nothing on which farmers need so much light a3 on the cultivation of orchards. They do not give them proper care. They need to realize that the orchard will pay them more, acre for acre, than anything they can produce on the farm even when they get $1 to $1.25 a bushel for wheat. But how are we to get that information to them ? They do not attend our meetings, or the Farmers' Institute meetings as they ought, they do not take the Horticulturist, and a good many do not take the agricultural papers. There are many other parts of the country the same as here — they grow too much for the local market, yet not enough for export. There is no apple that will earn so much money as the Wealthy, if picked early— by the last week of September — and you have a market that will take them then. Then we have the Pewaukee. I believe a great deal in the importance of this top-grafting to grow some of our commercial apples for markets abroad. In any county of Ontario, except in Algoma or Muskoka, we can grow any apple that can be produced in the Niagara district or anywhere else, by simply top-grafting them on good hardy stock. I have a theory that it is nearly always the trunk of the tree that peels, sometimes from sun-scald, bursting of the bark, or disease. In 1884 immense numbers of trees were lost by being frozen to death in the crotches of the branches. Now, we find certain varieties that have been perfectly hardy for years even in localities where the temperature goes down to 25° and 30° below zero. Then if we take the trunk of that tree and get above the point of attack, and introduce the varieties that we want to grow in the limbs, we will succeed. I have proved that from my own experience. There is not a King of Tomkins or a Rhode Island Greening living that was planted in the usual way 25 or 30 years ago, but I have them growing grafted to Siberian trees, and I find they produce more than they do growing on the original tree, and far finer specimens. It is important, in plant- ing out new orchards, to select some of those hardy standard varieties, and as soon as they get large enough s;raft some of our good apples on them. I would be disposed to regard the Wealthy first as a winter apple ; but now I cannot do so — it is a fall apple. Mr, A. H. Pettit : I have been quite interested in Mr. Caston's theory of top- grafting, but I do not think his premises are altogether sound. Taking for instance a Tolman Sweet, and graft the Duches3 or some other apple on that, and I have no doubt that for a few years, with the cut-back that tree has received, and with the top graft, it will soon begin to bear, and bear quite profitably ; but I believe the graft at the top will be no better than the tree that was originally grown, for this reason : I have in my orchard grafts on seedlings that were grown for 25 or 30 years, and I do not see that those trees grow a bit better than other trees planted from the same varieties, grown on their own stock. You graft the Northern Spy on the Tolman Sweet. The Northern Spy is a rapid and strong grower : the Tolman Sweet is not so much so. The trunk on the Northern Spy will be at least one-third larger in circumference within two feet from the ground than the Tolman Sweet, and vice versa. 1 think there are some matters that are not fully matured on that theory yet. 86 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Mr. Oaston : The great trouble is, people don't begin soon enough. You want to> begin on a tree while it is young • and I know specimens in my own locality that have been grafted 10 or 15 years — King of Tomk ins grafted on Talman Sweets. In about three graftings you want to complete the top. I do not know of any stock better for grafting on than the Haas. Mr. Pettit : Do you graft so as to throw the tree into bearing % Mr. Caston : No, simply to get a hardy stock. Mr. Oaston : It is extra hardy in our locality. Mr. Boulter : It is certainly gratifying to me to hear from Mr. Edwards' paper that this locality produces as much fruit as it does. It is encouraging to the Associa- tion to know that \ou have been so successful. NECESSITY FOR A CHANGE IN OUR METHODS OF OBTAINING AND INTRODUCING NEW VARIETIES OF FRUIT. Mr. Thomas Beall, of Lindsay, read the following paper : New varieties of fruits are obtained in different ways. Mostly, however, from acci" dental seedlings of supposed superior merit which are often found in localities where our staple fruits are grown. The merits of such seedlings are first decided on by the individual taste and knowledge of the finder. For many years past the first move towards bringing such varieties to public notice has generally been to bring samples to the notice of the Fruit-Growers' Association, where it was subjected to the scrutiny of a committee, composed mostly of experts, who reported thereon at the next meeting of the Association. These reports have, until recent years, been very interesting papers, inasmuch as they bore evidence of careful scrutiny, considerable knowledge of the subject, and commendable courage in their outspoken criticism. For while commending what was commendable they courteously put an extinguisher on the many varieties that were without merit. Of late, these committee reports are of a very different character. They are simply a list of whatever there may be on exhibition. There is nothing specially commended and nothing disapproved of. Perhaps the3e committees recognize the fact that the result to the public will be as formerly, viz.: — That they will assist in making a show in the annual report as well as the former, and, that as the Association takes no means whatever to preserve any record (in convenient shape) of the excellencies of any varieties, all would go down to oblivion together. Perhaps there is no branch of the business of fruit-growing which interests the great majority of fruit growers more than that of " new varieties." For whenever a new variety, or what purports to be a new variety, is brought to their notice, especially when sufficiently puffed by nurserymen's agents with the assistance of gorgeously colored prints, and, provided the prices named are high enough, the sales made are generally of sufficient extent and magnitude to amply recoup the enterprising nurseryman. A retired nurseryman of Eastern Ontario, well known to many persons in this assembly, and much respected by all who do know him, says that more money is paid away every year by the people of this province for high-priced worthless nursery stock than would be sufficient to pay the interest on our national indebtedness, and I believe his statement is true. A nurseryman's catalogue was lately received by me which seems to " c*p the cli- max " of this mode of advertising. A new apple called " Springdale " is introduced, and, as advertised, seems to be the most useful apple yet produced in any country. It is said to be of large size, measuring between four and five inches in diameter ; beautiful in color, of fine flavor; a winter variety that retains all its good qualities until the follow- ing spring, even after being used to fill up the mud holes and ruts on the farm during winter. All these and other excellent qualities are vouched for by a certificate from the 1 Hon. W. G. Vincenheller, Arkansas State Commissioner of Agriculture," who, after FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 87 certifying to many of its good qualities says : " Freezing does not injure the fruit ; ate them last spring, after they had been run over by waggons and left all winter half buried in the ruts, and yet still sound and of fine flavor." It seems almost too absurd to think ■ Canadians can be gulled by suoh advertisements ; but such trash would not be circulated if it did not pay. Much valuable time and a great deal of money has been spent in endeavoring to obtain from North-western Europe varieties of winter apples superior to our own for foreign shipment. For some years past our reports and our journal have been crowded with descriptions and illustrations of new Russian varieties of fruits of ail kinds, but as far as I can learn no winter apple has yet been found to equal the varieties already grown here. And the fact that none of our best winter varieties have been obtained from more northern or colder countries than this should have been sufficient long ago to have caused a discontinuance of these costly experiments in pomological research. On the pages of our Horticultural Journal there may be found strong commenda- tions of varieties which a practical public had long before found unsuited to the peculiarities of our climate The first article in the November number is an example. Here the Mcintosh Red apple is described as "a seedling of great value," a "winter variety," surpassing the Fameuse in " coloring, size and quality," and also as being a variety underrated by the committee on apples because of its being a " new " variety. To all of which is added a certificate of character from Dr. Hoskins, of Vermont, who is (the writer says) " the best authority we have on hardy apples," stating it to be " the best and most beautiful apple of its season." Now, it is not a very " new " variety. It was described in Dowing some twenty years ago. Ten years ago the editor of the Canadian Horticulturist said of it : "It is known in Western Ontario, but the fruit is so very subject to the black scab that it cannot be profitably grown at present." In 1884 Mr. Mcintosh, who is a nurseryman, said he had been propagating from the original tree for fifty years. It can hardly be said to be of " great value," because of the two serious blemishes in its character, also referred to by the writer of the article in question ; viz.: Its great liability to " scab " and the unusual tenderness of its fruit buds. It has been tested largely throughout this Province during the past twenty years, yet none of the four or five hundred fruit-growers to whom application was made by the committee on apples for lists of varieties most suitable for cultivation in this Province recommended this variety. During the past two years a few hybridized varieties have been introduced, having so many of the necessary qualities requisite in fruits for commercial orchards that little doubt exists but this method of obtaining new varieties excels all others in the certainty of its results. If this method of procuring new varieties is so very good it may well be asked why it is that so little is heard of hybridizing or cross-fertilization lately. I believe the chief cause is that, while a number of nurserymen have made large profits and the whole Province has been greatly enriched by growing some of these varieties, the originators — those who have spent many years in the production and development of these varieties — have received no reward therefor, and but little encouragement either from the public or from this Association. No doubt a few persons may continue to experiment in this most attractive branch of horticultural science, but since it is so well known that no pecuniary reward may result to the originator of a valuable new variety we may not hope for much of that energetic, persistent and continuous effort which ensures success. I have endeavored to show some of the causes of want of success in introducing new varieties, which, briefly, may be summed up thus : 1. A great many of the new varieties which have been brought to the notice of this Association during the pasb twenty years, if we are to believe the committees' reports (and there is no cause to doubt their accuracy), possessed qualities which might have resulted ere this in displacing some of those now on our list, but which, through the neglect of this Association to keep a convenient record of such varieties, are now for- gotten. 2. Nurserymen are always ready to acquire new varieties of anything in their line, but nurserymen ar« mortal, and therefore work for their own personal gain. The fewer 38 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. the number of new plants the better for them, but of these they require absolute control. So far, all is well. But, as already shown, the profit to them is often in proportion to the exaggeration used, hence no dependence may be placed on their catalogues. 3. Bringing varieties to public notice through the columns of the Horticulturist which are not equal, and often inferior, to varieties on the authorized list of this Association, is very misleading and annoying to the public, and therefore of great injury to the Fruit-Growers' Association. It should be thoroughly understood that no new variety of fruit can obtain a prominent place in public estimation until the fact is established beyond doubt that it is superior to some one, at least, of the established varieties as given for the various districts of Ontario. 4. The fact that nothing has been done, or is doing, by this Association towards securing suitable compensation for successful results in hybridization is a reproach to this Association, and is perhaps the chief cause of the decreased interest in this, the most important branch of practical pomology. The following sentence from page 121 of Annual Report of 1892 is worth quoting in this connection: "But if students in this branch of science were assured that extraordinary success would meet with corresponding reward, men in early life having the necessary educational training would engage in this pursuit, and pomology and horticulture would soon be elevated in our country to that position in the scale of natural science #hich its importance deserves." Perhaps it may not be out of place here to suggest a remedy for this state of affairs for the future, and possibly regain somewhat from the past. A committee might be appointed, which should be permanent in its character; viz.: It should hold its position from year to year, or until changed by the Association, and should be in addition to the usual fruit committees. This committee should take cognizance of all matters relating to new varieties of fruits, such as to revise and condense after publication all reports of committees on new fruits ; revise and condense all lists of, fruits from year to year ; summarize all the work of the Association for the past and preceding years relating to new fruits ; originate or take into consideration any scheme which may have originated elsewhere for the better conduct of this branch of the business of this Association, and report at every annual meeting. This committee, for che better prosecution of their work, should consist of three persons only, who, in addition to having some knowledge of fruits, should have a fair knowledge of public business. And, also, it should have the power to appoint from time to time sub-committees of experts for each kind of fruit, who would report to the permanent committee as may be required. Mr. Pattison : I hardly think it advisable that rewards should be offered to introducers of new fruit. I think they stand very much in the position of inventors who patent articles and thus obtain the right over that article. It is found that although no reward is given for new patents the market, as anyone can ascertain by examining the records, is simply flooded with new patents for every imaginable kind of thing, the great majority of which are worthless and die a natural death. I think there are plenty men who will undertake hybridizing and offering new fruits from simply the love of the occupation. Then, again, if the new fruit is good and properly introduced there is no reason why the producer should lose control over it until he makes a good bargain with some nursery — they are always ready to make a bargain. Mr. Edwards : I do not agree with that last suggestion, I think Mr. Beall's view is thoroughly good, because the policy of this Association and of the fruit-growers of Ontario has always been a liberal one. It has been in the direction of spreading knowledge, on every new point, through the whole country, and it is in that direction I think, a notable success should be rewarded — not everything, but where there is a decided success the Government should assume it and spread it throughout the country. Now, you cannot protect trees and things of that sort as you can patents, because every tree that goes out into the country produces its own scions, which may be budded on every tree in the orchard. The Secretary : Mr. Beall has unjustly criticized an article in the November Horticulturist about the Macintosh Red. If I remember aright, it was there clearly stated that on account of its tendency to spot it was ruled out. Very fine samples of that apple were shown at the World's Fair at Chicago from the Province of Quebec. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 89 Mr. Pattison : The article is here; the tenleacy to spot wi? mentioned. It reads as follows: "How unfortunate that it has two serious faults ; one, in that it seabs almost as badly a^ the Fameuse, and another in the faot that, while its wood is as hardy as the Fameuse or Wealthy, its fruit buds are ~nore tender, so that in cold sections it becomes a shy bearer " ASSESSMENT OF ORCHARDS. Mr. Edwards : With the consent of the other members of the Legislative Com- mittee, I would refer to the question of municipal assessment, so far as it relates to fruit-growers. I think that it would not be undesirable that some representation should be made to the Government with a view of authorizing, under the Assessment Act, the assessment of those parts of the farm that are devoted to the orchard and viaeyard, in the same way that the rest of the farm is assessed — that is, acre for acre — instead of increasing the assessment where a man begins to increase his orchard. I think the increase of orchards should be encouraged. At the present time there is no provision in the Assessment Act to assess orchards otherwise than their full value, whatever the assessor may think that to be. I therefore move that a committee, consisting of Dr. Beadle and Mr. Wellington, with power to add to their numbers, make such representa- tion to the Government as they may deem desirable with reference to the assessment of orchards and vineyards. Mr. Turner seconded the motion. The Secretary : You might also add Mr. Allan to that committee ; he is also in Toronto. Mr. Edwards : Yes, 1 will add Mr. Allan. Mr. Pattison : Would it be just to the other farmers if, by planting an orchard on a piece of land, you raise the value of that piece ? Mr. Edwards : I think it would. The President : It is a matter with many sides to it. We all know now that our assessment law is the most complex and complicated in the world. The Secretary : In some cases property is lessened in value by putting an orchard on it, at least in the owner's opinion, because they are digging them out, and digging the roots out is no small job. Mr. A. H. Pettit : I don't think many orchards are being taken out in our country or any other country because we don't want them, but rather so as to plant something else that there is more money in. Mr. Caston : It would still be an orchard, all the same. The President : What is your pleasure in the matter 1 There will be no expense. Mr. A. H. Pettit : I would move that Mr. Edwards be added to that committee, as one of the legal profession there, to unravel the knots. (Laughter.) Mr. Edwards : The idea was that we should have men resident in Toronto. The President : Is it a fact that the assessment has been increased in any three or four or five acres that have been planted as orchard ? Mr. Edwards : I do not think it is, bat the assessment law recognizes simply the assessment of a31 land according to its actual value. The President : I do not know any case where an addition has been made to the assessment in consequence of a farm having one or two or more acres of orchard upon it. Mr. McNeill : I was a member of a township council some years ago when that very point came up. The Chappel farm, on the Sandwich River, was assessed at $75 an acre because it was one continuous orchard for some distance back. Fine, enter- prising fellows had hold of it. There was a slovenly Frenchman right next to him, and he got off at $40 an acre, and th '-J3 o o m eS > o -si 73 h T3 fl'w P4 13 £ g o Central Experi- mental Farm, Ottawa . la T3 aw ft o a a u o c8t3 h 9 03 e8 T3 08 eS O Ill 59 19 55 16 53 59 16 19 13 4 140 12 "i4" 3 30 "*3 86 13 1 17 10 10 "4 7 1 27 27 2 292 Pears 73 Peaches . . 19 Plums 20 12 13 22 111 1 86 39 139 Strawberries 4 1 3 i 9 1 3 61 Currants 8 *13' 13 "i" 5 1 5 25 Gooseberries 37 Haspberries 18 Blackberries 4 Total of all kinds 424 202 149 47 49 8 172 i 12 14 793 In strawberries, Ontario was far ahead, and also in Heart and Bigarreau cherries, while in the Morellos the Central Experimental Farm took the lead, owing in part to the many Russian varieties under test. The Province of Ontario deserves especial notice, because fully one-half the bottled fruit on exhibition from Canada was from Ontario. The Superintendent, Mr. A. H. Pettit, was engaged one year previous to the Exposition in collecting and preserving the fruit, and well earned the direct credit of the success gained by his province. No money was spared by the Provincial Government to make the exhibit a success, and much of the expense of installation and maintenance of Ontario's exhibit, as well as of the beautiful bottles containing the fruit, was furnished by that province. The British Columbia apples, which had been kept in cold storage during the winter, were immense ; and the huge Spys and Pearmains puzzled even the judges over their identity, owing to the peculiar habits of development induced on the Pacific Coast. The quantity was small, however, owing to the majority being frost-touched in transit to Chicago. The same misfortune apparently befell Nova Scotia's apple exhibit, though to a smaller extent ; but to this was added careless handling by the cold storage employees, who had been instructed to open all packages and remove the paper wraps. Notwith- standing this, Nova Scotia's apple exhibit in May and June was a very interesting one, especially to the scientific student of horticulture, owing to the number of varieties. In this, however, Nova Scotia was outdone by Quebec, which showed one hundred and forty varieties, by far the largest collection of 1892 apples shown by any exhibitor at the World's Fair. Ontario came next with one hundred and eleven, but two-thirds of them were in bottles ; and New York State next with one hundred and two varieties, none in bottles. Even Prince Edward Island showed twenty-seven varieties, some of them quite creditable, especially considering her climatic conditions. From the next table it is quite evident that the largest part of the exhibits of fresh fruits of 1893 were made by the Province of Ontario. Some idea of her generous display may be gained from the fact that she not only filled her allotted space of two thousand square feet — one-half the whole Canadian Court — but was even compelled to seek addi- tional space to accommodate the surplus during the last month of the Fair. During the whole summer Ontario, being near at hand, was able to keep up an almost daily supply of small fruits, which could not be done by the other provinces on account of distance. From the time, therefore, ot the disastrous cold storage fire until the apples of 1893 were ready, the tables of the other provinces were of necessity rather * These are not the totals of the figures given, for there are many duplicates. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 113 bare, a lack/however, which was then fully remedied. Indeed, when Mr Biselow representat.ve of Nova Scotia arrived in the beginning of October and laid out on be-tt ^. °f ^^ ^ °— ' «"- ^^Z^-fZ^Z Fruits of 1893. 1 o3 e O o (V X> a; 08 '■§ o m > O 03 r^ •rt o pq 12 s § Pu Central Experi- mental Farm, Ottawa. 05 T ""?" high-flavored old apple of the very choicest character , which oo o'n e ?S^t apple. The shipments which c7ame o L"d about 0^ end 'o Sent if' °f 1° ^SeSt but unfortunately kept a very short time after their long "urney P ^ ™ ^'^ Ihe wild fruits shown from the North-west Twrifm'™ „'„ • j- . , , important as showing the possibilities beWn^nftT'- lndlcated abov*> wert Present experience seems to indicate that it U to§L "^ ff th&t °0untry- feather than to the **££Z*J£ &*T=2£ £ £?£% tab JtmUtheTvSe ^™J%^&£Z£i dT^' ^ °f ^ so carefully collected "under the dTct.on of M^ Wm sfunTrs 11*7™*?™/™' the Produce Gold Storage, at Lake Street Bridge in the cHy At iW T^Yt°redrln brought to the exhibit successively by bonded teams hnf L /! u SUpP'les milAs an^ rto „!,„ • '. ' uonaea teams, but the distance was about eioht-. miles, and the charges excessive. was about eight pmes, ana toe cnarges excessive. As soon, therefore, as the World", F.,fw70( S was completed, which was early in June I had the halnl t . , St0rage to that place, whence fresh lots were brought to the tah If ' ,° C^0&ds' transferred This continued one month when, on the "oth or Julv ,W ^'V,1™?- *° *'me aS "eeded- which some fifteen or twenty galant firemen lost th'^/^LTf dl8aSter °CCl""red' '" property, including our r^ n^^^^^^ ^^^ "- * 114 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. It is, however, a satisfaction to know that during the month I was permitted to draw upon this splendid store of vegetables, I succeeded in placing upon the tables of our vegetable court abundant samples of nearly every kind in the collection. Vegetables of 1892. OS- 'S O 03 3? 00 0 ■8 * ^* ® s S3 "3 fa c . wg p 53 a, <♦* 52; Central Experimen- tal Farm at Otta- wa. Experimental Farm at Indian Head, N. W. T. Sri S3 «3 fa£ 3§ S g XJ 53 S3 03 a 53 O Potatoes Turnips Carrots Mangels Onions 111 6 6 3 5 4 3 1 4 2 3 "2 " 1 19 3 3 1 8 4 6 "i" 3 28 5 8 1 2 5 17 •y 1 27 2 3 2 22 1 5 3 2 1 1 "5" '"8" 6 200 14 22 5 5 Beets 3 1 1 1 1 5 6 10 4 Parsnips Kohl Rabi 1 "i 1 1 3 1 4 1 10 Peas (shelled, bottled) 6 Beans ( bottled) 8 6 Total number of Varieties 139 13 27 24 53 28 49 54 295 Vegetables of 1893. "S o3 a O O O m 03 > 0 o3 IS "o 0 ,d "■+3 °Si w T3 oj • S O 03 .2 "* fa § £ fa B — , 03 £^ O a o3 fa 'a a S 53 © X 53 fa s . 03 cS fa © 03^ £M £* fa 03 fa ~* c -u O CO fa 03* o3 S o3 O Potatoes Turnips 171 16 19 13 7 13 9 21 2 29 1 1 3 1 1 7 "4" " " '5' "2" 37 3 12 13 *'4" 27 9 6 3 12 13 5 "i" 2 " 1 5 9 3 6 "i" "17" 248 24 31 Mangels 18 21 Beets 24 9 "2" 36 8 3 53 12 2 5 4 2 4 22 27 Celery 4 7 13 3 Cabbages Kohl Rabi 20 3 1 "2' 27 5 5 5 Egg plant Squash 2 4 2 4 Total number of varieties 315 39 16 5 131 7 107 18 539 The Vegetable Court was a most important feature of our exhibit, because it was not only excellent during all the season, excepting, perhaps, the month of August, when FKU1T GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 115 the old vegetables that were saved from the Cold Storage disaster were exhausted and the new ones were not yet received, but also because it was practically the only impor- tant vegetable display in the horticultural building. The only others attempted were those by New York»and Michigan, the latter very poor, and the former, though contain- ing some excellent collections of radishes, tomatoes, peas, beans, onions, etc., was shown at a very great disadvantage, owing to the style of installation. In consequence, the Canadian Vegetable Court was always full of visitors, and received many favorable notices from the foreign press. The attention of the general public was arrested by the big pumpkin and the big squash, grown by Wm. Warnock, of Goderich, and exhibited during the month of October, in the two prominent corners of the Court. The pumpkin, Stump's Mammoth Red, weighed 146 pounds, and the squash, Mammoth Green, a new hybrid, weighed 365 pounds. Mr. Warnock said there was no secret about his method of growing it, and he willingly described it for the benefit of others desiring to grow monstrosities for exhibi- tion purposes. A compost of one horseload of hen manure and three of loamy soil was made about the 1st of April, and mixed three times during the period till the 10th of May. Then hills were made seven feet in diameter and eighteen inches deep, mixed with one-third part of compost and levelled up six inches above the level. These hills are made about twenty feet apart. The seed was sown about the fifteenth of May and the ground kept loose. As the vine began to run, it was mulr.hed three inches deep with horse manure over the whole surface of the beds. Every branch of the vine was held down with stakes two and a half feet apart, so that they might take root more freely. As soon as a specimen set which looked promising, he pruned off all others. The speci- men is best got by artificial fertilization, for bees are often late and a blossom, well fertilized, will produce a more vigorous sample. Twice a week he pruned off all new growth and continued this through the season, also cutting off all other blooms except the one. Water was very important, and it was applied twice a week with a sprayer, an hour on a plant each time of application. One special exhibit from Ontario deserves particular notice, viz : a very fine collection of potatoes of one hundred and sixty-three varieties, sent forward by the Ontario Experi- mental Farm at Guelph. These and a collection of twenty-nine well chosen varieties from Nova Scotia, were prominent factors in winning us laurels for our vegetable exhibit. The green corn exhibit from Canada was a great surprise. Fifty-three varieties, seventeen of them from the North-west Territories, were a standing wonder to Illinois and Iowa, who consider themselves almost the only corn producing countries of the world. This exhibit proved that in some parts of Canada fine varieties of corn can b9 produced, while even in the North-west many of the early varieties will mature. Fruits and Vegetables in Tin Cans. Number of varieties shown by Canadian exhibitors at the World's Columbian Exposition • 6 r „ O o ■g c3 o bo O ©O T3 0 O a c O 1° S3 43 S3 c3 JV CO •a-s ■J: a oS _ .5.5 a s 1 W. Boulter 35 Picton, 0 ntarb Car Hamilton akeport Pi Trenton, rathroy C Strathroy Z 08 W 43 0> 43 SCO rs. Weave Chatham, o t-4 § 4 (-3 1 Xfl w 7 £ Fruits 2 4 24 19 Vegetables 6 12 1 3 4 4 5 2 Total numbers 5 4 9 7 43 116 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Pickles, Catsup, Vinegar, Etc. Number of kinds shown by Canadian exhibitors at the World's Columbian Exposition : 05 ."S o r<° c3 • a o r 73 c« 4-3 c3 u * s p 'o 2 Tinling, innipeg, M Weaver, atham, On beg .5-2 a O a o © t £*£ to •£da 10 & 3 2 H H Jellies and jams 10 15 12 5 1 33 Sweet pickles Jams from wild fruits 5 5 6 6 1 Total numbers 16 15 12 10 54 Wine Exhibit. Number of varieties from Canadian exhibitors : — 1 W. D. Kitchen, Grimsby, Ont, J. S. Hamilton, o Pelee Island Wine Co., Brantford, Ont. 02 s- X hi Niagara Falls Wine Co., Toronto, Ont. +3 a O a? O 4> # 1 Chas. Montreuil, Walkerville, Ont. Sol c ..O la Wines exhibited through the 1 7 Unfermented grape juice for sacramental purposes Wines exhibited through the Province of Ontario 1 5 5 2 _ 2~ 2 2 5 5 2 2 lfi 1 fi 1 24 The fruit and vegetable courts seemed to vie with each other in surprising the passers-by. In August and September, for instance, green corn was shown from the Central Farm, Ottawa, and from that at Indian Head, N. W. T. An oft repeated | remark was, " Is it possible you can grow corn in Canada, and even in the North-west?" The fact that, during a large part of the summer, Canada made the only large vegetable exhibit, was a strong point in our favor and proved the wisdom of the Dominion in providing abundantly for this exhibit in advance, so that we held our space until* September, when fresh vegetables began to come in. The fruits of Canada served as a means of placing before our foreign visitors one of the most promising industries of our country. Notes of the varieties we grow were made by gentlemen from Norway, Belgium, England, Russia and other European coun- tries ; because such products, raised in profusion on the farm under the most ordinary conditions, revealed not only a pleasant line of occupation for the colonist, but also ori< of more than ordinary profit. This industry is attracting a most desirable class oi FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Ill settlers, viz., young men of means, who wish to purchase fruit farms in Canada. And while fruit growers themselves do not desire an increase of fruit farmers, for fear of lessening the profits by competition, there is no doubt of the excellent results to the country at large of attracting to it a class of colonists, who have not only means, but also who are possessed of education and refinement. There is reason to expect an increase in trade also from our fruit exhibit, because samples of Canadian apples were given to many visitors, and these united in acknowledg- ing that, in point of flavor and color, the Ontario Spy, the Quebec Fameuse and the Nova Scotia Gravenstein were unsurpassed. Canadian peaches and pears were also pro- nounced superb by those who sampled them. The writer, who grows apples largely in the Niagara peninsula, was offered $4 per barrel for a car-load of his Red Astrachan apples, delivered in Chicago; and, later on, the same price for Cranberry Pippins, Fameuse, Spies, Kings and other fancy varieties. Canadian apples, especially the Tolman Sweet, the Northern Spy and the Fameuse are the most popular apples in the Chicago market. Thousands of barrels of Ontario Spies have been brought to this city during the last two years by apple buyers, and sold at a profit in spite of the McKinley Bill. The Cana- dian Swazie Pomme Grise was also asked for by private parties, who wished to secure that choice little dessert apple, for their own use. Thus it appears that, even in the United States, in some of the great cities of the west and south, there may open up in the near future an almost unlimited market for Canadian apples of certain kinds, as, for instance, the above mentioned kinds from Ontario; and, in addition, the Baldwin, Greening, Blenheim Orange, Cranberry Pippin, Ribston, Ontario and Golden Russet; from British Columbia, the Spitzenburg, Ribston, Golden Russet, Pomme Grise, Fameuse, Maiden's Blush, Ben Davis, Wealthy and many others ; and from Nova Scotia, such kinds as Gravenstein, Ribston, King, Golden Russet and Nonpareil. This latter apple is scarcely distinguishable from the Ontario Roxbury Russet. Had there been a competition for the best quality of fruit, Canada might well have contested the place for supreme excellence. One proof that she even now holds that place in the commercial markets is the lively demand for our fruits on both sides of the Atlantic. In the Liverpool market, the greatest apple market in the world, Canadian apples always bring the highest price, and, on this account, American apples are some- times shipped through Canada, and are labeled " Canadian," in order to bring the shippers more money. In this market, during the past five years, Canadian Baldwins have averaged a higher price than New York State or Maine Baldwins, as is proved by a table of actual sales carefully prepared by Messrs. Woodali & Co., of Liverpool. A good point was made by inviting interested persons inside the office and giving them samples of Canadian apples and grapes to test the quality- We always boast that •Canadian apples are the highest flavored apples grown, and this was the best way to prove it. The Montreal Fameuse was especially selected and a barrel kept in reserve. The universal verdict was in its favor, common expressions being, " Delicious," " The best I ■ever tasted," " Better than any American apple," etc., etc. Among the lessons to be learned from the Horticultural Exhibit at the World's Fair is the evidence that every apple has its home, where it may be grown to the greatest perfection. Thus, the Ben Davis, a comparatively poor apple in Canada, and one not to be much commended to orchardists, is at home in the State of Idaho, and, as grown there, is so large and highly colored that it is the most profitable apple that can be grown, while our Canadian Spy is a comparative failure. The Baldwin is a failure in Illinois and a success in Maine and in'Canada. The Green Newtown Pippin is a success in Pennsylvania, and as grown there is a grand success, it being the kighest priced apple in the British market ; but the same apple is not profitable in Canada. One point is note- worthy, that the farther north an apple can be successfully grown the better the quality and the higher its color. Here then is Canada's opportunity. Her orchardists need to select such varieties as are proved by this World's Fair to be grown to the highest perfection in Canada. No further exhibitions, in which Canada has a part at all, should lack in a first-class fruit exhibit. Fruit growing is one of her leading industries, • more especially in the older provinces, and, while agricultural exhibits may attract emigrants to settle upon her free grant lands of the North-west, a horticultural exhibit, 118 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. especially of fruits, will tend to attract to the older provinces the sons of a wealthy class who bring wealth and refinement along with them. One thing should not be forgotten, viz., that a fruit exhibit cannot be made at any moment, but must be prepared a year in advance, in order to have an exhibit through the early part of the season. Many mistakes are made by shippers in the selection of fruit for exhibiting. Apples and pears lacking in color, with stems off, blemished with spot, curculio or worm, are often forwarded ; a great mistake, for the judge takes off points for each such imperfection. The packing, too, is often bad. Plums, for instance, were sent in cork dust and heated on the way, when they should be carefully rolled in tissue paper and packed closely in narrow crates. A convenient sized package for shipping plums and peaches for exhibition is made as follows : Sides, four pieces J inch stuff, 20 inches by 5| inches ; top and bottom, two pieces, 4 inches by 20 inches; ends, two pieces, J inch stuff, 4J inches by 11J inches. Pack from top (the narrowest side) and open on side. The same package would be most desirable for extra samples of peaches and plums for an appreciative market. It is used by California, and the care exercised by California fruit growers in selecting, grading and packing their pears and peaches has gone a long way toward bringing them the reputation and consequent high prices which they have earned in the markets of the East. The importance of exhibiting large masses of special varieties of apples is plainly manifest for making an impression on visitors at a World's Fair. A plate of two of a single variety, no matter how excellent, attracts no attention from people walking through miles of exhibits ; but when we showed a hundred plates of a single variety, as in the case of the Nova Scotia Gravenstein, or a large cone of beautiful apples, as, for instance, the one Mr. Bigelow, of Nova Scotia, made of his King apples, they were the admiration of all, and drew especial attention to the Province that produced them. An abundant supply of the finest commercial apples should be shown and inferior ones should be left at home, and not sent forward simply for the purpose of increasing the number of varieties on exhibition, for every poor sample lowers the average percentage of excellence scored by the whole exhibit. Floricultural Exhibit. Sir D. L. Macpherson, Chestnut Park, Toronto. Height. Spread. Leaves ft. ft. No. 1. Adiantum Santa Cai-harina, West Indies* 2. Buonapartea juncit'olia, Mexico 3 3. Asplenium bulbiferum, New Zealand John Hoskin, Esq., Q.C., Rosedale, Toronto. 4. Kentia Balmoreana, New Guinea 12 12 Id- Waterworks Reservoir, Summerhill Avenue, Toronto. 5. Ficus Parcelli, Polynesia 5 3 6. Cycas revoluta, Chin i 4 6 90* 7. Latania Borbonica, South China 10 15 5 8 to 11, 4 Crotons (various) 4 12. Nephrolepis exaltata Horticultural Gardens, Gerrard Street, Toronto. 13. Livistonia Australis 6' 12 3t> 14. Latania Borbonica, South China 4 5 8 15. Pandanus Veitchii, Polynesia 4 4 16. " Utilis, Madagascar 4 4 17. Cycas revoluta, China 3 4 22 • The country named after each plant is that from which it was originally introduced. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. lift Normal School, St. James' Square, Toronto. 18. Ficus elastica, East Indies 19. Dracoena Youngii 20. Areca luteecens, Maritius (7 brakes) 21 and 22. 2 Curculigo recurvata, East Indies . 23. Casuarina equisetifolia, Australia 24. Latania Borbonica, South China 25. Phyllocactus latifrons, Mexico 26. Nephrolepis exaltata 27. " davalloides furcans 28. Araucaria Cunninghaini, Moretcn Bay 29. m " Bidwellii, » 30. Livistonia Australis 31. Aspidistria lurida var., Japan 32. Cycas Circinalis. East Indies 38. Ceroxylon nivea, Brazil. . 34. Latania Borbonica, South China. 36. Pandanus Veitchii, Polynesia 37. Kentia Fo^teriana, New Guinea 38 and 39. 2 Crotons (various) 40 and 41. 2 Crotons 42. Aspidistria lurida var. Japan 43. Latania Barbonica, South China 44. Carludovica atravirens, Tropical America. Many small ferns 10 11 4 4 6 6 12 5 4 5 12 10 Government House, King Street, Toronto. Exhibition Park, Dufferin Street, Toronto. ia 18 5 10 10 7 7 21 3 5 4 10 4 4 5. 5 8 21 6 10 10 7 8 6 6 a 5 4 3 3 4 5 10 n Central Prison, Strachan Avenue, Toronto. 45. Areta rubra, Mauritius 46. Sabal Andersoni 47. Latania Borbonica, South China 48. Pandanus Vietchii, Polynesia , 49. Dracoena Massangeana 50. " Lindeni 51. " neo calidonica 52. " Amabilis 53. " Baptisti 54. Kentia Balmoreana, New Guinea , 55. Pandanus utilis, Madagascar 56. Areca lutescens, Mauritius (5 brakes) 57. Kentia Fosteriana, New Guinea 58. Areca Baueri, Norfolk Island ... 59. Cycas Circinalis. East Indies 60. Phcenicophonum sechellarum, Seychelles.., 61. Dracoena indivis-a, New Z -aland 62. Carludovica atrovirens, Tropical America. 63 and 64. 2 Yucca aloifolia var. West Indies 65. Papyrus antiquorum, Egypt 66. Cereus nycticaulis, Mexico 67-70. 4 Maranta zebrina 71. Petris Wallinchiana 72. " Smithsoniana 73. Nephrolepis exaltata. . 74. Onychium japoni^um, Japan 75. Verschaffeltia splen lens, Seychelles Many small ferns and Palms 18 15 10. 18 10 12 6 14 18 4 0 7 5 4 3 3 5 4 8 5 6 4 8 5 8 5 4 5 5 5 13 3 H 5 5 4 3 5 5 4 The Asylum, Queen Street, Toronto. 76. Pvhapis flabellif ormis, China 77. Latania Borbonica, South China Ontario Agricultural College, Ouelph. 78. Pandanus utilis, Madagascar. 79. Phoenix daclylifera, India, Levant. 80. " Canariense 81. Eucalyptus globulus, Australia 82. Rhapis fUbelliformis, China 120 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Messrs. Manton Bros., Florists, Toronto. a 3-88. 6 Dracoena Indivisa, New Zealand Many small ferns , . Air. F. G. Foster, Florist, Hamilton. 89. Kentia Balmoreana, New G uinea 90. " Fosteriana " 91. Phcenix reclinata. India 92. Areca lutescens, Mauritius 93. Latania Borbonica, South China 94. Dracoena Lindeni This exhibit was given a very prominent place in the dome and was counted very fine by experts in, floriculture. It was cared for by first-class florists from Toronto and was, therefore, kept in the best possible condition. From the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, there was shown a very fine collection of thirty five varieties of evergreens, which served an excellent purpose during August, and September in decorating the tables when the stock of fruit is at the lowest. A full list of these may be seen in the catalogue. In addition to the above exhibits, there was also a very fine collection of Canadian horticultural literature, containing the reports of the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Associ- ation, thirteen volumes ; a book entitled "The Canadian Fruit, Flower and Kitchen Gar- dener" by D. W. Beadle of Toronto ; a set of fourteen bound volumes of the " Canadian Horticulturist ; " a set of twenty-five reports of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, and a collection of fine photographs giving excellent views of some representative Cana- dian fruit farms. These, coupled with the products of farms and gardens, gave the visitor a very correct conception of the progress of horticulture in Canada. British Columbia showed a map of that province, a very commendable feature, for nine-tenths of the visitors would otherwise have had no idea of its situation, much less of the location of its towns, rivers or fruit centres. I am of the opinion that at future exhibitions an important feature in both agricultural and horticultural courts should be a well executed map of each province, not too large, but clearly marked to indicate those localities where the products shown may be successfully grown. Thus, in every way, I have endeavored to impress our visitors with some adequate notion of the high position occupied by Canada, both practically and theoretically in horticultural pursuits, and I am confident that, in a large degree, this effort has achieved signal success. In closing, I submit the list of awards in horticulture, which must be gratifying to every loyal Canadian. That Canada should carry off over sixty awards and medals, besides many " Honorable Mentions " in the Department of Horticulture alone speaks volumes for her fruits and vegetables as compared with those shown by other countries when viewed by expert judges. The Province of Ontario alone took thirty -four awards in fruit — by far the largest number taken by any exhibitor. List of Awards. Name of Exhibitor. Exhibit. Department of Agriculture, Ottawa General Collection of Vege- tables from her Experimen- tal Farm. Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa Collection of Vegetables. " " " Grapes. Experimental Farm, Brandon, Man " Vegetables. " " .... " " in solution. " Nappan, N.S " Vegetables. << « " " from New Brunswick farmers. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 121 List of Awards. — Continued. Name of Exhibitor. Exhibit. Experimental Farm, Agasaiz, B. 0 Collection of Apples. " Indian Head, N. W. T " Vegetables. Mrs. Tinling, Winnipeg, Man ■ " Pickles. Ontario Canning Company, Hamilton, Ont " Canned Fruits, W. Boulter k Son, Picton, Ont " " The Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, office at Grimsby Horticultural Publications. W. D. Kitchen, Grimsby, Ont Unfermented Grape Juice. Province of Ontario, Toronto Grapes. " " Apples of 1892. " " " 1893. " " Pears and Quinces. " " Stone Fruits. " " Cherries. " " Currants. " " Gooseberries. " " Blackberries. 11 " Fruits in Solution. " " Collection of Vegetables. " (Niagara District) Toronto Grapes. '* " " Pears. " " " Apples. " (Burlington District), " Grapes. " " ' " Apples. " ' " " Pears. " ( Wentworth District), Toronto .... Grapes. " " "..... Apples and peaches. " " " Pears. " ^Essex District) " .... Pears and peaches. Province of Ontario (Belleville and Eastern Districts), Toronto, Ont Apples. Province of Ontario (Grey District), Toronto, Ont " " (Huron " " " " (Simcoe " " h Apples and Pears. u William Rennie, " Turnips and Mangels. 11 Jas. Shepherd & Sons, Queenston. . . Peaches. W. R. Read, Port Dalhousie " C. Atkins, Stony Creek 11 W. Kottmeier, St. Catharines " " E. Ty hurst, Leamington " " Geo. W. Cline, Winona Plums. 11 Wm. Stewart, Goderich " " Wm. Warnock, . " " W. M. Orr, Stony Creek " R. Trotter, Owen Sound u " Mrs. A. M. Croly, Tilsonburg, Ont . Botanical Collection. Collection of Plants. Province of Quebec, Quebec Apples of 1892. " " Fruits in Solution. Province of Quebec, Missisquoi Horticultural Society, Frelighsburg Apples of 1893. Province of Quebec, Missisquoi Horticultural Society, Frelighsburg , Grapes. 122 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. List op Awards. — Concluded. Name of Exhibitor. Exhibit. Province of Quebec, Geo. B. Edwards, Covey Hill Apples of 1893. Province of British Columbia, Victoria Collection of Apples. " " " Plums. " " " Vegetables. Province of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown " Apples. .... " Vegetablesofjl892 The Fruit Growers' Association of Nova Scotia, Wolf ville. Apples of 1 892. 11 Apples and pears^of 1893. J. W. Bigelow, Wolfville Apples. Mr. E. Hutcherson of British Columbia contributes the following Act, designed to provide for the destruction of various diseases and insects, from which possibly we may gain some useful hints : THE HORTICULTURAL BOARD ACT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. Her Majesty, by and with the adviee and consent of the Legislative] Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows : 1. This Act may be cited as the " Horticultural Board Act, 1892." 2- There is hereby created a Provincial Board of Horticulture, to consist of six members, who shall be appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, one from the Province at large, and one from each of the horticultural districts which are hereby created, to wit : — 1. The First District shall comprise the Electoral Districts of Victoria, Victoria City, Esquimalt, and Cowichan. 2. The Second District shall comprise the remaining Electoral Districts of Van- couver Island, and The Islands. 3. The Third District shall comprise all of New Westminster Electoral District south of the Fraser River : 4. The Fourth District shall comprise the Electoral districts of New Westminster City, and of Vancouver City, and New Westminster Electoral District north of the Fraser River, and the Electoral District of Cassiar : 5. The Fifth District shall comprise all the rest of the Mainland of British Columbia. 3. The members shall reside in the districts for which they are appointed; they shall be selected with reference to their study of and practical experience in horticulture, and the industries dependent thereon ; they shall hold office for a term of four years, and until their successors are appointed and qualified : Provided, however, that three of the Board first appointed (to be determined by lot) shall retire at the expiration of two years. All vacancies in the Board shall be filled by appointment of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, and shall be for the unexpired term. 4. The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may appoint a Secretary, prescribe his duties, and may also appoint a Treasurer, who shall give a bond to the Lieutenant-Gover- nor in Council in the sum of one thousand dollars for the faithful performance of his duties. The Secretary and Treasurer shall hold their appointments at the pleasure of tho FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 123 Lieutenant-Governor in Council. Before entering upon the discharge of his duties, each member of the Board shall take and subscribe to an oath of allegiance, and to faithfully discharge the duties of his office, which said oath shall be filed with the Provincial Se- re tary. 5. The Board shall receive, manage, use, and hold donations and bequests of money and property for promoting the subjects of its formation ; it shall meet in the months of April and October of each year, and as much oftener as it may deem expedient, for th« consultation on and for the adoption of those measures that will best promote the horti- cultural industry of the Province ; it may, but without expense to the Province, select and appoint competent and qualified persons to lecture in each of the districts named in seotion 2 of this Act, for the purpose of encouraging and improving practical horticul- ture, and imparting instruction in the best methods of treating the diseases of fruits and fruit trees, cleaning orchards, and exterminating orchard pests. 6 The office of the Board shall be located at such a place as the majority thereof may determine ; it shall be kept open to the public, subject to the rules of the Board, every day excepting Sundays and public holidays, and shall be in charge of the Secretary during the absence of the Board. 7. For the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious diseases among fruits and fruit trees, and for the prevention, treatment, cure, and extirpation of fruit pests and the diseases of fruits and fruit trees, and for the disinfection of grafts, scions, or orchard ddbris, empty fruit boxes or packages, and other suspeeted material or transportable articles dangerous to orchards, fruits, and fruit trees, said Board may suggest regulations for the inspection and disinfection thereof, which regulations shall be circulated in printed form by the Board among the fruit-growers and fruit dealers of the Province, and shall be published at least ten days in two daily papers of general circulation in the Province, and shall be posted in three conspicuous places in each district, one of which shall be at the County Court House thereof. 8- The Lieutenant-Governor in Council shall appoint, from the number of the Board or from without their number, to hold office at the pleasure of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, a competent person especially qualified by practical experience in horticulture, who shall be known as " Inspector of Fruit Pests." It shall be the duty of said Inspec- tor to visit the horticultural districts of the Province to see that all the regulations of said Board to prevent the spread of fruit pests and diseases of trees and plants injurious to the horticultural interests of the Province, and for the disinfection of fruit, trees, plants, grafts, scions, nursery stock of all description, orchard de'bris, empty fruit boxes and packages, and other material, be made known to the people of the Province ; he shall, whenever required, and under the direction of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council and of the Board, and may also upon his own motion, and upon complaint of interested parties, inspect orchards, nurseries, and other places suspected or believed to be infested with fruit pests, or infected with contagious diseases injurious to trees, plants, or fruits, and he shall report the facts to the Board. The Inspector shall, from time to time and when- ever required by said Board, report to it such information as he may secure from obser- vation, experience, and otherwise, as to the best method of diminishing and eradi- cating fruit pests and diseases from orchards, and also suggestions as to practical horticulture, the adoption of produce suitable to soil, climate, and markets, and such other facts and information as shall be calculated to advance the horticultural interests of the Province. " The Inspector shall from time to time, under the direction of the Board, hold meetings throughout the Province in the interests of horticulture, and impart such information and instruction to fruit-growers and farmers as miy tend to the improvement and expansion of the fruit industry of the Province." 9. Whenever a complaint is made to any member of the Board that any person has an orchard, trees, or nursery of trees, or a fruit packing house, store room, sales room, or any other place in this Province infected with any noxious insects, or the eggs or 124 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Wvse of any such insects, or that any packages of trees, plants, or fruit arriving in this Province, or in this Province about to be disseminated, which are known or suspected to be from localities that are infected with any disease or pest injurious, or that may become injurious, to the fruit interests of the Province, such member shall inspect, or cause to be inspected, the premises or property to which such complaint relates, and if the same be found to be infected as aforesaid, such member shall notify, in writing, the person having charge of such premises and property to appear before him at such time and place as specified in such notice, to be heard in reference to the infection of such premises or property aforesaid, and such property shall not be removed after the person in charge of the same shall have been notified in writing as aforesaid without the written permission of a member of the Board and whether the person notified to attend is present or not. If such member shall be of the opinion that such premises or property or any of the same, are infected as aforesaid, he shall notify, in writing, the person in charge of the same, within a time to be prescribed in such notice, to treat and disinfect said premises or property in the manner presented in said notice, and if the person so notified shall neglect or refuse to treat and disinfect the said premises or property, in the manner and within the time prescribed in the said notice, such person shall be liable to a fine of not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, to be recoverable on summary conviction before a Justice of the Peace ; and if it appears on the trial that any orchard, trees, nursery, building, or any other structures, premises, or property in charge of the defendant referred to in said notice, or any part of such structure, premises, or property, is infested or affected as aforesaid, the Court shall declare whatsoever of the same is so infected a nuisance, and shall order it to be abated, or may make any other order necessary to prevent it3 continuance, and it shall be the duty of the Board, or some member thereof, to execute such order, and the costs and disbursements of the prosecution shall be adjudged against the party convicted as aforesaid. 10. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to attend all meetings of the Board, and to procure records of the proceedings and correspondence, to collect books, pamphlets, periodicals and other documents containing valuable information relating to horticulture and to preserve the same ; to collect statistics and other information showing the actual condition and progress of horticulture in this Province and elsewhere ; to correspond with agricultural and horticultural societies, colleges and schools of agriculture and horti- culture, and other persons and bodies, as he may be directed by the Board ; and prepare, as required by the Board, reports for publication ; he shall also act as assistant to and obey the directions of the Inspector of Fruit Pests, under the direction of the B >ard, in the exercise of the duties of his office, and shall be paid for his services as said Secretary and Assistant Inspector a salary to be fixed by the Board, and his mileage actually paid out shall be allowed when acting as assistant to the Inspector of Fruit Pests. 11. The Board shall, annually, in the mouth of January, report to the Minister of Agriculture a statement of its doings, with a copy of the Treasurer's account for the year preceding, and abstracts of the reports of the Inspector of Fruit Pests, and of the Secretary. The members of the Board shall receive as compensation for their services their mileage actually paid out when attending the meetings of the Board, and shall be allowed a sum not exceeding five dollars a day for time actually employed, to be fis:ed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. 12. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to the Board, and pay out the same only for bills approved by it, and shall render annually a detailed account to the Board of all receipts and disbursements. 13- The said Board shall, when making its annual statement, report to the Minister of Agriculture what (if any) legislation is needed in aid of the horticultural and fruit- growing interests of the Province. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 125 14. The powers and duties devolving by this Act upon the said Baard and the Inspector of Fruit Pests in relation to fruit and fruit trees, are hereby extended to hops and hop plants, for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease among hops and hop plants, and of extirpating any pests affecting the same. 15. Notwithstanding anything in the said Act contained, it shall be lawful for the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, at discretion, from time to time, to assign the per- formance of the duties of the Secretary of the Board to the Inspector of Fruit Pests, and. to remunerate the Inspector accordingly. PUBLIC NOTICE. Pursuant to Section 7 of the above Act, the following notice is published in the fruit growing district of British Columbia. Notice. Rale. 1. All agents, dealers, nurserymen, or persons importing, selling, or distribu- ting nursery stock, as well as all trees, plants, and fruit, (unless they have in their pos- session a certificate from the Horticultural Board that their property is free of pests) before distributing, offering for sale or disposing of any article as above mentioned, shall notify the member of the Board, his agent or representative in whose district any such article is found, or the Secretary or Inspector of this Board, who shall inspector cause to be inspected said nursery stock, trees, plants, or fruit, and if they are found to be free from pests shall issue a certificate to the owner or person in charge, stating said articles, appear free from injurious insect pests. Rule 2. AH persons p assessing, forwarding, or distributing trees, plants, nursery stocks, or fruit infested with any insect such as : Woolly aphis, apple tree aphis, scaly bark-louse, oyster-shell bark-louse, San Jose scale, red scale borers, currant worms, or other known injurious insects shall have the same disinfected and cleansed of such insects before forwarding, distributing, selling or disposing of said trees, plants or fruit. Rule 3. The Board demand that all boxes or crates which have b3en used in the importation of fruits or nursery stock into this Province shall be immediately broken up and destroyed by fire, whereby growers will avoid the expense of disinfecting, which it is incumbent on the members of the Horticultural Board or their agents to enforce. The following method will be considered sufficient for disinfecting boxes, etc. : By dipping them in boiling water containing not less than one pound of concentrated lye or potash to every ten gallons of water, and submerging said material not less than five minutes. Rule 4- Nursery stock or any trees or plants infested by any insects as included in Rule 2, shall be disinfected by dipping in a solution prepared as follows: Take three pounds of soap (whale oil or good home-made soap), three pounds sulphur and one pound Gillett's concentrated lye, or lye of equal strength and purity, boil one hour in four gallons of water, add one gallon coal oil, then boil slowly twenty minutes and add twenty-five gallons of water. Rule 5. Where insect pests, such as are mentioned in the British Columbia Fruit Growers' Supplement for 1893, or other known injurious insects, are found to exist, spraying must be done and other remedies applied during the growing season, while the trees are in leaf, as shall be recommended by the Board from time to time, so that the insects can at least be held in check until the stronger washes of the dormant season can be safely applied. Rale 6. Where hop fields are infested with the hop-louse spraying must be done as nhall be recommended by the Board. Rule 7. Horticultural and Fruit Growers' Societies are requested to woi k in har- mony with this Board, and may, without expense to the Board, elect from their number 126 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. one or more persons to act as local Inspectors or Advisers, who shall report to the mem- ber of the Horticultural Board of the district in which such Society is located, or to the Secretary or Inspector of the Provincial Board, cases where trees or plants are infested, and the owner or person in charge refuses to obey the directions of the Society in car- rying out the rules of the Board, also any other matters of importance to the interests of said Society. Rule 8. All members of the Board are hereby authorized to inspect any garden, orchard, trees or nursery of trees, fruit, packing house, warehouse, store-room, sales-room, or any other place in the Province liable to be infested with any noxious insects or eggs or larvae of any such insects, in order to satisfy themselves that the rules and regulations of the Board are duly observed. Rule 9. Any person having infested material, trees, plants, fruit or packages, and refuses or neglects to take action to have the same disinfected, or pests exterminated, after due notice has been given, shall be deemed guilty of an offence against the Act, and shall be dealt with according to law. By order of the Board, E. A. Carew-Gibson, Acting Secretary. Office of the Provincial Board of Horticulture, Victoria, 26th October, 1893. THE WORLD'S HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Immediately following the World's Congress on Horticulture at Chicago in August last, a series of meetings was held to consider the advisability of organizing a horti- cultural society which shall include every country of the globe. After much discus- sion, in which many eminent men from various parts of the world engaged, the World's Horticultural Society wa3 organized and the election of the three general officers was held, on the 25th of August. This new society is designed, in the language of the constitution, "to promote correspondence and to facilitate exchange of plants and information between the countries of the world." This society can coordinate and extend the work of all existing societies, compile statistics, promote legislation and education, prepare correspondence directories, diffuse all the latest information from the various parts of the globe, consider means of transportation, and facilitate the exchange of varieties and every commodity in which pomologists, viticu'turists, florists, vegetable gardeners, and other horticulturists are interested. The society will probably meet occasionally at the various International Exhibitions, upon which occasions, also, it can greatly aid in procuring exhibits from all parts of the world. The general charge of this great society resides in three officers : The president ; vice-president at large; secretary-treasurer at large. There is to be a vice president and a secretary-treasurer for each country, who shall direct the affairs of the society in their respective countries. The officers elected at Chicago upon the 25th of August, 1893, were: Prosper J. Breckmans, A.M., Augusta, Georgia, U.S.A., president, a native of Belgium, but for many years a prominent pomologist and nurseryman of the United States, where he is now president of the American Pomological Society; Henri L. de Vilmorin, Paris, France, vice-president, a distinguished horticulturist, scientist and author, who is favorably known throughout the world ; George Nicholson, secretary-treasurer, Curator of the Royal Gardens, Kow, England, everywhere known as the author of the incomparable Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening. Liter, the president appointed William F. Dreer of Philadelphia, vice-president for the United States, a man long and favorably known in the seed trade; and Mr. Dreer appointed Professor L H. Bailey, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., secretary-treasurer for the United States. At FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 127 this juncture, Mr. Nicholson declined the office of secretary-treasurer at large, as it would be inconsistent with his present duties. This is a source of great regret to his many friends and admirers. Until a successor is elected, the secretary-treasurer for the United States has consented to act in the capacity of general secretary-treasurer. The society now requests the earnest and early support of its friends. The vice-presi- dents of the various countries will be announced soon, and the organization will then be quickly completed. The society needs the co-operation of every enlightened horticulturist and every important horticultural organization. Prosper J. Berckmans, President. Augusta, Georgia, U.S.A. Henri L. DeVilmorin, Vice-president, No. 22, Avenue de la Bourbonnais, Paris, France. L. H. Bailey, Ithaca, N.Y., U.S.A., Secretary-treasurer for the United States, And temporary Secretary-treasurer at large. The initial membership fee for North America is $2, which also covers the dues for the remainder of the current year. Thereafter, the dues are $1 a year. Every American horticulturist should identify him- self with this organization ; and every state or district society should do the same. Remittances from the United States should be sent to the secretary at Ithaca, N.Y. CONSTITUTION. This body shall be known as the World's Horticultural Society. The object of this society shall be to promote correspondence and to facilitate exchange of plants and information between the countries of the world. The membership of this society shall be composed of societies in the various countries and of indi- viduals, who shall subscribe to its constitution and pay the membership fees. The officers of this society shall consi?t of a president, first vice-president, and a secretary-treasurer ; also a vice-president and a secretary-treasurer in each country, independent state or province, whenever suitable persons can be found who are willing to undertake the duties of such office. The officers shall con- stitute an executive committee, which may call meetings on such occasions of interest as may be deemed worthy. The term of office of all officers of this society shall be three years, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. f '3The vice president in each country shall be appointed, at the outset, by the president of the World's Horticultural Society, after conference with the foreign representatives at the World's Columbian Exposi- tion, or upon correspondence with horticulturists in the various countries. The vice-president of each country shall appoint the secretary treasurer for that country. The fee for societies shall be $5 annually, or as near that amount as the currency of the country readily admits. The initial fee for individuals shall be $2, or approximately that amount, which fee shall also be the dues for the remainder of the current calendar year. The annual dues thereafter shall be one-half that sum. The funds shall be spent by the executive committee for the necessary expenses of the society, which shall a'low one-third of all the collections in each country to be retained there for its own expenses and to be disbursed by its own secretary, except in the country represented by the president, where all the funds collected shail be retained, but that country shall pay its share of the general expenses. The executive committee has power to publish a periodical of the size and frequency of issue warranted by the funds, and which shall be sent free to all members of the society. In the absence of meetings of the executive com- mittee, the president, first vice president, secretary-treasurer, and the secretary-treasurer of the country represented by the president, shall constitute a finance committee, which shall audit the accounts of the society, any two of whom shall constitute a quorum. The president, first vice president, secretary-treasurer, and secretary-treasurer of the country repre- sented by the president, constitute the committee on by-laws of the World's Horticultural Society, any two of whom shall constitute a quorum. Adopted by a meeting of horticulturists of various countries, in Chicago, Aug. 25, 1893. APPENDIX II REPORTS OF AFFILIATED SOCIETIES. REPORT OF THE BURLINGTON HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, 1893. This society has again to report a successful year. The membership now numbers over sixty, which shows a substantial increase for the year. Four meetings have been held which were well attended, and in the proceedings of which a strong interest was taken. Several papers were read and addresses given which elicited lively discussion. As it is the custom of the society, the usual annual outing was taken. This year the members visited the plum and grape plantations in the vicinity of Stony Creek, meeting with a kind reception from the proprietors, and receiving as well as giving many valuable points as to culture and marketing of fruits. A Society Exhibit was made at the Industrial Fair, Toronto, at which we were awarded first prize. By means of municipal grants a great deal of fruit of every variety grown in this district was sent to the World's Fair, Chicago. A competent fruit man was engaged to collect, sort, pack and ship suitable fruit throughout the season, commencing with the earliest strawberries and continuing on through with the various fruits as they matured to the close. This was his sole work, so that, obviously, a large quantity of fruit found its way to Chicago. At the date of writing no official notice of results has reached us, but, from the press reports of awards made this district certainly stands high. Officers. The following are the officers of the association for 1893. President : Geo. E. Fisher, Freeman P. O Vice-President : J. S. Freeman, Freeman P. O. Secretary- Treasurer : A. W. Peart, Freeman P. O. Assistant Secretary : Geo. N. Peer, Freeman P. O. Directors — Apples, Edwin Peart ; Grapes, C. N. Dynes ; Small Fruit, Alex. Reach ; Peaches and Pears, W. F. W. Fisher ; Plums, C. G. Davis ; Vegetables, E. Thorpe ; Shipping, Jas. Lindley. Executive Committee : Dr. Husband, Alex. Reach, P. McCullough. Entertainment Committee : The President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer. Auditors : Geo. N. Peer, and C. N. Dynes. REPORT OF FRUIT GROWING IN 1893 ABOUT BURLINGTON. The following paper was sent in by Mr. Geo. E. Fisher, President of the Burlington Fruit Growers' Association (affiliated). To the Secretary of the Ontario F. G. A : Sir : — In responding to your request I have much pleasure in submitting the following brief report of the fruit crop of 1893 and of the present condition of orchards in the Burlington district. 9 (F.G.) 130 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCEATION OF ONTARIO. Apples were upon the whole a light crop, of fair size and very highly colored. Green- ings were more plentiful than any other variety, Baldwins and Ribstons next ; these three being our most profitable varieties year after year. Some orchards situated near the lake gave an average yield. One gentlemen, the Rev. Mr. Watt, picked fourty-four bushels of Baldwins from one tree — a pretty good yield for last year. In going back from the water the quantity decreased rapidly and beyond a distance of probably three miles there were very few apples. Spraying is pretty generally resorted to, and where that was practiced there was not an unusual proportion of worms and very little scab. The foliage was not heavy but healthy, and the growth of wood, though not large, was well matured ; and this may be said of all our fruit trees. The yield of pears was probably sixty per cent, of that of 1892. The fruit was smaller and more knotty. The scarcity and poor quality of the Duchess was remarkable, as of late years we have had full crops and splendid samples of this variety. Bartletts did fairly well. The Lawrence and Vicar gave very large crops, but the Anjou and many other varieties were short. Blight was more prevalent than usual and many young trees showed the effect of the previous winter's frost. Plums were a good crop, well developed and unusually free from rot. The curculio did much damage where spraying had been neglected, but where this had been carefully attended to it caused no trouble. Large plantations of both plum and pear trees have been made here, but while the blight has destroyed many pear trees, our plum trees have escaped serious injury from black knot. Peaches have not been planted largely, but occasionally a few hundred trees are found together. The disease known as the yellows has not been troublesome. The steady cold of the preceding winter held the buds in check till spring opened, resulting in a full crop of exceedingly fine quality. Grapes were an immense crop, of exceptional size and flavor. We have had very little mildew ; the vines are very thrifty and the wood is well matured. Strawberries yielded a large crop and were a good sample. Michel's Early made more money than any other variety. Monmouth, the largest early berry grown here, did very well. Considerable experimenting with new varieties is being done. New beds have run well. Some growers are discouraged by low prices, but these have only old varieties, which were unprofitable, while large fruits sold well. Raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, red and black currants gave heavy crops, made plenty of wood and promise well for another year. BRANT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Officers. President : Lyman Chapin, Brantford. Vice-President : Chas. Grantham, Cainsville. Secretary- Treasurer : D. M. Lee, Paris, Ont. Directors : J. R. Howell, Brantford ; T. A. Ivey, Brantford ; Chas. Grantham, Cainsville ; David Greig, Cainsville j David Westbrook, Cainsville ; Jas. Miller, Paris ; H. J. Bryan, Mohawk ; G. R. Coon, Norwich ; John A. Eddy, Scotland. A meeting of the Brant County Fruit Growers' Association was held in the Town Hall in the Town of Paris, on Tuesday afternoon, January 29th, 1894. There was a good attendance present, and much interest manifested in the subjects under discussion. The session was opened by the President, Mr. Lyman Chapin, of Brantford, whose remarks were very appropriate and practical. The Mayor of Paris, Mr. J. H. Fisher, welcomed the Association to Paris, and com- plimented the work which had been done by it in encouraging the development of the industry about Paris. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 131 A paper on Window Gardening was given by T. A. Ivey, of Brantford, which is as follows : WINDOW GARDENING. A knowledge of th*« habits or requirements of the plants desirable for window garden- ing, either inside or out, is of first importance, as without this knowledge fine healthy plants from the greenhouse or conservatory are often ruined in a very short time ; not through any lack of interest on the paru of the grower, but simply through wrong treat- ment, in which, it may be, only one t ssential element w lacking for the health of the plant. For instance, suppose a palm, a fine healthy specimen, is brought into the house- window from the greenhouse, where it has been grown in a nice even temperature of say fifty-five degrees at night, and perhaps ten to fifteen degrees higher during the day, and all its other requirements as to moisture, ventilation, etc., had been carefully looked after by the florist. Now, suppose this same palm is handled in its new quarters in the win- dow by one anxious to keep it looking nice. It is kept nicely watered, and perhaps every day the temperature may be as near as can be the same as it had in the greenhouse, the moisture at the roots about the same, and the amount of light about the same. It is in the same soil, in the same pot, but it soon shows signs of going back. The leaves become withered and the plant generally looks sick. There is probably just one cause of trouble, viz., the condition of the atmosphere of the room as to moisture. The plant had grown in a moist atmosphere in its greenhouse quarters. The change in this respect is very great in its new situation in the house, the air being very dry there. I have recently tested this in two specimens of palms taken from the greenhonse to the dwelling. One was watered in the ordinary way at the root. The other was watered at the root in the same way, but in addition was carefully sprayed all over every day. This last retained its fresh look all right, while the other speedily withered its leaves and looked like dying and had to be returned to the greenhouse to recover. I think this establishes what I said at the begin- ning. It is necessary to know the requirements, of our plants as to moisture, heat, venti- lation, light, soil, etc., the difference being considerable in different plants. Let no one imagine that he can grow successfully a large variety of plants in exactly the same sur- roundings and with the same general treatment. In our greenhouses we have a consider- able range of temperature, and can vary the amount of light and moisture in different parts of the house, and can thus vary the treatment of plants according to their natural requirements to a great extent. This affords the florist in charge opportunities for the exercise of his brains. He must select the portion of the greenhouse with a low tempera- ture for plants requiring less heat, while the hotter portions will receive the plants requir- ing high temperature, and so on. The care of house plants and window gardening will call forth the ingenuity of the grower to produce the same conditions as near as possible. This it first sight looks like a very difficult thing to do, but it is said "Where there is a will there is a way," so with the will in the right direction it is possible to accomplish much. It will be first necessary to find out what your plants really do require on the lines above referred to. Then, next in order is to study your house, its different apartments, and the conditions of heat, light, moisture, etc., in each ; then a general arrangement of plants may follow. The kitchen, if light and warm and having more moisture in the air than any other room in the house, would be a good place for such plants as coleus, crotons, palms, etc. A cooler room would do for geraniums, stocks and the like. A warmer room with less moisture would suit pandanus, abutilous, some varieties of palms, especially if the lack of moisture in the air was supplied by frequent spraying in the case of the latter, and so on over the whole list much can be done. What I have said is no doubt more suggestive than otherwise, but if it will lead any interested persons to study out results for them- selves along these lines, then I shall feel rewarded for my trouble in preparing this paper. Considerable discussion followed, by which much information was elicited regarding how to water plants, how often to apply it ; best fertilizers to use for house plants ; proper temperature for coleus, geraniums, etc. 132 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. The President then called upon Mr. L. Woolverton, Secretary cf the Ontario *Fruit Growers' Association to give an address on Small Fruit Growing. The following are some of the points made by Mr. Woolverton in his address : SMALL FRUITS FOR PROFIT. The man who is favorably situated, and has the right kind of soil, and who himself is the right sort of a man, may devote his attention more or less to small fruits with a reasonable prospect of making a fair profit. To be favorably situated, he must either be within driving distance of a market for his fruit, or near an express office from which his fruit may be forwarded to a city at a reasonable rate ; to have the right kind of soil, he must have land that is not too heavy to be easily cultivated at all seasons, and not so light as sand as to be too readily affected by drought ; and to be the right sort of a man, he needs to have some knowledge of fruit culture, much patient perseverance, and a disposition to pay close attention to many little and apparently unimportant details. Mr. J. H. Hale, an authority of high standing in Connecticut, gives the following as the requisites to success in small fruit culture : 1. A love of fruits for their own sake, and pleasure in their culture. 2. A soil fairly well adapted. 3. Markets within easy reach. 4. A supply of extra laborers near enough to be promptly available in emergencies. 5. Plant no more than can be thoroughly cultivated and profitably marketed. Upon such circumstances I can encourage any one so disposed, to enter upon this industry. But, just here, I wish to sound a note of warning, and to say that not all the glowing accounts of the profits of fruit culture are to be swallowed whole. It has been to the interest of the nurserymen to laud the business, to exaggerate the profits of it until many are tempted to leave good situations to engage in it, who are utterly ignorant of it, and who are doomed to disappointment. Like any other line, the profits only come as the reward of the most patient industry. The subject of small fruits lor profit is too large to be treated in one paper ; it needs a series of papers in order to deal with it in a profitable manner. I shall therefore in this one confine myself principally to the Strawberry, leaving the others for successive papers. One of the most important essentials for success in the selection of varieties. And in this the amateur is almost bewildered with the multitude, each of which has been boomed as the one beyond all the others in value. It may be interesting here to notice that all our prominent varieties are natives of j America, and improved from that known botanically as Fragaria Virginiana. A little ! while ago, the popular foreign varieties, such as Jucunda, and Triomphe de Gand had ] their commenders, but of late, since the introduction of such fine large varieties as Sharpless, ) Bubach, Haverland, etc., and others, they have been thrown aside, because so much less I productive. My list of varieties for profit is soon given. I would omit the old Crescent, i True, it is one of the earliest and most productive of all strawberries, but it is soft and I poor in quality. The Wilson seems likely to give place to some of the newer varieties for main crop, j but many still prize its firm flesh and tart flavor, especially for canning for home use. j Firmer than the Crescent, it is better suited to ship to distant markets, and it never j disappoints the planter as a market berry unless enfeebled by rust, which lately is its I chief fault. The Sharpless for large berries and top prices is indispensable, but it is a poor shipper, i and unless used soon after picking is almost inedible. It is best cultivated in very narrow rows or else in hill culture. Among the newer berries which have been tested, we mention the Bubach as one of j the most promising \ indeed it is likely to displace the Sharpless, being about as large, more regular in shape and far more productive. At least this was my experience with it last season. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 133 The plant is a strong grower, with large, healthy foliage, and v^ry productive ; succeeds on light or heavy soil. The blossom is perfect ; berry large, roundish conical, bright scarlet, moderately firm, fair quality ; season, early to medium. The Williams, a variety which originated near you, in a place called Cains ville, is quite a success with me in Grimsby ; indeed, I have gathered more fruit from it than from any other variety. It is also very firm and therefore an excellent shipper. It is too well known to you to need description. 1 he Saunders, one of John Little's seedlings, is in my opinion very valuable. The plant is a good grower and a heavy bearer ; blossom, staminate ; fruit, large, conical, dark glossy red ; quality, good ; season, medium. The Haverland is a very productive variety, and the plant withstands drouth well ; blossom, pistillate ; fruit, medium to large, but rather soft, light red ; season, early. This variety is a, favorite with me on account of its shape, size, and color. Warfield is another very productive plant, though rather small; berry, firm, dark glossy red ; some say it is larger than the Wilson, but with me it averages about the same. Another berry, which the originator, Mr. John Little, has done me the honor of calling the Woolverton, impressed me very favorably, but I have not tested it yet long enough to say much about it. The Enhance is much commended by some experimenters, and the plants are strong, healthy growers ; berries, large like Sharpless, but firmer ; season, medium. You need not invest much in plants. You should learn some of the secrets of the nursery — enough at least to propagate all kinds of small fruits for yourself. Buy a dozen of any new kind of strawberry plant and very soon you will have all you want for yourself. Fertilization of the Blossoms. The strawberry grower who is ignorant of the sexuality of the plants he is using, often makes a serious mistake in planting. Many varieties, such as the Wilson, Down- ing, May King, Captain Jack and Sharpless, have perfect flowers — that is, the stamens and the pistils are both fully developed. Everyone nowadays knows that unless the pollen dust from the stamens fertilizes the pistils, no seeds will be produced, and little or no fruit, but in the case of the perfect or hermaphrodite varieties above mentioned, this is safely provided by their own flowers. There are other varieties, however, such as Crescent, Bubach, Jewell, Manchester, which have imperfect blossoms. They are pistillate — that is, they have pistils only, and the stamens are aborted, or so imperfectly developed as to supply no pollen. Such varie- ties need to be planted in the vicinity of some variety from which the wind and the bees will bring the pollen dust to their pistils, and for this purpose it will suffice if every third or fourth row is planted with a hermaphrodite. George R. Knapp, a celebrated straw- berry grower, of Greenfield, Mass., speaks very highly of the Sharpless as a variety for this purpose, and says he has found the Crescent unequalled when every third or fourth row is planted with the Sharpless • while for a medium to late kind, he has had great success with the Manchester fertilized by Sharpless, and declares that in this way the size of the former is very materially increased. Choice and Preparation of Soil. A deep, rich sandy loam, not too light, is best for strawberries. Generally speaking, such land as would produce a good crop of corn is the kind of land whic i may be depended upon for a successful plantation. For one or two years previous the ground should be thoroughly worked up, and then, before setting, thoroughly manured and prep ired for planting by deep plowing and pulverizing. It may then be marked cut with a corn planter in rows three feet apart. 134 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Planting. Great care should be taken to shade the rows from the rays of the sun. I use a basket covered with a damp cloth for carrying the plants while planting. The quickest method I have ever tried of setting the plants is to open the earth with a slanting cut of the spade, while a boy spreads out the roots of the plant, and places them in the opening. The spade is then withdrawn, and the earth, falling back, is firmed with the foot, and thus the plant is securely and well planted. Planters differ somewhat as to the best distance apart in the rows, some advocating 12, some 18 inches ; but unless there is reason for economizing plants, the lesser distance is to be preferred. The best time for planting is as early in the spring as the ground is in good condition, in order that the plants may make as much growth as possible the first season, and be prepared to yield a full crop the following season. Manure. In this lies concealed one great secret of the greatest success in profitable strawberry culture, as well as in most departments of practical horticulture. We are often astonished at the immense yield of a small garden plot, and we say, " If a quarter of an acre will yield 1,500 quarts of fine berries, an acre would yield four times as many, or about 6,000 quarts." We plant the acre, with the expectation of coining money, and lo ! we get only about 2,000 quarts from the whole acre. What is the trouble 1 Why, we have put the labor, the manure and the cultivation, on the acre that we before put on the quarter, and the failure is the natural result. Listen to what Mr. P. Curry, a market gardener in Keokuk Co., Iowa, says in the Prairie Farmer on this point : " In your issue of June 7th a writer reports a big strawberry yield of 5,000 quarts from one acre. I will give a report which discounts his. I have a patch, 10 by 13 rods square, of Orescent Seedlings fertilized with Captain Jack, from which we picked in 1886 5,060 quarts, and in 1887 5,100 quarts. This is exclusive of all used at home and given away. The secret of the large crop is, deep ploughing and heavy manuring and mulching." No doubt that barnyard manure is one of the best fertilizers for the strawberry, if it can be had in sufficient quantity. The late Mr. E. P. Roe was an enthusiast in small fruit culture, and he advised it in preference to any other manure, recommending a dress- ing as heavy as sixty tons to the acre. At one dollar per load this would be rather an expensive operation, but with him it was the secret of his success. Mr. J. H. Hale, of Massachusetts, who is a good authority on small fruits, recommends fertilizers containing a large proportion of phosphoric acid and potash, but lacking in nitrogen, claiming that this latter element tends to the over-production of foliage. He uses ground bone ashes and wood ashes in the proportion of 1,500 pounds of the bone and 500 pounds of muriate of potash, or its equivalent in wood ashes, to an acre. Another noted strawberry grower (Mr. M. B. Faxon, of the same State) says he always applies stable manure in the fall to his beds, and a little phosphate in the spring, the latter tending greatly to increase the size and quantity of the berries. Cultivation should proceed the whole season through. Many neglect cultivation before fruiting season, on the plea that it will disturb the plants, lessen the yield, and cause the fruit to become dirty. But worse ills than these are likely to overtake the man who neglects cultivation. His plantation is lost in weeds and grass, his berries dry up in time of drouth, and are as small as his profits. I have tried watering such a plantation at great expense, by drawing barrels of water and pumping the water over the ground, and by digging a well in the strawberry patch ; but aiiay's hot sunshine, and the ground was as dry as ever. My experience is that constant cultivation in time of drouth is an excellent mode of irrigating plantations in Canada. If some system of irrigation could be planned by which a constant supply of water would be furnished the strawberry plantation in time of drouth, it would, no doubt, bring FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 135 tbe planter the highest success, giving him a full crop of the largest fruit. In California, where the land would be a desert without it, irrigation is necessary every summer, and is worked in a gigantic scale, each grower paying for his supply of water according to the amount he uses, and the results are marvellous. Plains that were before destitute of vegetation become clothed with beauty, and yield their owners immense crops of tine fruit. With us irrigation is not an absolute necessity, and hence is neglected ; but we believe, if some simple and inexpensive method could be adopted, that the results would be most gratifying. We referred in a late number of the Canadian Horticulturist to a method of tile irrigation which looks practicable and worthy of a trial. It is described as follows : By means of the farm windmill, a tank reservoir may easily be rilled, and thus, the necessary water and pressure for flooding small areas, may be obtained. The water is distributed by means of common drain tile, using sizes from two to four inches in diameter ; the larger for the main or distributing tile and the smaller for branches. The tiles are laid at a depth of about a foot or fifteen inches below the surface, the excavations being made by a plow without much expense, and the lines of tiles are laid about ten feet apart. When the water is turned on into the standpipe, it will fill the pipes to their extremities, which, of course, are closed, and a portion of the water, constantly escaping by the joints, will work its way by capillary attraction toward the surface of the soil. One acre is about the extent which may be worked under one system of pipes and machinery. It is important that cultivation should continue throughout the season. Time and labor thus spent will return four-fold in yield of fruit, and size of berry the coming sea- son, for it is at this time that the fruit buds are being; formed for the next year. It is a great advantage to keep the rows narrow both for ease in cultivtion, and for general thrift of the plants. The wide matted row may do well for a single season, but then it becomes crowded and grass grown, and in time of drouth suffers extremely ; and about the second year it needs plowing up. But if the rows are kept narrow, with not more than two or three plants abreast, all will receive the benefit of the hoe and of the cultivator, they will keep up a thrifty growth, and may be kept in bearing for several successive seasons. Winter Protection is of the utmost importance. It grieves one to see a beautiful bed of strawberry vines exposed to the killing influence of the alternate freezing nights and thawing days of March and April, when a little timely effort would have saved them. Straw, corn- stalks, coarse manure, evergreen boughs, etc., may be used and need not be applied until the ground is frozen, as the purpose is not to keep away the frost but to pre- vent the frequent tha wings and freezings. Picking in a proper manner is more important than many suppose. Careful hands who will not mash the fruit, but gather by nipping off a part of the stem with the thumb and forefinger deserve better pay than those who are careless. This work should not be done if avoidable when the fruit is wet, as it will not look or keep as well as when picked dry. The cool of the afternoon is about the best time, for then the fruit is dry and not overheated by the burning rays of the sun. In some plantations it is customary to give each picker a carrier which holds six small baskets marked with his name or corresponding number. He must return all baskets to the packing shed, full or empty, and receive an account ticket. These are of rough paper, with name and number of picker and with figures for quarts, which are punched to show how many are delivered. At night these are taken up and the num- ber of quarts marked on a weekly ticket, which contains in addition to name and num- ber of picker, six columns for record of berries picked each day, one for sum total and one for cash paid Saturday evening. These are taken up when paid and filled. 136 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. My own plan is to give out the patch in sections for the season to competent per- sons, who will use their own children or employ others and thus relieve me of oversight, or of the need of an overseer. Many a woman with a family of children will gladly take a contract for a certain number of rows for the season, and I have never had the work done so well and with so much comfort as in this way. Strawberry picking can be con- tracted in this way at 1| cents per quart; currants, gooseberries and blackberries at 1 cent, and raspberries at 2 cents, and be well and faithfully done. The Package which I have used for some years is the 24 quart basket crate, which is sold with the fruit. The cost is only 16 cents per crate and baskets, or § cent per quart, and it has always appeared to me that the express charges on the heavy wooden crate and the frequent loss of the same, is quite that much and not so convenient or attractive on the market. Latterly I have used a 16 quart crate costing 1 2 cents, which is very convenient to handle, and contains just the quantity of frait which a small family wants to purchase at one time for canning or preserving. Indeed the time has come when large awkward packages are at a dis- count and tidy and convenient packages are most in demand. When all is done, and done properly, the question remains, does it pay 1 At 1 cent for picking, 1 cent for the package, 1 cent for express charges and the commission merchant, and 1 cent per quart toward paying expenses of' cultivation and rent of land, we have 4 cents a quart as the minimum price which will cover all expenses, and the profit must be looked for in the number of cents over this which the crop averages, and the yield per acre. Taking an average yield of 2000 quarts per acre, and an average price of 8 cents per quart, we have 2000 x 4 equalling $80 profit ; but as we only get two crops in three years, we have only an average of say $50 per year net profit. But double the yield, as it is possible to do, and you will more than double the profits. Most farmers agree that there is positively no net profit in grain growing, and little in any agricultural line unless it be live stock. I wish to point out that money can be made in strawberry culture ; not to give any extravagant ideas of the profits of it, for there is plenty of room for failure, but it is worth trying in favorable localities, and is as likely to be profitable as any other crop. The Secretary of the Brant Horticultural Society then gave an address on methods of picking and marketing small fruits, which was followed by considerable discussion. The next meeting of the Society will be held in Burford, some time in the month of February. D. M. Lee, Secretary, FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 137 APPENDIX III CATALOGUE OF FRUITS— APPLES. FOR USE OF JUDGES AT EXHIBITIONS. Explanatory Note.— In the plan of rating, all varieties are supposed to be perfect specimens ; then the best varieties under each of three or four heads are rated at ten, and all the more or less inferior varieties by some figure less than ten. It frequently happens, however, even with the best varieties, that imperfect samples are exhibited. In such cases all values given in the Catalogue must be reduced one or more points each, for (1) lack of color, (2) undersize, (3) unevenness of size on plate, (4) wormy, scabby or illshapen specimens, (5) lack of stem or calyx, (6) polished fronts, i.e., having bloom wiped off, or for any other thing which tends to change the natural appearance of the fruit. The column " Total Value " is for use when prizes are offered for fruits without designating the pur- pose for which such fruits may be required. Season. Quality. Commercial value. Total Name. Dessert. Cooking. Home market. Foreign market. value. Alexander American Golden Russet A W S w w w A W W A W S w w w w w w w w A A A W A W W W A A S A S S s w w w w A A A W A 9' 3 5 5 8 5 1 2 2 9 8 1 2 8 8 1 8 5 8 1 ......... 7 6 7 4 7 8 8 8 3 9 3*"" 8 8 7 6 4 10 5 3 3 2 7 4 7 8 7 7 8 6 5 9 8 2 2 3 7 2 1 7 8 8 1 4 9 8 2 3 8 8 5 7 .7 7 1 7 8 7 6 3 2 10 3 9 3 7 7 3 9 8 7 6 7 6 9 10 9 28 34 American Summer Pearmain .... 6 Arnold's Beauty 3 5 7 5 3 8 7 9 12 American Pippin 21 A.dam's Pearmain 30 Autumn Strawberry Bailey Sweet 13 14 ^Baldwin I 22 Beauty of Kent 23 Ben Davis 19 Benoni 10 3 6 6 6 5 2 6 4 2 8 1 1 9 7 2 5 2 11 Belmont . Blenheim Pippin Blue Pearmain Bottle Greening 6 10 8 4 6 9 9 7 8 19 32 28 19 Bourassa 18 Cabashea 26 Canada Baldwin 31 Canada Reinette 24 Cayuga Red Streak Chenango Strawberry Colvert 25 18 8 2 10 8 6 7 5 4 10 25 Cornish Gilliflower 4 Cox's Orange Pippin Cranberry Pippin 29 31 Cellini Domine 23 25 Drap d'Or 16 Detroit Black 10 Duchess of Oldenburgh 2 7 9 8 8 5 2 9 7 3 4 6 6 9 32 Dyer Early Harvest i 21 Early Joe Early Strawberry 14 17 Edgar's Red Streak 8 5 10 9 7 3 7 7 8 27 Ella ; 14 Esopus Spitzenburg FaUawater 35 32 Fall Jenetting 24 Fall Orange Fall Pippin Flushing Spitzenburg Fameuse 20 28 25 31 Note. — In the first column the letter S denotes summer, A autumn and W winter. 133 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. CATALOGUE OF FRUITS.— APPLES. -Continued. Season. Quality. Commercial value. Total Name. Dessert. Cooking. Home market. Foreign market. i value. Fall Queen (See Haas) Gloria Mundi I W W A A A W W A S A A W W S A A W A A W W A W A A W A A W A W W W W A W A A A W W W W W W A W W W A W s A W 1 A | A 8 7 4 7 9 4 2 7 5 8 8 8 5 6 8 1 7 10 6 6 7 5 7 7 8 4 8 9 22 Golden Russet (English) Golden Sweet 8 2 2 9 9 9 5 6 2 6 7 5 32 7 Grand Sultan Gravenstein 10 8 7 6 38 Green Newton Pippin Grimes' Golden Haas {See Fall Queen) 27 24 25 Hawley Hawthornden 16 7 7 8 6 24 Holland Pippin Hubbardston Nonsuch 28 31 Hurlbut 20 Jeffries . 7 1 9 6 3 7 8 9 10 6 1 7 8 6 10 1 5 4 6 7 7 ""g"' 8 7 10 9 7 5 7 6 26 5 Jonathan Kentish Fillbasket 31 24 Keswick Codlin 1 8 9 7 5 3 2 "V 2 1 3 4 3 6 8 4 6 8 1 7 8 9 9 7 5 4 23 King of Tompkins County Lady Late Strawberry 38 19 5 7 8 9 8 7 9 9 7 7 7 7 8 6 8 7 3 8 10 9 10 7 7 8 24 Lawyer Lord Suffield 21 24 Lord Duncan 24 London Pippin . , Lowell 4 5 10 7 6 5 7 7 6 6 6 2 6 10 7 10 6 7 8 Lord Burleigh 16 La Rue Maiden's Blush Mann 5 8 8 7 8 8 5 7 6 25 25 25 Magog Red Streak 22 Mcintosh Red 28 Melon 31 Minister 21 Monmouth Pippin 27 Mother 27 Munson Sweet 6 Newton Spitzenburg 7 10 10 10 8 8 8 28 Northern Spy 38 Newton Pippin .* Ontario 35. 39 Peck's Pleasant 28 Pennock 27 Pewaukee Peach 28 Phoenix 4 9 10 5 4 7 9 10 "i 7 7 5 6 5 6 6 5 8 1 4 8 7 8 3 7 26 Pomme Grise 21 Pomme Grise d'Or. . , 24- Porter 4 5 6 9 7 4 6 17 Priestly 22 19 Prenzea Princess Louise 5 8 "5" 28 33 Pumpkin Sweet Pumpkin Russet Pomme Royale {See Dyer) 5 16 Rambo * 1 I 1 W ! A | W | A W 5 i 4 5 2 6 6 5 1 5 7 4 6 8 6 2 3 8 2 7 7 7 5 8 7 7 13 Rawles Janet Red Astrachan 17 20 Red Belle-fleur 8 Red Canada Red Catnead ... 27 28- 25 Rhode Island Greening 8 10 1 8 & 34 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 139 CATALOGUE OF FRUITS.- APPLES.— Continued. Season, Quality. Commercial value. Total Name. Dessert. Cooking. 8 8 6 6 4 6 5 8 6 6 2 Home market. Foreign market. value. Ribston Pippin W w A A W A S A A S w 10 6 5 7 I 3 2 7 5 6 7 8 8 5 6 4" 2 8 5 4 1 10 9 6 .... _.. 6 36 Roxbury Russet 31 22 Shiawassee Beauty 19 Smith's Cider 6 Smokehouse 19 Sops of Wine , , 9 St. Lawrence 8 31 Stump Summer Rose 16 16 Swaar Swaize Pomme Grise (See Pomme Grise d'Or) 4 14 Stark w 2 2 7 8 19 Snow (See Fameuse) Talman Sweet 2 1 10 7 5 5 5 1 9 4" 6 6 '9' .... ^.. 7 20 Tetofsky w s A A W 7 Trenton 33 Twenty Ounce [See Cayuga Red Streak) . . Vadevere 6 8 5 7 21 Wagener ... 28 Wallbridge {See Edgar's Red Streak). . . Wealthy Westfield-Seek no-Further White Astracan W W s w w w w s 8 7 1 5 7 7 8 6 6 7 2 7 " 7 " 7 7 9 7 1 5 1 8 5 6 9 8 ...... 3 8 5 32 29 4 William's Favorite Wine Sap 23 11 Wine 30 25 Yellow Transparent 19 GRAPES. (This list is subject to revision each year.) Varieties. Agawam (Rog. 15) Allen's Hybrid . . . Amber Queen .... Amber Aminia (Rog. 39) . Ann Arbor August Giant Augusta Barry (Rog. 43) . . . Brighton Black Eagle Black Pearl Burnett Canada Catawba Champion , * Color. Season. Quality for table. Shipping value. R L 8 10 W M 5 2 R M 5 4 R L 1 3 B M 8 10 W E 3 2 B M 1 1 B M 6 B M 5 9 R E 9 6 B L 1 3 B L 1 3 B M 5 5 B M 2 3 R L 9 8 B E 2 5 Market value. Total. 27 11 13 8 24 8 5 20 2?, 6 t; 11 I; 25 12 List of Abbreviations :— R red, W white, B black, L late, E early, and M medium. 140 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. CATALOGUE OF FRUITS. -GRAPES.— Continued. Varieties. Clinton Concord Cottage Creveling Croton Cynthiana Courtland Delaware Diana Duchess Dracut Amber ... Eaton Early Dawn Elvira Empire State Early Ohio Eumelon Eldorado Etta Early Victor , Essex (Rog. 41) Faith Florence Goethe (Rog. 1) Gaertner (Rog. 14) Hartford Herbert (Rog. 14) Highland Hayes Herbemont Iona Isabella Ivea Israella Janesville Jessica Jefferson Jewell Lady Lady Washington Lindley (Rog. 9) Massasoit (Rog. 3) Martha Merrimac (Rog. 49) Moore's Early Moyer Mills Moore's Diamond Marion Niagara Noah Norton Northern Muscadine Oneida Ontario Othello (Arnold's No. 1). Perkins Pocklington Prentiss Poughkeepsie Red Pearl Rebecca Requa (Rog. 28) Rentz Rockingham Roger No. 17 Roger No. 32 Color. Season. Quality for table. Ship'g value. Market value. B L 5 2 B M 7 G 8 B E 5 5 4 B E 6 G 3 W E 4 3 3 B L 1 2 1 B E 2 5 5 R E 10 7 9 R L 6 8 7 W L 1 6 7 R E 1 6 7 B M 7 5 3 B M 6 4 4 W L 1 2 1 W L 3 4 4 B E 3 6 5 B E 6 5 4 W M 7 5 2 W L 2 4 3 B E 5 4 3 B L, 3 7 6 W E 2 2 3 B E 2 2 3 R L 8 5 5 R M 8 6 6 B E 3 5 6 B M 6 8 7 B L 3 4 2 W M 5 2 3 B L 1 2 3 R L 8 7 6 B L 3 7 6 B E 2 5 5 B L 3 6 4 B E 2 3 3 W E 5 5 5 R L 6 4 5 B M 4 4 2 W E 7 3 5 W L 3 5 3 R E 10 9 9 R E 6 4 5 W M 6 5 3 B L 7 9 6 B E 7 6 9 R E 7 7 , 9 B M 6 7 3 W E 7 7 7 B L 1 4 2 W M 8 5 9 W L 1 5 3 B L 1 5 2 R M 2 6 6 R M 3 2 4 B M 2 4 4 B L 2 3 2 R E 2 6 6 W M 6 6 6 W L 5 7 4 w E 6 6 7 R L 1 2 1 W M 8 4 4 R M 7 8 7 B M 1 2 2 B M 7 6 8 B M 6 6 G R L 3 7 G Total. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 141 CATALOGUE OF FRUITS— GRAPES.— Oow*mwcd. Varieties. Roger No. 33 Roger No. 11 Salem (Roger 22) Sanasqua Secretary Telegraph , Transparent Triumph Taylor Ulster Prolific Union Village (See Ontario) Vergennes Victor (See Early Victor) . . . Walter Worden White Ann Arbor Wilder (Rog. 4) Wyoming Red Woodruff Red Color. Season. Quality for table. Ship'g value. Market value. Total. B M 5 7 6 18 B M 7 8 7 22 R M 8 8 8 24 B L 5 5 5 15 B M 3 4 3 10 B M 3 5 3 11 W L 1 4 1 I6 t7 W L 1 5 1 W L 1 4 2 17 R M 4 5 5 14 R L 6 10 8 24 R M 6 7 7 20 B E 9 4 8 21 W E 4 4 4 12 B M 8 9 8 25 R E 5 6 7 18 R M 4 ! 6 5 15 DISTRICT FRUIT LIST.— APPLES. Showing the varieties considered most desirable for planting in the various Agricultural Districts in. Ontario. District No. 1. — Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Prescott and Cornwall. Summer. — Yellow Transparent, Duchess of Oldenburgh. Autumn. — Alexander, Fameuse, Gideon, St. Lawrence. Winter. — LaRue, Pewaukee, Golden Russet, Ben Davis, Talman Sweet. District No. 2. — Lanark, Renfrew, City of Ottawa, Carleton and Russell. Summer. — Yellow Transparent, Duchess of Oldenburgh. Autumn. — Alexander, Montreal Peach, Wealthy and Haas. Winter. —Pewaukee, Golden Russet, Scott's Winter, Talman Sweet and Edgar's Red Streak. District No. 3.— Frontenac, City of Kingston, Leeds, Grenville and Brockville. Summer. — Yellow Transparent, Duchess of Oldenburgh and Red Astrachan. Autumn. — Alexander, Wealthy and St. Lawrence. Winter. — Golden Russet, Pewaukee, LaRue, Ben Davis and Red Canada. District No. 4. — Hastings, Prince Edward, Lennox and Addington. Summer. — Yellow Transparent and Duchess of Oldenburgh. Autumn. — Alexander, Trenton, Gravenstein and Wealthy. Winter. — Ontario, Hubbardston's Nonsuch, Pewaukee, Ben Davis and Cranberry Pippin, District No. 5. — Durham, Northumberland, Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton. Summer. — Yellow Transparent and Duchess of Oldenburgh. Autumn. — Alexander, Col vert, St. Lawrenoe and Gravenstein. Winter. — Ontario, Hubbardston's Nonsuch, Pewaukee, Ben Davis and Blenheim Pippim. District No. 6. — York, Ontario, Peel, Card well and City of Toronto. Summer. — Yellow Transparent and Duchess of Oldenburgh. Autumn. — Alexander, Gravenstein, Red Beitigheimer and Wealthy. Winter. — Golden Russet, Pewaukee, Ontario, Ben Davis and Hubbardston's Nonsuch. 142 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. District No. 7.— Wellington, Waterloo, Wentworth, Halton, Dufferin and City of Hamilton. Summer. — Yellow Transparent, Red Astrachanand Duchess of Oldenburgh. Autumn.— Gravenstein, Colvert and Wealthy. Winter. — Golden Russet, Ontario, Blenheim Pippin, Baldwin and Cranberry Pippin. District No. 8. — Lincoln, Welland, Haldimand and Monck. Summer. — Duchess of Oldenburgh and Red Astrachan. Autumn. — Gravenstein, Ribston Pippin and Wealthy. Winter. — Blenheim Pippin, Ontario, Princess Louise, Golden Russet and Cranberry Pippin. District No. 9. — Elgin, Essex, Oxford and Norfolk. Summer. — Puchess of Oldenburgh and Red Astrachan. Autumn. — Gravenstein, Twenty Ounce and Fall Pippin. Winter. — Blenheim, Pippin, Ontario, Baldwin, R. I. Greening and Golden Russet. District No. 10. — Huron, Bruce and Grey. Summer. — Yellow Transparent and Duchess of Oldenburgh. Autumn. — Gravenstein. Wealthy and Colvert. Winter. — Pewaukee, Ontario, Baldwin, Hubbardston's Nonsuch and Cranberry Pippin. District No. 11. — Middlesex, Perth and City of London. Summer. —Duchess of Oldenburgh and Yellow Transparent. Autumn. — Gravenstein, Colvert, Alexander and Fall Pippin. Winter. — Golden Russet, Ribston Pippin, Ontario, Hubbardston's Nonsuch and Cranberry Pippin. District No. 12. — Essex, Kent and Lambton. Summer. — Yellow Transparent and Duchess of Oldenburgh. Autumn. — Gravenstein, Chenango, Strawberry, Wealthy and Lowell. Winter. — Ontario, Blenheim Pippin, Baldwin, R. I. Greening and Golden Russet. District No. 13. — Algoma, Simcoe, Muskoka and Parry Sound. Summer. — Duchess of Oldenburgh and Yellow Transparent. Aidumn. — Alexander, Colvert, Red Beitigheimer and St. Lawrence. Winter. — Pewaukee, Golden Russet, Scott's Winter, LaRue and Wealthy. DISTRICT FRUIT LIST. -GRAPES. District No. 1 : Black. — f hampion, Worden, Early Victor, Moore's Early. Red. — Delaware, Lindley Moyer, Wyoming Red. White. —Eldorado, Niagara, Jessica, Vergennes. District No. 2 : Black. — Barry, Rog. 17, Herbert, Moore's Early, Worden. Red — Delaware, Gartner, Norwood, Vergennes, Lindley. White. — Duchess, Kensington, Moore's Diamond, Lady. District No. 3 : Black. —Champion, Moore's Early, Worden, Hartford. Red. — Lindley, Brighton, Delaware. White. — Moore's Diamond, Jessica, Eldorado. District No. 4 : Black. — Worden, Moore's Early, Early Victor. Red. — Wyoming Red, Delaware, Moyer. Ti hite. — Jessica, Moore's Diamond, Niagara. District No. 5 : Black, — Champion, Worden, Wilder. Red. — Brighton, Delaware, Salem, Lindley, Agawam. White. — N iagara. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 143 District No. 6 : Black. — -Worden, Moore's Early, Champion. Bed. — Brighton, Lindley, Delaware, Wyoming Red. White. — Jessica , M iagara. District No. 7 : Black. — Concord, Worden, Rog. 4—44, Moore's Early. Bed. — Hog. 9 — 15, Vergennes, Delaware, Brighton. White. — Niagara, Moore's Diamond. North Lake District ; Black. — Champion, Worden, Rog. 4, Moore's Early. Bed — Wyoming Red, Salem, Rog. 9, Delaware, Brighton. White. —Jessica, Lady, Niagara. District No. 8 : Black. — Concord, Worden, Rog. 44, Moore's Early. Bed. — Rog. 9 — 15, Vergennes, Delaware, Brighton. White. — Niagara, Moore's Diamond, Pocklington. District No. 9 : Black.— Worden, Concord, Rog. 4 — 44, Moore's Early. Bed. — Delaware, Lindley. Agawam, Brighton. White. — Niagara, Pocklington. District No. 10 : Black. — Concord, Moore's Early, Worden. Bed. — Brighton, Delaware, Lindley. White. — Niagara, Lady. " Lake Shore Division : Black. — Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Barry. Bed. — Agawam, Brighton, Lindley. White. — Magara, Lady. District No, 11 : Black. — Concord, Worden, Rog. 19, Bog. 4. Bed. — Rog. 9 — 15, Brighton, Delaware. White. — M iagara, Moore's Diamond, Jessica. District No. 12 : Black. — Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Hartford. Bed. — Delaware, Walter, Rog. 15 — 22, Brighton. White. — Niagara, Prentiss, Lady. District No. 13 : Black. — Worden, Moore's Early, Champion, Bed. — Delaware, Lindley, Wyoming Red. White. — Jessica, Moore's Diamond, Lady. In compiling the foregoing Grape Lists we have consulted the Directors, as well as the lead- ing fruit-growers throughout the several Districts. We have also tried to frame the lists so as to advise the planting of such varieties as bear the highest general points for each District for hardiness, productiveness, etc., shipping quality of fruit, and commercial values. G. W. Cline, Chairman of Committee. 144 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. PEARS. Dr. Beadle, Chairman of the Committee on the revision of the Pear Catalogue, presented the following Report at the annual meeting at Peterborough, and it was adopted. This rating is solely for the use of Judges at Exhibitions, and not intended to be in any sense a guide for planters. In the rating here given the specimens of the several varieties are supposed to be perfect, free from the larvae of the codling moth, from scab spots, curculio, indentations and all blemishes. Any specimens falling below perfection should be rated by the Judges at some figure less than the figure here given for perfect specimens, according to the degree of imperfection manifest in the specimen under consideration. D. W. Beadle, Geo. W. Cline W. H. Dempset J Committee. Ananas d'Ete Anjou. Bartlett Belle Lucrative Beurre Bosc Beurre Giff ard Beurre Hardy Beurre Gris d'Hiver Beurre Superfine Brandywice Buffam . Clairgeau Clapp's Favorite . Dana's Hovey... Dearborn Pempsey Diel Doyenne Boussock Doyenne d'Ete Doyenne du Cornice . Doyenne Grey Doyenne White Duchess d'Angouleme. Flemish Beauty Frederick Clapp Glout Morceau Goodale Howell Jones Josephine de Malines Kieffer Kirtland Lawrence Louise Bonne Manning's Elizabeth. Mount Vernon Osband's Summer . . . Petite Marguerite . . . Pres't. Drouard Reeder Seckel Sheldon Souvenir de Congres. Swan's Orange Tyson Triumphe de Vienne. Vicar Winter Nelis Home market. Total. 6 10 10 19 10 19 6 13 9 18 9 17 8 16 APPENDIX IV, ONTARIO'S FRUIT EXHIBIT AT CHICAGO. A list of varieties of fruit from the Province of Ontario on exhibition at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 ; prepared by the Secretary, who was also Dominion Superintendent of Horticulture. Apples. Alexander, Algoma Seedling, American Golden Russet, American Pippin, Autumn Strawberry, Baldwin, Beall, Beauty of Kent, Bellefleur, Bell Russet, Bea Davis, Benoni, Black Apple, Black Detroit, Black Gilliflower, Blenheim Orange, Bonum, Borsdorfer, Bowman's Sweet, Brockville Beauty, Cabashea, Canada Baldwin, Canada Red, Cayuga Red Streak, Cheeseboro' Russet, Chenango, Clapperton's Nonsuch, Colvert, Cooper's Market, Cornish Gillyflower, Cranberry Pippin, Duchess of Oldenburg, Dutch Mignonne, Early Joe, Early Strawberry, English Pippin, English Russet, Esopus Spitzenburg, 10 (P.G.) Fallawater, Fall Jenetting, Fameuse, Flushing Spitzenburg, Frontenac Red, General Grant Crab, Gideon, , Gloria Mundi, Golden Pippin, Golden Sweet, Gravenstein, Greening, Grimes Golden, Haas, Hardestine's Pippin, Hawley, Hawthornden, Haly, Holland Pippin, Hubbardston, Hyslop Crab, Ironclad, Jersey Sweet, Jonathan, Kentish Fill-Basket, Keswick Codling, King, Ladies' Sweet, Lady, LaRue, Leeds, Lowell, Maiden's Blush, Marengo Crab, Michigan Red, Mcintosh Red, McLean, Mother, Naigle's Winter, Newton Pippin, Noble's Vandevere, Nonpareil, Northern Spy, Ontario, Ortley, Peach, Peck's Pleasant* Pewaukee, Phoenix, Pomme Grise, Porter, Pound Sweet, Primate, Prince Albert, Princess Louise, Ram bo, Red Astrachan. Red Calville, Red Pearmain, Red Russet, Ribston Pippin, River, Roxbury Russet, Russian No. 1, Russian No. 3, Russian No. 4, Russian No. 7, Russian No. 8, Russian No. 9, Russian No. 10, Russian No. lly 146 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Apples. — Continued, Russian No. 315, Russian A, Russian B, Russian Y, Russian Seedling, Seek No Farther, Solard, Spotted Pippin, Steele's Red Winter, St. Lawrence, Stott's Russet, Striped Gilliflower, Stump, Sutton Beauty, Swaar, Swazie Pomme Grise, Sweet Bough, Tetofsky, To! man Sweet, Transcendant Crab, Trenton, Twenty Ounce Pippin, Vandevere, Vanity Crab, Vermont Pippin, Wagener, Wallbridge, Wealthy, Westfield Seek No Farther, White Pippin, Wilson's Seedling, Winesap, Winter St. Lawrence, Winter Strawberry, Yellow Bellefleur, Yellow Newton Pippin, Yellow Transparent. Pears. Ananas d'Ete', Early Harvest, Onondaga, Angouleme, Easter Beurre, Osband's Summer, Anjou, Elizabeth, Oswego Beurre, Anne de Bretagne, Fertility, Paradise d'Automne, Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Petite Marguerite, Bartlett Pere, Pound, Belle de Beaufort, Gagovka, President Druard, Belle Lucrative, Gansell's Bergamot, Bergamot, Glout Morceau, Reine de Verger, Bessemianka, Goodale, Rostiezer, Beurre Bosc, Grey Doyenne, Beurre Chaudry, Sapieganka, Beurre d'Ete\ Honey Sweet, Secretary Marechat, Beurre Diel, Howell, Seckel, Beurre Giffard, Seedlings (several kinds), Beurre Grise d'Hiver, Josephine de Malines, Sheldon, Beurre Hardy, Souvenir de Congres, Beurre Superfm, Kieffer, Steven's Genesee, Blood^ood, Kingsessing, Summer Belle, Brockworth Park, Kirkland, Summer Bergamot, Budd, Buffum, Lawrence, Therese, Leconte, Tonkovietka, Chambers, Leslie, Triomphe de Vienne, Chaumontel, Longstem, Tyson, Clairgeau, Louise Bonne, Clapp's Favorite, Louise Ciapp, Vernon, Vicar, Dearborn's Seedling, Madeline, Dempsey, Marguerite de Marillat, White Doyenne, Doyenne Boussock, Mignot, Wilmot, Doyenne de Cornice, Mikado, Windsor, Dr. Reeder, Winter Nelis. Duchess, Napoleon, Duke de Brabant, FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 147 Peaches. Alexander, Hale's Early, Old Mixon, Amsden's June, Haun's Golden, High's Early Canada, Pine Apple, Beatrice, Honest John, Blood, Reeve's Favorite, Bowslaugh's Late, Ireland's Seedling, . Jacque's Rareripe, Sal way, Centennial, Seedling Crawford, Chinese Cling, Kensington, Smith's Extra Late, Smock, Early Barnard, Late Crawford, Snow, Early Crawford, Lemon Cling, Steven's Rareripe, Early St. John, Longhurst, Stump the World, Early York, Lord Palmerston, Louise, Wager, Waterloo, Foster, Morris White, Wheatland, Gai field, Mountain Rose, Yellow Alberge, George the Fourth, Niagara, Plums. Yellow Rareripe. Abundance, Goliath, Peach, Green Gage, Peter's Yellow Gage, Belgian Purple, Gueii, Pond's Seedling, Bingham, A Prince Englebert, Bleeker's Gage, Hermosa, Prince of Wales, Botan, Horse Seedling, Prince's Yellow, Bradshaw, Huling's Superb, Purple Egg, Burrow's Seedling, Imperial Gage, Quackenbos, Canada Orleans, Caraduc, Jefferson, Red Gage, Cline's No. 1. Reine Claude, Cline's No. 2. Kingston, - Coe's Golden Drop, Saunders, Columbia, Lady Grey, Seedling of Smith's Orleans, Lawson's Golden Egg, Shipper's Pride, Damson, Lombard, Shropshire Damson, Dennison's Superb, Lord Derby, Simon's Plum, Diamond, Smith's Orleans, Duane's Purple, Magnum Bonum, Yellow, Stewart, Magnum Bonum, Red, St. Lawrence, Early Orleans, Miner, Sweetwater, Egg, McLaughlin, Vanity, Victoria, Empire, Monroe Egg, English Damson, Moore's Arctic, Evelyn, Moyer, Washington, Fellemberg, Native Blue, Niagara, Weaver, Webster's Gage, General Hand, Wetherell's Seedling, German Prune, Ogan, Wild Plum, Glass, Goderich, Ontario Pride, Orleans, Yellow Egg, Golden Gage, Owen Sound Beauty, Zena. 148 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Cherries. American Amber, English Cxheart, Napolean Biggareau, Native, Black Eagle, Governor Wood, Black Heart, Great Biggareau, Ostheim, Black Spanish, Black Tartarian, Kentish, Knight's Early Black, Red Cluster, Coe's Transparent, Large Montmorency, Seedlings, Early Purple, Vladimir, Early Richmond, Mazzard, Elkhorn, Minnesota Ostheim, Yellow Spanish. Elton, Montmorency Ordinaire, English Morello, Monstreuse de Mezel, Currants. Black Champion, Lee's Prolific, Versailles, Black Naples, Victoria, Black Seedlings, Naples, Native Black, White Dutch, Cherry, Common Red, Raby Castle, Rel Dutch, White Grape, White Imperial, Fay's, Saunders, GoOSEBERRlfts. Wild. Ashton (Improved), Gypsy Queen, Railway, Ruby, Bloodhound, Houghton, Bottle Green, Smith's Improved,. Industry, Sulphur Queen, Clayton, Companion, Keepsake, Thumper, Crown Bob, King of Trumps, Warrington, Downing. London, White Eagle, Duke of Sutherland, Whitesmith, Ocean Wave, Winnow's King, Golden, One of Them, Winderful, Golden Ball, Gold Finder, Pearl, Yellow Champion, Green River, Providence, Strawberries. Yorkshire Fillbasketc. Advocate, Boyton, Cumberland, Auburn, Bubach, Curtis, Atlantic, Cameroni an, Daisy, Baron's Eclipse, Captain Jack, Dominion, Barton, Cloud, Beder Wood, Crawford, Edgar Queen, Belmont, Crescent, Enhance, FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 149 Strawberries. — Continued. Eureka, London, Louise, Princess, Farnsworth, Lovett, Sadie, Saunders, Gandy, Maggie, Seneca Queen, Governor Hoard, Manchester, Sharpless, Great Pacific, May King, Shaw. Grenville, Martha, Miami, Townsend, Hatfield, Middlefield, Victoria, Haverland, Michel's Early, Monach, Walton, Ivanhoe, Monmouth, Warfield, Mount Holyoke, Westbrook, Jessie, Mrs. Cleveland, Williams, Jumbo, Mrs. Garfield, Wilson, . Mystic, Woodruff, Lady Rusk, Woolverton, Leader, Parker Earle, Little's 15, Pearl, Grapes. Yale. Adirondac, Eaton, Missouri Riesling, Alvah, Eldorado, Moore's Diamond, Amber Queen, Elvira, Moore's Early, Augusta, Empire State, Moyer, August Giant, Etta, Muscadine, August Mammoth, Eumelan, Niagara, Bacchus, Faith, Noah, Black Hamburg, Northern Light, Black Pearl, Norwood, Black Prince, Gaertner, Brighton, Geneva, Othello, Burnet, Hartford, Pearl, Canada, Perkins, Canterbury, Iona, Pocklington, Catawba, Irving, Potter, Centennial, Isabella, Poughkeepsie, Challenge, Israella, Prentiss, Champion, Ives, Clinton, Red Chasselas, Concord, Janesville, Rentz, Conqueror, Jefferson, Rogers 1 (Goethe), Cottage, Jessica, Rogers 3 (Massasoit), Creveling, Rogers 4 (Wilder), Kensington, Rogers 9 (Lindley), Delaware, Rogers 13, Diana, Lady, Rogers 15 (Agawam), Dracut Amber, Lady Washington, Rogers 17, Duchess, Rogers 19 (Merrimac), Marion, Rogers 22 (Salem), Early Dawn, Martha, Rogers 24, Early Victor, Mary, Rogers 28 (Requa), 150 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Grapes. — Continued. Rogers 30, Rogers 32, Rogers 33, Rogers 34, Rogers 36, Rogers 39 (Aminia), Rogers 41 (Essex), Rogers 43 (Barry), Rogers 44 (Herbert), Secretary, Senasqua, Taylor, Telegraph, To Kalon, Transparent, Triumph, Ulster Prolific, Raspberries. Yergennes, Walter, White Ann Arbor, White Chasselas, White Nice, Woodruff, Worden, Wyoming Red. Black Giant, Brandywine, Caroline, Cole's Prolific, Golden Queen, Gregg, Highland Hardy, Marlboro', Philadelphia, Shaffer, Turner, Franconia, Nemaha, Blackberries. White Antwerp. Erie, Lawton, Lucretia Dewberry, Taylor, Kittatinny, Snyder, Western Triumph. APPENDIX V EXPERIMENTAL FRUIT STATIONS FOR THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. Subsequent to the meeting at Peterborough, the committee on experiment stations, consisting of Prof, John Craig of Ottawa, A. McNeill, of Windsor and W. W. Hilborn, of Leamington, prepared the following report, and submitted it to the directorate through the mail. The report was accepted, and the scheme adopted, a copy of which is herewith presented : The exhibits of fruit made by Ontario at the World's Columbian Exposition gave to the world a truer conception of the possibilities and attainments of the Province. It also inspired the fruit-growers of the Province with a better appreciation of the capability of her soil and climate for the production of fruit — that " flower of commodities " — in its highest state of excellence. It has also emphasized in a general way the fact that each variety of fruit varies in respect to appearance and quality according to the soil and locality in which it is produced, and has a more or less area in which it reaches most nearly per- fect development. Our knowledge of the variations in habit of growth and quality of the fruit due to soil and climatic effects is vague and undefined, and data with regard to the relative suc- cess of varieties in different sections is lacking. The fruit interests of the Province suffer in consequence. The Fruit-Growers' Association of Ontario has long recognized the advantage that would result from establishing a system of experiment stations, particularly designed to collect information of this character and to promote the fruit interests of this Province generally. That they are sincere in the matter is attested by the fact that a standing committee was appointed three years ago, whose duty it was to do everything in its power to bring the scheme to a successful completion. This committee has interviewed the Government annually, but thus far without any definite results. The fruit-growers of Ontario fully appreciate the liberality with which they have been treated by the Provincial Government, but are assured that the good use made of their grant has more than justified the expenditure, in witness of which they point with pride to their journal of horticulture which has a circulation as wide as the continent, is well known in Europe, and is recognized as the official organ of the fruit-growers of the Dominion. In view of the large capital invested, and the annual revenue derived from the fruit industry of the Province, which, according to recent statistics, is second only in value to the hay crop, which takes the lead, your petitioners feel that they are justified in laying their desires before you with full assurance that they will receive at your hands that con- sideration which their importance deserves. It is believed that the fruit interests of the Province cannot be served best by the establishment of a single experiment station, no matter where it might be located ; and, further, that results more useful and more immediately available would be obtained by the establishment of a number of small and inexpensive trial experiment stations. These might be carried on in co-operation with the various fruit-growers in different parts of the Province, who already are specialists, and have made a financial success of growing 152 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. one or more classes of fruit. For example, the services of a grape specialist, or a plum or peach grower might be secured with all the advantages accruing from knowledge gained by practical experience. Organization. The Board of Control shall consist of the President and the Horticulturist of the Ontario Agricultural College, and three members of the Fruit Growers' Association elected by the directors of that body, with the Secretary as ex officio member. The line of work to be pursued by each station shall be decided upon by the Board of Control, and shall be submitted to the directors at the time of the annual meeting of the Fruit-Growers' Association for approval, together with a full report of the work of the year for incorporation in the Annual Report. An Executive Board for each station, whose duty it will be to carry out the direc- tions of the General Board of Control, shall consist, of the experimenter and the director of that district acting with the Secretary of the Fruit Growers Association. All plants shall be purchased by the Secretary of the Fruit Growers' Association after consultation with the experimenter, subject to the approval of the Board of Control Experimenters and their Duties. Each experimenter should be a specialist and should have suitable soil for the cultivation of the particular class of fruit of his own choosing, which is mainly to be tested at the station of which he has charge. He shall be elected by vote of the Board of Control, subject to the approval of the Directors of the Fruit Growers' Association ; and in case of incapacity or dereliction of duty shall be dismissed and his place filled by action of the same body. The experimenters shall be members of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario. The first duty of each shall consist of making an accurate and trustworthy report on all varieties of the particular fruit assigned which he has on trial up to date. To this list shall then be added all the desirable sorts of late introduction. These shall be obtained by the Secretary of the Fruit-Growers' Association in consultation with the other two members of the Executive Committee, subject to the approval of the Board of Control, and shall be properly planted, carefully recorded and labelled. The Board of Control shall have power to arrange and manage all details! in regard to perfecting the organization not otherwise provided for. Collection and Diffusion of Information. Brief reports shall be rendered to the editor of The Canadian Horticulturist, for publication in that journal, once in two months during the growing season ; and a com- plete report not later than the 15th November of each year shall be forwarded to the Horticulturist of the Ontario Agricultural College for publication, if deemed^by him to be sufficiently important. It is suggested that one or more annual visits be made to each station by the Hor- ticulturist of the Ontario Agricultural College at the most favorable periods for securing information for publication in bulletin form, and pointing out to the Secretary any faults observable in the station, as well as indicating useful lines oftwork which might be inaugurated. At the time of these visits he will be received by the experimenter as the official representative of the Board of Control as well as of the Government. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 153 Expenditure, Nature and Number of Stations. It is suggested that ten trial stations be organized and located as follows : No. 1 . Apples and pears Located Managed by No. 2. Apples Located Managed by No. 3. Apples and plums Located Managed by No. 4. Peaches and strawberries Located Managed by No. 5. Plums and cherries Located Managed by No. 6. Grapes , Located Managed by No. 7. Cherries and small fruits Located Managed by No. 8. Grapes and Currants . . . . : Located Managed by No. 9. Strawberries and peaches Located Managed by No. 10. Gooseberries and raspberries Located Managed by Contingencies S§Ap It is believed that an appropriation of $2,000 will be sufficient to initiate and carry on this work successfully, including the purchase of plants for each station the first and succeeding years. Stations Proposed to be Established in the Spring op 1894. No. 1. Apples, pears and small fruits -, $100 Located in Prince Edward County. Managed by W. H. Dempsey, Trenton. No. 2. Apples, grapes, plums, strawberries, currants, gooseberries and cherries $100 Located in Simcoe County. Managed by C. G. Oaston, Craighurst. No. 3. Plums, apples, pears, grapes and small fruits $100 Located in Huron County. Managed by No. 8. Grapes, currants, gooseberries, plums, pears, cherries and blackberries . . . . . $100 Located in Wentworth County. Managed by M. Pettit, Winona. No. 9. Peaches and strawberries, currants, cherries, gooseberries, raspberries, plums and quinces $100 Located in Essex County. Managed by W. W. Hilborn, Leamington. 154 FRUTT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Estimated Expenditure for 1894. Five stations at $100 , $500 Trees, plants, etc 200 Clerical work — corresponding with stations, purchasing stock for each, keeping lists, making tabulated statements for publication . . 50 Meetings of Board of Control . . . , 75 Travelling expenses of official visitors 75 Contingent fund 100 $1,000 Experimenter's Agreement. I of of the county of and Province of Ontario, do promise and agree to properly and carefully plant all fruit trees and plants entrusted to me for experimental purposes and to give them proper care in the way of cultivation and pruning, and that I will keep a record of the same and report as to the growth of the trees and plants, their hardiness, etc., size and quality of the fruit, time of ripening, and all other information required within my power and ability to give. I will be guided by the Board of Control in making these reports and report when and to whom they may direct. I further agree to be guided by the Executive Board as to plan and methods of experimental work entrusted to me. I also agree to give any information I can to, or asked for by the Horticulturist of the Ontario Agricultural College, or by the Secretary of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario. In consideration of faithfully carrying out the experimental work as outlined above, and making reports as directed, I am to receive annually the sum of dollars. All trees, plants etc., entrusted to me for experimental work when once planted shall become my property, but not to be used in any way to advance personal ends, such as controlling or propagating new varieties. Should I fail to carry out the wishes of the Board of Control, I hereby agree to forfeit all or any part of my annual grant, as considered right and just by the said Board of Control. (Signed) Dated APPENDIX VI. LIST OF PLANTS AND TREES Distributed by the Fruit-Gkowers' Association op Ontario from. 1875 to 1893 Inclusive. 1875.— Swazie Pomme Grise Apple. 1876.— Glass Seedling Plum. 1877.— Goodale Pear. 1878.— Burnet Grape. 1879.— Ontario Apple. 1880.— Saunders' New Hybrid Raspberry. 1881.— Senasqua Grape ; two pounds of the Dempsey Potato ; Hydrangea Paniculata ; Wealthy Apple. 1882. — Spirea Prunifolia ; Lee's Prolific Black Currant ; three bulbs of Gladiolus ; Moore's Early Grape. 1883. —Rose Peonia ; Worden Grape ; Niagara Raspberry. 1884. —Yearling Tree of the Canada Baldwin Apple ; Deutzia Crenata ; Prentiss Grape ; three papers choice Seed, viz., Pansy, mixed Aster and Drummond's Phlox. 1885. — Russian Apple, one year old ; Catalpa, one year old; Fay's Prolific Currant, one year old ; Tuber of choice Double Tulip ; Three papers choice Seeds, viz., one each of Diadem Pink, Striped Petunia, Salpiglossis. 1886. — Three plants Ontario Strawberry ; Russian Yellow Transparent, one year old ; one plant Lucretia Dewberry, Early Victor Grape, one year old ; two plants Marlboro' Raspberry ; three paperB Seeds, viz., Gypsophila Paniculata, Aquilegia Caerulea and Delphinium, mixed colors. 1887.— Vladimir Cherry ; Dahlia ; two plants Hilborn Raspberry ; Niagara Grape Vine, one year old ; New Single-flowered Geranium ; three packets Flower Seeds. 1888. — Storm King Fuchsia ; Golden Queen Raspberry (two plants) ; Niagara Grape Vine, one year old ; package of Spring-flowering Bulbs, viz., Tuberose (double Excelsior Pearl), Dahlia (Gaiety, striped flower), Napoleon Gladiolus ; Jessie Strawberry ; Tree of Doyenne Boussock Pear, one year old ; Abutilon (double) ; Ostheim, Russian Cherry. 1889.— Niagara Grape ; Vergennes Grape ; Princess Louise Apple ; Paul Neyron Rose ; Baron de Bons- tettin Rose ; Jessie Strawberry. 1890. — Russian Apricot ; Simon's Plum ; John Hopper Rose ; Shaffer Raspberry (four tip plants) ; Wealthy Apple ; Bubach No. 5 Strawberry (four plants) ; Richardia Alba-Maculata, or Spotted Calla. 1891.— Golden White Apple ; Mill's Grape Vine ; Williams' Strawberry ; Triomphe de Vienne Pear ; two Cannas ; Gen. Jacqueminot Rose ; two Dahlias. 1892. —Moore's Diamond Grape ; Idaho Pear ; Williams' Strawberry ; Gipsy Girl Apple ; Japan Honey- suckle. 1893. — Rosa rubifolia ; Spiraea media rotundifolia ; Picea pungens ; Pinus ponderosa ; Pseudotsuga Douglasii ; Seedling black Currants ; Red Queen Apple ; Golden Reinette Apple ; Crimean Apple. APPENDIX VII. ONTARIO FRUIT STATISTICS. The following table contains the numbers of apple, pear, peach, plum and cherry trees, and of grape vines in the townships of Ontario as computed for 1892 and 1893, from returns sent in by farmers and fruit-growers to the Department of Agriculture (Bureau of Industries.) Districts. Lake Erie Lake Huron Georgian Bay West Midland , Lake Ontario St. Lawrence and Ottawa , East Midland , Northern Districts , Apple Trees. The Province Peak Trees. Lake Erie Lake Huron Georgian Bay West Midland Lake Ontario St. Lawrence and Ottawa , East Midland , Northern Districts The Province Plum Trees. Lake Erie .Lake Huron Georgian Bay West Midland Lake Ontario St. Lawrence and Ottawa. East Midland Northern Districts The Province Peach Trees. Lake Erie Lake Huron Georgian Bay West Midland Lake Ontario St. Lawrence and Ottawa, East Midland Northern Districts 1893. The Province Bearing Age. No. 1,296,335 800,837 500,747 1,164,110 1,993,891 786,100 373,917 17,426 6,933,363 134,047 46,975 22,486 72,803 211,702 20,830 12,071 838 521,752 56,230 56,617 85,502 68,337 247,960 127,226 31,212 9,477 Young Trees. No. 409,771 249,856 242,374 292,200 447,905 316,937 153,799 31,839 2,144,681 84,617 27,246 33,253 48,625 294,560 15,877 9,834 1,153 1892. Bearing. No. 1,264,495 751,637 450,135 1,097,843 1,961,607 750,621 346,407 15,235 682,561 173,392 10,516 1,688 17,124 319,054 515,165 82,400 37,766 80,002 75,957 333,427 40,589 22,414 7,539 99 521,873 680,094 153,080 7,055 3,013 9,660 212,804 204 498 16 6,637,980 121,224 45,216 17,474 61,929 205,976 19,199 14,045 213 485,276 48,533 59,129 93,962 62,943 225,181 130,732 30,041 8,933 386,330 659,454 141,50? 9,118 1,859 12,658 277,765 198 Non- Bearing. No. 459,296 254,074 223,953 308,063 460,617 309,334 152,896 32,711 2,200,944 92,918 28,137 32,556 46,045 273,788 14,383 10,992 693 499,512 79,291 40,306 85,120 74,317 332,743 38,970 24,854 7,814 443,100 683,415 182,536 8,275 1,322 11,824 229,720 253 617 7 434,554 158 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. ONTARIO FRUIT STATISTICS.— Continued. Districts. 1893. Bearing Age. Cherry Trees. Lake Erie - Lake Huron Georgian Bay West Midland Lake Ontario St. Lawrence sfad Ottawa East Midland Northern Districts The Province Grape Vines. Lake Erie Lake Huron Georgian Bay West Midland Lake Ontario St. Lawrence and Ottawa East Midland Northern Districts The Province No. 166,145 82,713 53,293 77,017 94,338 28,945 13,954 1,659 518,064 922,042 37,506 23,194 55,870 1,117,502 40,037 26,013 1,118 2,223,282 Young Trees. No. 52,853 27,535 28,769 30,862 63,182 14,962 10,046 1,449 229,658 195,408 34,335 8,774 24,879 473,981 18,048 26,864 1,141 783,430 1892. Bearing. No. 163,610 81,138 54,796 76,368 93,713 29,731 12,348 1,471 513,175 962,265 35,715 28,455 48,259 1,029,479 37,135 31,911 914 2,174,133 Non- Bearing. No. 58,369 29,420 23,314 30,017 55,776 10,629 10,684 1,837 220,046 250,708 24,762 8,052 29,028 571,626 44,704 20,605 1,174 950,659 The districts given in the above table are comprised as follows : Lake Erie. Essex, Kent, Elgin, Norfolk, Haldiraand and Welland. Lake Huron. Lambton, Huron and Bruce. Georgian Bay. Grey and Simcoe. West Midland. Middlesex, Oxford, Brant, Perth, Wellington, Waterloo and Dufferin. Lake Ontario. Lincoln, Wentworth, Halton, Peel, York, Ontario, Durham, Northumberland and Prince Edward. St. Lawrence and Ottawa. Lennox and Addington, Frontenac, Leeds and Grenville, Dundas, Stormont and Glengarry, Prescott and Russell, Carleton, Renfrew and Lanark. East Midland. Victoria, Peterborough, Haliburton and Hastings. Northern Districts. Muskoka, Parry Sound, Nipissing, Algoma, Manitoulin, Thunder Bay and Rainy River. TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO 1893 PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. TORONTO: PRINTED BY WARWICK BROS. & RUTTER, 68 AND 70 FRONT STREET WEST. 1894. CONTENTS Letter op Transmission 1 List of Officers 2 Annual Meeting of the Society , 3 Report of the Treasurer : J. A. Balkwill 3 Report of the Librarian and Curator : J. A. Moffatt 4 Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario to the Royal Society of Canada : W. Hague Harrington 4 Twentieth Annual Report of the Montreal Branch of the Entomological Society of Ontario. 6 Report of the Council 7 Injurious insects of the year : James Fletcher 8 Annual Report of the Ornothological Section of the Entomological Society of Ontario for 1892-3 13 Report of the Botanical Section 14 Report of the Microscopical Section 14 Report of the Geological Section 15 Election of Officers 16 The Canadian Grasshopper scare in England 17 Annual Address of the President : W. Hague Harrington 17 Entomological mistakes of Authors : Rev. Thos. W. Fyles, F.L.S 32 The season of 1893: Rev. Thos. W. Files, F.L.S 39 Mosquitoes : J. Alston Moffat 43 Canadian Uroceridae : W. Hague Harrington 49 Additional notes on Japanese Insects : W. Hague Harrington 50 Notes and Queries : Rev. W. J. Holland, Ph. D 53 The Dragon-Fly : T. J. MacLaughlin 55 The Song of the Thyreonotus : William T. Davis 60 Notes on some of the more important Entomological Exhibits at Chicago : Jas. Fletcher. 61 The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Association of Economic Entomologists 64 Another Mosquito Experiment : L. O. Howard 66 Farm Practice and Fertilizers as Insecticides : John B. Smith, Sc. D 68 Destructive Scolytids and the Imported Enemy : A. D. Hopkins 71 Parasitic and Predaceous Insects in Applied Entomology : C. V. Riley 76 The Economic value of Parasites and Predaceous Insects : John B. Smith, Sc. D 84 Insect foes of American Cereal Grains, with Measures for their Prevention or Destruc- tion : F. M. Webster 88 Fumigation with Bisulphide of Carbon for the complete and rapid destruction of Insects which attack Herbarium Specimens, Furs, Woollens, etc. : H. DuBuysson 94 Methods of attacking Parasites of Domestic Animals : Herbert Osborn 96 The Cheese or Meat Skipper : Mary E. Murtfeldt 98 On Arsenical Spraying of Fruit Trees while in Blossom : J. A. Lintner 102 Book Notices 105 Obituary 107 A contrasted summary of the main external characters of Butterflies in their different stages of Life : Samunl H. Scudder 110 INDEX Ambesa Walsinghami Anametis grisea Anisopteryx pometaria Anisota senatoria Ants, Swarms of Annual address of President Page. 25 11 23 41 42 17 Argynnis Aphrodite. " Atlantis . . " meeting, Association of Economic Entomologists 64 " meeting Entomological Society of Ontario 3 Apanteles congregatus 27 paleacritse 25 Aphis mali 90, 93 Apple leaf louse 90 " tree insects 104 41 41 Cybele 41 " triclaris 7 Army-worm 89 Arsenical spraying of fruit-trees in blossom 102 Bag- worm 78 Bark-beetle destroyer, the European 73 Bethune, Rev. C. J. S., articles by 105, 107 Bisulphide of carbon, fumigation with 94 Blister-beetles 9, 10, 27 Book Notices , 105 Botanical Section, Report of 14 Butterflies, maia external characters of 110 " taken near Quebec 39, 41 Cabbage root maggot Caligo teucer Calosoma calidum " frigidum " scrutator 10 54 24 24 24 Canker-worms 23, 104 Cantharis Nuttalli 9, 28 Carneades messoria 9 Catastega aceriella 7, 10, 42 Cereal grains, insect foes of 88 Cheese skipper 98 Chelimorpha argus 28 Chicago Exhibition, Entomological Exhibit at 61 Chinch bug 89 Chionobas jutta 39 Cladius pectinicornis 21 Clerus formicarius . 73, 83 Colias eury theme 6 " interior 39 " philodice 41 Cornel saw-fly Corn root-worm . . . " web- worm . . " worm Council, Report of . Culex pipiens Curator, Report of. Page. 22 91 69 91 7 43 4 Cut-worms 9, 92 Danais plexippus 54 Davis. W. T., article by 60 Debis Portlandia 39 Dendroctonus frontalis 73, 83 " terebrans 74 Depressaria heracleana 41 Diabrotica longicornis 91 [ Domestic animals, methods of attacking parasites on 96 Dragon-fly, the 55 Du Buysson, H., article by 94 Economic Entomologists, Association cf . . . 64 Paction of Officers 6,16,105 Emphvtus cinctus 21 Empoa f abte . 9 Entomological mistakes of authors 32 " publications 30, 105 ; Epicauta Pennsylvanica 28 Erastria scitula, importation of 79 Erebus odora 53 Eriocampa cerasi 22 Ery throneura vitis 9 Eudryas grata H Experimental Farms, Report of 105 Fall web-worm 27 Farm practice and fertilizers as insecticides. 68 Fletcher, J., articles by 8, 61, 106 Fruit insects H Fyles, Rev. T. W., articles by 32, 39 Geological Section, Report of 15 Grasses, remedies for insects affecting 65 1 Grasshoppers 9, 12, 28 ! Hadena fractilinea 92 Hsematobia Serrata 11, 28 Harpiphorus tarsatus 22 " testaceus 22 " varianus , 22 ' ' versicolor 22 Harrington, W. H., articles by 4, 17, 49, 50 Heliothis armiger 91 VI. Page. Herbaria, preservation of 94 Hessian fly 88 Holland, Rev. W. J., article by . 53 Hopkins, A. D., article by 71 Horn-fly 11, 28 Howard, L. O., article by 66 Hyphantria cunea 27 Icerya Purchasi 80, 85 Importation of beneficial insects 73, 78, 85 Incurvaria acerif oliella 10 Injurious insects of the year 8, 17 Isosoma hordei 89 " tritici 89, 93 Japanese insects . . Kerosene emulsion, how to make. 50 12 Larch saw-fly 18 Librarian, Report of 4 Limenitis Arthemis 27, 41, 55 Lintner, J. A., article by 102 Locust, the red-legged 9, 12, 28 Lygus pratensis 10 MacLaughlin, T. J., article by 55 Macrodactylus subspinosus 68 Macrobasis unicolor 10, 27 Maple, insects attacking 10 Meat skipper 98 Melitsea Harrisii 41 Melon louse 86, 95 Menostenus thoracicus ... : .... 25 Microscopical Section, Report of 14 Mineola indigenella 77 Moffat, J. A., article by 43 Monostegia rosae 21 Montreal Branch, Report of 6 Mosquitoes 43 " oil as a remedy for 59, 67 Mosquito Experiment, another 66 Murtfeldt, Miss M. E., article by 98 Negundo aceroides, gall on 6, 8 Nematus Erichsonii 18 Neonympha Eurytris 39 Nisoniades Horatius 7 Noctuidse, Smith's Catalogue of 106 Notes and Queries 53 Obituary 107 Oedemasia Concinna 39 Officers for 1894 2 Ornithological Section, Report of 13 Osborn, H., article by 96 Paleacrita vernata 23 Pamphila Manitoba 41 " Mystic 41 Papilio Cresphontes 6, 53 Philenor 6,53 Turnus 39 Parasitic and predaceous insects in applied Entomology 76 Page. Parasitic and predaceous insects, Economic value of 84 Parasites of domestic animals, methods of attacking 96 Parasitism in insects 29 Peach aphis 69 Pear-blight beetle 11, 28 ' ' tree slug 22 Piophila casei 98 Platysamia Cecropia 39 Plusia thyatiroides 41 Pteromalus puparum 27 Rascal leaf -crumpler 77 Red spiders 10 Report of Botanical Section 14 " Council 7 " Curator 4 Delegate to Royal Society 4 Geological Section 15 Librarian ..... 4 Microscopical Section 14 Montreal Branch [ 6 " Ornithological Section 13 Treasurer 3 Riley, Dr. C. V., article by 76 Rose saw-flies 21 Satyrus Nephele 39 Scoly tids and their imported enemy 71 Scudder's Guide to Butterflies 31, 106 Scudder, S. H, article by 110 Season of 1893 39 Silpha bituberosa ... 6, 8 Smith's Catalogue of Noctuidse 106 Smith, J. B., articles by 68, 84 Sphinx quinque maculata 27 Spraying fruit-trees in blossom 102 Squash borer 68 Stainton, the late H. T 108 Sunflower, insects attacking 9 Systena frontalis 9 Telea Polyphemus 7 Thyreonotus, song of 60 Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis 78 Tomato worm 27 Tortoise beetle 28 Treasurer, Report of 3 Tremex Columba 49 Turnip flea-beetle 9 Uf eus Satyricus 39 Uroceridte, Canadian 49 Vanessa Antiopa 27 Vedalia cardinalis, importation of 80, 85 Vine leaf -hopper 9 Webster, F. M., article by 88 Westwood, the late Professor 107 White grubs 91 Wire-worms 91 Xyleborus dispar 11. 28 REV. C. J. S. BETHUNE, M.A., L>. C. L., F. R. S. C. President of the Entomological Society of Ontario, 1871-5 ; 1890-2. Vice-President 1876-7, 1879, 1881, 1886-7. Editor of The Canadian Entomologist, 1868-1873, 1886-1894. TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO To the Honorable the Minister of Agriculture : Sir, — I have the honor to present herewith the twenty-fourth annual report of the entomological Society of Ontario, which shows that good progress has been made in every line of work that it has undertaken. While I should not omit to refer to the mainten- ance of the Society's world-wide reputation as one of the leaders in Economic Entomology, it is worthy of mention that^the local interest and membership of the Society shows a decided increase, proving that the methods adopted by the Society for the attainment of its ends are well suited to the purpose. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, W. E. SAUNDERS, Secretary. OFFICERS FOR 1894. President W. H. Harrington Vice-President J. W. Dearness . . . Secretary W. E. Saunders . . . Treasurer J. A. Balkwill . , . .Ottawa London. do do Directors : Division No. 1 James Fletcher Ottawa. " 2 Rev. C. J. S Bethune Port Hope " 3 Gamble Geddes Toronto. " 4 A. H. Kilman . Etidgeway. 11 5 R. W. Rennie London. Librarian and Curator J. A. Moffat do Auditors J. H. Bowman J. M. Denton do do Editor of the "Canadian En tomologist" Rev. C. J. 8. Bethune Port Hope. Editinq Committee J. Fletcher Ottawa H. H. Lyman Montreal. Rev. T. W Fyles ^outh Quebec. Denton London. Bowman do < Rev. | J. M, \J. H. Delegate to the Royal Society. . . Rev. T. W. Fyles South Quebec. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY. The thirty-first annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Ontario was held in its rooms in Victoria Hall, London, on Wednesday and Thursday, October, 11th and 12th, 1893. In the absence of the President, the chair was occupied by Mr. J. M. Denton, the Vice-President. The meeting was called to order at 3 p m., when the following members were pre- sent : Rev. T. W. Fyles, South Quebec; J. Fletcher, Ottawa; Rev. C. J. S. Rethune, Port Hope ; J. M. Denton, R. Elliott, J. A. Balkwill, H. Stevenson, J. A. Moffat, R. W. Rennie, G. F. Sherwood, W. McClement, W. J. Stevenson, W. E. Saunders, London, and others. Letters of regret for their inability to attend were read from Mr. W. Hague Harrington, Ottawa, the President ; Mr. H. H. Lyman, Montreal ; Mr. A. H. Kilman, Ridgeway. REPORT OF THE TREASURER. The Treasurer, Mr. J. A. Balkwill, presented the annual statement of the finances of the Society, as follows : RECEIPTS, 1892-93. Balance on hand for last year $ 319 13 Members' fees 297 51 Sales of Entomologist 66 07 " pins, cork, etc 55 78 Ad vertisments , . . 12 03 Government grant ... 1,090 00 Interest 10 64 $1,761 16 EXPENDITURE, 1892-93. Printing % 542 05 Report and meeting expenses 231 60 Library account 31 35 Purchase of collection 50 00 Expense account (postage, etc.) 63 04 Rent and fuel 40 00 Insurance 35 00 Salaries 300 00 Cork, pins, etc 10 58 Balance •••• 457 54 SI, 761 16 We have examined the books of the Entomological Society of Ontario, compared them with vouchers and find them correct and affirm that the above statement is in accordance therewith. (Signed) J as. H. Bowman, ) London, Ontario, W. E. Saunders, J October 10th, 1893. Auditors. The Treasurer explained the various items of receipts and expenditure, and explained that the balance on hand, $457.54, though apparently larger than usual, would all be absorbed before the end of the year by the printing and other accounts ; the item of $50 for the " purchase of collection " was the last instalment of the amount due to Mr. Moffat, and that this sum would be available for the benefit of the Library next year. He urged very strongly that some date should be fixed upon for the close of the Society's financial year, and that it should not depend upon the time of the annual meeting, which varied very considerably from year to year. After the Report of the Treasurer had been adopted, and a vote of thanks for his services unanimously carried, it was resolved, after some dis- cussion, on motion of Mr. Saunders, seconded by Dr. Bethune, that the financial year of the Society should in future be closed on the 31st of August, except when the annual meeting was held earlier than that date. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN AND CURATOR. Mr. J. A. Moffat presented and read his report as follows : I beg leave to submit the following report for the year ending 31st of August, 1893 : Seventy volumes have been added to the Library during the past year. Several bound volumes were received from Governments and public institutions, the most important of which are : The Report of the New York State Museum j The Report of the Ontario Game and Fish Commission (Illustrated) ; The Mammals of Minnesota (Illustrated) ; The Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution ; The 10th Volume, Proceedings and Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada ; The 17th Report of the Geology and Natural History of Indiana ; The Hawks and Owls of the United States (beautifully illustrated). Those added by purchase are : Gray's Manual of Botany ; Scudder's Guide to Butterflies ; The Life of a Butterfly, S. H. Scudder. The whole number now on the register is 1,284. The number of volumes issued to local members was 46. Several interesting additions were made to the native collection of Lepidoptera. A few attractive things were added to the exotics. A box of beetles was kindly sent to the Society by Mr. Trevor C. D. Kincaid, Olympia, Washington State, which have been placed in a drawer by themselves, and the donor's name attached. A small but interesting and valuable collection of Rocky Mountain Butterflies has been loaned to the Society by Mr. T. B. Parkinson, one of our local members. They were taken by Dr. W. Hayden, Canmore, and presented by him to Mr. Parkinson. Through the kind consideration of Prof. C. H. Fernald, Amherst, Mass., the Society has been put in possession of a complete life series of the Gypsy Moth, Ocneria dispar, Linn. The valuable English collection had suffered severely from insect pests. By a liberal use of white crystallized napthaline, the work of destruction was at once arrested, and is now completely overcome. I find this material to be a clean, safe and certain preven- tive, and even a complete exterminator of insect pests. Respectfully submitted, J. Alston Moffat. Librarian and Curator. REPORT FROM THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO TO THE ROYAL SOOIELY OF CANADA. By W. Hague Harrington, Delegate. I have the honor, as duly appointed delegate from the Entomological Society of Ontario, to submit a brief report on its operations during the past year. It is very satis- factory to state that, after a highly useful existence of thirty years, the Society flourishes with unimpaired vigor, and that its members continue with unabated zeal, the investiga- tion of the insect fauna of our vast territories to the gain both of science and of the agri- cultural industries of the country. The Canadian Entomologist, the official organ of the Society, completed, during 1892, its twenty-fourth volume, and the demand for admittance to its pages was so great that they were increased from the standard number of 240 to no less than 323. There were fifty-two contributors to the volume ; among theu many of the most prominent entomol- ogists of Canada and the United States. In the systematic papers were published descriptions of five new genera, and ninety- six new species of insects ; chief.y Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Of more than ordinary interest were some of the articles on collecting, breeding, geographical dis- tribution, classification, etc. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. The following were some of the more important papers published during the year : Can Insects Survive Freezing] Mr. H. H. Lyman. Entomology for Beginners— Three papers, Mr. J. Fletcher, Mr. H. F. Wickham. Descriptive papers on N. A. Diptera, Mr. C. Tyler Townsend. Notes on Coleoptera, Dr. John Hamilton. Orthoptera of Indiana, Mr. W. S. Blatchley. Miscellaneous Notes on Butterflies, Larvae, etc., Mr. W. E. Edwards. Getting Butterfly Eggs, Mr. W. G. Wright. Classification of North American Spiders, Mr. Nathan Banks. New North American Homoptera, Mr. E. P. Van Duzee. New North American Microlepidoptera, Prof. Fernald. Canadian Galls and their Occupants, Mr. Wm. Brodie. Four Insect Monstrosities, Mr. H. F. Wickham. Insects attracted by Fragrance or Brilliancy of Flowers for purpose of Cross-Fertiliza- tion, Dr. R. E. Kunze. The Inhabitants of a Fungus, and Life History of Xenos, Mr. H. G. Hubbard. A full report was also published of the meeting of the Entomological Club of the A.A.A.S., including the very valuable address of the President, Mr. E. A. Schwarz, which dealt very thoroughly with the work hitherto accomplished in North American coleopterology. When to the foregoing contents are added the book notices of current publications on economic and systematic entomology, correspondence and records of varieties and rare species, obituary notices, etc., the result is a volume of much value and interest to all who are interested in the study of insect life. The society also furnished to the Ontario Department of Agriculture the usual annual report(No. 23) which consisted of 88 pages, with numerous illustrations. In addition to a full report of the proceedings at the annual meeting of the society, it contained some valuable special papers, of which may be mentioned the following : A Visit to the Canadian Haunts of the late Philip Gosse, Rev. T. W. Fyles. A Trip to Mount Washington, Mr. H. H. Lyman. Notes on the Rarer Butterflies of the Province of Quebec, Rev. T. W. Fvles. On the Power of Insects to Resist the Action of Frost, Mr. J. A. Moffat. Some Injurious Microlepidoptera, Mr. J. A. Moffat. The Hornfly, Mr. James Fletcher Clothes Moths, Mr. James Fletcher. The Songs of Our Grasshoppers and Crickets, Prof. S. H. Scudder. The thirteenth annual meeting of the Society was held in its rooms in London, on Wednesday, August 21st, and Thursday, September 1st. The President, the Rev. Dr. Bethune, F.R.S.O., delivered a very valuable address, in the course of which he discussed those insects which had been reported as most numerous and destructive during the year. Interesting papers were also read by several members, and reports were received from the Geological, Botanical, Ornithological and Microscopical Sections, and also from the Montreal Branch, which for many years has regularly brought together for mutual instruc- tion the students of entomology in that city and vicinity. The Society was honored during the year in the election of Rev. Dr. Bethune to the distinguished position of President of the Entomological Club of A. A. A. S., and Vice- President of the Association of Economic Entomologists. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MONTREAL BRANCH OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. The council beg to submit the following report of the work of the Branch during the session of 1892-93. Eight monthly meetings have been held and the following papers have been read : Notes on Zaraea Americana, Rev. T. W. Fyles. A Trip to Mt. Washington, H. H. Lyman. Notes on the Lepidoptera of Cap a L'aigle P. Q , A. F. Winn. Preparatory Stages of Anisota Pellucida, H. H. Lyman. Life History of Nemeophila Scudderii, H. H. Lyman. Notes on Taxonus Dubitans and T. Nigrosoma, J. G. Jack. Notes on Collecting Sesiidre in the London (England) District, L. Gibb. List of Lepidoptera collected by Dr. Bell in the Country North of Lake Huron, H. H. Lyman. We have, since our last annual meeting, lost another of our members who was an enthusiastic worker in the study of insects, by the death of Mr. J. W. Gushing. Your council regret that the attendance at the meetings during the past season has not been as good as in former years, and would urge on the members the necessity of doing all in their power to increase the interest of the meetings and to endeavor to add to our roll as many new names as possible. The report of the Treasurer shows a balance at our credit of $19.24. Submitted on behalf of the council. (Signed) H. H. Lyman, President. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, H H. Lyman ; Vice-President, L. Gibb ; Sec.-Tres., A. F. Winn ; Council : J. F. Hausen, H. B. Cushing. Regret was expressed that no member had been able to represent the Society at the annual meeting of the Association of Economic Entomologists held at Madison, Wisconsin, in August. (Through the kindness of Mr. Howard, a full account of the proceedings has been received and will be found in subsequent pages of this report.) At the meeting of the Entomological Club of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, held at the same place, Mr. Lyman, of Montreal, one of our members, was present, and read a paper on Hepialus Thule. A paper entitled " Notes and Queries," by the Rev. Dr. Holland, of Pittsburg, was read by Dr. Bethune ; the writer referred especially to the occurence of Erebus odora, Papilio cresphontes and Philenor and other insects. In the discussion that followed, it was stated by Messrs. Moffat and Saunders that they found P. cresphontes in abundance about London, and also its larvae. Dr. Bethune reported having taken it at Roach's Point, Lake Simcoe, on the 28th of August last. He mentioned also the capture at Port Hope, on the 15th of October, of a male specimen of Colias Eurytheme, the first that he had seen in that neighborhood. Papilio philenor had formerly been taken near Toronto and Hamilton, but not of late years ; its larvaa had been found at Ridge way feeding upon Wild Ginger, Asarum Canadense. Mr. Fletcher exhibited an illustration of a gall on Negundo aceroides made by a moth, and described its peculiarities ; also specimens of Silpha 7ntuberosa from Saskatoon. Some larva9 were recently sent him from there, which were feeding upon Monolepis chenopodioides, an abundant plant in the prairie region ; from these he bred the beetle, S bitubirota. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. Mr. Elliott exhibited some galls found on Hackberry, Celtis occidentals, which are probably the work of a Psylla. This elicited a discussion on the very remarkable dis- tribution of the tree in Canada, which occurs in small numbers in isolated localities, as for instance at Oomo, P.Q., Ottawa, Bowmanville and the neighborhood of London. Mr. H. S'evenson showed an interesting prickly gall from the wild blackberry, Bubus villosus, which was probably produced by a Rhodites. The Rev. T. W. Fyles read a paper on "Notes of the year 1893." In the dis- cussion that followed, Mr. Fletcher stated that he had found Telea polyhemus on Cornus ; he had also found Catastega aceriella very abundant on maple trees at Ottawa. Nisoniades Horatius was this year quite common on Columbine (Aquilegia) ; of Argynnius Iriclaris he had taken seven specimens near Ottawa, a butterfly that hitherto has only been known to occur in the barren lands of the Peace River. Mr. McGill exhibited his patent Composition Tree-protector, which is very simple in construction, easy to apply and an excellent defence against canker-worms, and also use- ful as an attractive hiding-place for codling worms and other larvae. The meeting adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SESSION. In the evening the Society held a public meeting in its room in Victoria Hall at 8 o'clock, which was largely attended by members and other friends from London and the vicinity. In addition to those already mentioned as present in the afternoon, the follow- ing were notioed : Rev. Dr. Andras, Mr. J. Foote, Dr. Woolverton, Dr. Wilson and others. The chair was taken by Mr. Denton, the Vice-President, who apologized for the unavoidable absence of Mr. Harrington, the President of the Society. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. The following report was then read by the Secretary and adopted : The Council of the Entomological Society of Ontario beg to present the following report of the proceedings of the Society during the past year. The membership of the Society shews a considerable increase over that of last year, especially in the addition of a large number from the Province of Ontario. Much interest has continued to be taken in the various departments of the Society and much satisfactory work has been accom- plished. The Twenty-third Annual Report on practical and general Entomology was presented to the Minister of Agriculture in November last, and was printed and distributed early in January. It consisted of eighty -eight pages and was illustrated with forty-five wood cuts. The report contained, among other interesting matter, a remarkable paper by Mr. S. H. Scudder on " The Songs of our Grasshopers and Crickets"; a long and interesting account by Rev. T. W. Fyies of " A visit to the Canadian Haunts of the late P. H. Gosse," which was especially noticed by the Toronto Globe of April 6th, and other newspapers j also a timely article by Mr. Fletcher on the Horn fly. The Canadian Entomologist has been regularly issued at the beginning of each month and completed its twenty-fourth volume in December last. It consisted of 323 pages, being the largest number yet issued. Ten numbers of the twenty-fifth volume have been published, each averaging twenty-six pages. The Council take this opportunity of thanking their numerous contributors, among whom are included all the leading Entomo- logists of North America, for their valued assistance, which has enabled them to maintain the position held for so many years of being one of the leading Entomological journals of the world, as well as the best in America. The library has been increased by the addition of seventy valuable works, making the whole number of volumes in the rooms- of the Society nearly thirteen hundred. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. A considerable number of rare specimens have been added to the collections, and the Council have pleasure in again acknowledging the careful and painstaking services of the Curator, Mr. J. Alston Moffat, who has at all times shown his readiness to assist the members, and particularly beginners, in the identification of specimens and the prosecution of their studies. Interest in the various sections engaged in the study of the allied sciences of Botany, Microscopy, Geology and Ornithology, has not flagged, a number of new members having been added to the Society through this channel, and good work accomplished in each branch. Reports from the sections are submitted herewith and will be found to give an outline of the work undertaken. The annual report of the Treasurer shows a present balance of $457.54, which amount will be scarcely sufficient to meet the expenses of the Society during the winter session, but by careful economy it is hoped that the expenditure will not exceed the balance in hand to any great extent. The Society was represented at the meeting of the Royal Society of Canada, which was held at Ottawa in May last, by your President, Mr. Harrington, whose report is presented herewith. All of which is respectfully submitted, (Signed) W. E. Saunders, Secretary. In the absence of the President, Mr. James Fletcher, Dominion Entomologist, gave a highly interesting address upon the chief inssct attacks of the year, which was listened to with great attention. INJURIOUS INSECTS OF THE YEAR, By James Fletcher, Ottawa. I regret that the President has been prevented from being here to day to deliver his annual address. I am sure that some very important business in connection with his office has caused his absence, as I know that he fully intended to be present. I am glad to be able to report that no serious new pests of the farm have made their appearance during the past season, and with the exception of the Horn-fly and three species of Locusts, generally known under the collective name of "Grasshoppers," none of the old enemies have shown themselves in unusual numbers. Of household pests the common Clothes Moth (Tineola biselliella, Hum ) was for some reason extremely abundant and injurious in many parts of the Province. Two of the most interesting attacks which have been brought under my notice are : (1.) The gall-making larva of a small moth which passes its larval life in the young twigs of the ash leaved maple, Negundo aceroides Several specimens of the swollen twigs containing caterpillars were sent to me from Mr. W. G. Fonseca, of Winnipeg, who has observed the insect for some years. I was able to breed the moths this year as well as two distinct parasites. None of these have yet been named. About half the larvae were found to be parasitised. (2.) The other attack alluded to is of the larva? of one of the Carrion beetles, Silpha bituberosa, Lee, upon squashes and chenopodiaceous plants at Saskatoon in the North-West Territories. In England a closely allied species, S. opaca, is sometimes a serious enemy of the beet- root. It is this fact which gives the present record importance, from the possibility of S. bituberosa developing a taste for cultivated plants as the country becomes more settled. The larva? are nocturnal in their habits, black, half an inch in length, shaped like wood-lice and are very active. I received the larvae when nearly full-grown and soon afterwards they buried themselves in the earth. About two weeks later the beetles ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. emerged. At first I took them for the European species, which, however, it is said, also occurs in this country, but Dr. George H. Horn has kindly identified them for me as S. bituberosa, a native species of the North- West Territories. It is probable that the usual habit of this insect as well as of S. opaca is to feed upon carrion ; but the fact that they occasionally develop a taste for vegetation makes it necessary to be on guard against them. Out-worms were as usual complained of in various districts, the species most commonly sent in being .i Carneades mes- \ ,- soria, Harr. (Fig. 1) in onion-beds, C. Sfeg^V o / agrtTk ochrogaster, Gn., omnivorous and Noctua ^jSSteV- WB^^^^tOS^^^Hm B fennica, Tausch, chiefly in clover and pea Bf '"''l % ^^311811 BSpi|BBP^ fields. The easy remedy of wrapping a piece of paper around the stems of freshly planted tomatoes and cabbages is becom- ing very popular amongst those who have tried it. In my own experience I have Fig. 1. found it one of the most satisfactory remedies. It is done at the time of plant- ing, is very easy and takes hardly any time. The easiest way is to have a bundle of paper all cut to the right size, about three inches square. Thread these close to one corner on a loop of string and tie this to the basket or box in which the young plants are carried to the field. Before planting a cabbage, pull off one sheet of the paper and lay it on the palm of the left hand, then taking the young plant in the right hand place the stem across the paper and close the left hand, this will leave a loose collar of paper around the stem between the top and the root. When planting leave about two inches of the paper above the ground. The Turnip Flea. On the whole, there have been fewer complaints of the flea beetle (Fig. 2) this season than for many years. The best remedy is to dust the young plants as soon as they appear above the ground with a mixture of land plaster and Paris Green in the proportion of 25 to one. The land plaster acts as a stimulant to the young plants and soon pushes them past the stage when they are liable to injury from the beetles. The mixture must be perfectly dry. Leaf-hoppers of various kinds have been abundant in some localities and upon various crops. Erythroneura vitis, Harr., the Leaf-hopper of the Vine sometimes called " The Thrip," has been successfully treated upon the Virginia creeper and grape by spraying with Kerosene Emulsion. Another species, Empoa faboe, Harr., has been abundant and injurious upon the English Horse-beans, which are now being extensively grown by farmers for mixing with Indian corn and the seeds of sunflowers in the pre- paration of ensilage, according to the new Robertson combination. The horse-bean seems to be very susceptible to injury from insects. The Empoa above named causes the leaves to turn black and dry up. A large flea-beetle (Systena frontalis, Fab.) also injured this plant, among several others, by eating the soft tissues of the upper surface of the leaves. The common Red-legged Locust was even more injurious in the same way, and in the North- West Territories, the large and beauti- ful Western Blister-beetle (Oanthan's Nutialli, Say) entirely defoliated patches of these beans. The sunflower, grown for the seeds, was not without its enemies either — early in the season Cut- worms attacked the young seedlings and later the stems of many plants were much weakened by the pith being entirely consumed by the larvse of the beautiful Trypetid fly (Straussia longipennis Wied). The female is furnished with a hard ovipositor by means of which she inserts her eggs into the stems while soft and r>he young larvae live in the pith. They pass the winter as pup?e in the ground and the perfect flie3 appear in June, when they may be found on Sunflowers and the Jerusalem Artichoke. The fly is deep honey yellow with bright green eyes and has the wings prettily mottled with brown. The season in the Ottawa district has been a particularly wet one and as a consequenc .some of the usually abundant injurious insects have been conspicious by their absence. Of 10 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. these mention may be made of the Colorado Potato beetle which has been kept in check with less trouble than usual. Of course the only practical remedy is Paris Green, which meets all requirements cheaply and effectively. Several instances have been brought under my notice of the ravages of the Gray Blister-beetle (Macrobasis unicolor, Kirby) upon Potatoes and Horse-beans. This beetle is most frequently found in the perfect state upon the Fall Meadow Rue (Thalictrum Cornuti) but also occurs on other plants. In the larval condition it lives as a parasite upon the eggs of Locusts. A closely allied species with similar habits was sent in from two or three localities as a pest upon mangels, vegetables and garden Asters, of which last it destroyed the flowers. Red Spiders have been abundant and injurious to many plants in those parts of Ontario where dry weather has prevailed, currant bushes and beans were particularly attacked. Spraying with a weak Kerosene Emulsion has been found to be one of the best remedies. On the Experimental Farm a small species of Scymnus, one of the Lady- bird beetles, was found to be very useful in thinning their numbers. A stalk borer (Hydrcecia cataphracta, Grt.) was locally troublesome in tomato fields and also occurred in several herbaceous plants, as holyhocks, sunflowers and lilies. The root maggots of the cabbage and onion still remain troublesome pests of the market gardener. When attacking cabbages, the best results have been obtained by pouring hellebore-tea around the roots, and with onions and radishes some experiments with common salt were apparently attended with the greatest measure of success this season. These experiments will be repeated again next year. Two of the true bugs Lygus ]^ratensis> L,, the Tarnished Plant-bug, (Fig. 3) and Poecilo- capsus lineatus, Fab. both common species, have been very abundant and injurious in some localities this year. Perhaps the most practical remedy for these is beating the infested plants over a beating net or pan containing some water, with a little coal oil on the surface. This is best done early in the morning when the insects are not so active as later in the day. Several kinds of plant lice have been abundant in gardens. Species upon turnips, carrots, cabbages and celery having been sent in, The best remedy for these insects, where it is practicable, is to spray the plants with a kerosene emulsion, as early aa possible in the season, before they have multiplied. ]A \ / W Fig. 4. Fig. 3. Fig. 6. Fig. 5. Of insects injurious to forest trees mention may be made of two small caterpillars which have been attacking the maples in some parts of Ontario and Quebec. The first of these Incurvaria acerifoliella, Hew. is a case-maker, which cuts out round disks of the maple leaf and forms a flat case, inside which it lives. In the autumn it falls to the ground and passes the winter inside its case as a pupa. The tiny steel-blue moths, with orange collars, emerge the following spring. The other is the species which has been mentioned tby Mr. Fyles, possibly Catastega aceriella, Clem. The larva forms a tent between the two surfaces of the leaf and lives inside a tube made out of its own frass. This tube starts close to the petiole and gradually enlarges as the larva grows, until it ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 11 reaches about two inches in length. The tents were so abundant this autumn in some places that the maple trees about Kaowlton and other places round Brome Lake in the Eastern Townships were much disfigured. It is also very abundant at Ottawa. I have never seen the moth yet, but have several of the larvae and pupae in my breeding cages, from which I hope to get the moths next spring. Of fruit insects, some of the well known pests have called for attention, as the Eye-spotted Bud moth (Tmetocera ocellana, Schif.), on the apple and plum, the Oyster- shell Bark-louse (Mytilaspis pomorum, Bouche), the Beautiful Wood Nymph (Eudryas grata, Fab.). Fig. 4 represents the moth and Fig. 5 the caterpillar. The Codling Moth (Garpocapsa pomonetla, L ) ancl the Plum Curculio (C onotrachelus nenuphar , Hbst.). For these the well-known remedies have been recommended. Injuries of less frequent occurrence have been reported by the following : Click beetles, which have injured the flowers of apples at Ottawa and of pears in Nova Scotia. The Shot-borer or Pin-borer (Fig. 6) (Xyleborus dispar, Fab.) has increased and is doing much injury to the apple-growing districts of Nova Scotia. Washing the trees in June with a soap or lime wash, to which a little Paris green has been added, will probably be found to be the best remedy. In the Niagara district I found last spring that the peach trees were much infested by the Peach-bark beetle (Phlceotribus liminaris, Harr.). This is a very small Scolytid and can be easily recognized by its laminate antennae. A new pest of the apple in Canada has been sent to me by Mr. R. Z. Rogers, of Grafton, Ont., and Mr. F. J. Watson, of Okanagan Mission, B.C., namely, the Otio- rhynchid beetle Anametis grisea, Horn. The beetle gnaws the bark from the twigs and also eats out the buds. I have not yet worked out its life-history. As mentioned above, the insects which have attracted most attention daring the season of 1893 by their injuries are the Horn fly (Hcematobia serrata, Rob.-Desv.) shown much enlarged at Fig. 7, and the three common locusts, which occur all through Fig. 7. Ontario. As was anticipated, the Horn -fly, since first noticed last year, has spread far and wide over the Province, and although there has been a great hue and cry amongst farmers, very few of them hive systematically treated their cattle to protect them from the attacks of their tormentors. The loss consequently has been very great, owing to the falling off in the quantity of milk produced at the season of the year wh^n it should have been most plentiful. It is not probable that the Horn-fly will continue to be as serious a pest after a year or two as it is at present in Ontario, nevertheless it is an important matter that dairymen and farmers should adopt some one of the simple and effective remedies which have been discovered and practise them regularly if they wish to keep their stock in a state of comfort and prevent an unnecessary shortage in their bank accounts. In the first place 12 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. it is necessary to remember that the Horn- fly does not in any case breed (that is, pass its preliminary stages) on or in the cattle ; but the eggs are laid on freshly dropped cow dung; the young maggots hatch within 24 hours and live until full grown in the moist excrement ; this takes about a week ; they then burrow down a short distance into the ground and assume the pupal form, from which, in about another week, in summer, the perfect flies issue. The last brood of autumn passes the winter beneath the ground within the puparia. The flies are extremely active and swarm on cattle, biting them and giving them much annoyance from the irritation of their bites. The name Horn fly is applied to this insect from its habit of clustering upon the horns of cattle. Here they are out of the reach of the animal's tail and are not easily dislodged. They do no injury whatever to the horns. Remedies. The remedies are simple, but require constant attention to be effective. Almost any greasy substance rubbed over the parts of the animal usually attacked will prevent the flies from biting for two or three days. For this purpose " tanners' oil" or any other cheap fish oil is satisfactory, and if a small quantity of carbolised oil, which can be prepared in a short time by any druggist, be added, the effect will be more lasting and the application will have a healing effect upon any sore which may have been made by the animal rubbing or licking itself. An easily applied remedy, which has been found effective by most who have tried it, is the kerosene emulsion, which is practically a mixture of soapsuds and coal oil in the proportion of two of coal oil to one of soapsuds. To make the emulsion, boil half a pound of any common hard soap in one gallon of water ; when all is dissolved, and while boiling hot, pour it into a large tub containing two gallons of coal oil, then churn this well with a syringe or force-pump for tive minutes, when the mixture will be smooth like cream. This emulsion cools into a jelly- like mass, and may be kept for any length of time if placed in a cool cellar. When required for use, it may be diluted with cold water to the strength required. One part of the emulsion to nine of water works well. It is easily applied to the animals by mean? of a force pump and spray nozzle. While the flies are bad, it should be applied every other day for a fortnight ; after that the odour of the accumulated coal oil will keep them off for a longer time. There certainly is a good deal of work about this application which farmers may object to, but so long as the flies are as numerous as at present, it will be necessary to take these extra precautions if they wish to protect their cattle and their own interests. It is well to mention, however, that in all the districts in the United States where three or four years ago this insect was extremely abundant, it has decreased greatly in numbers, and there is every reason to anticipate that this will be the case here too. Throughout all the western portions of the Province a large amount of loss has been caused by locusts. All the specimens sent to me have belonged to three different species, which are always common, viz., the Red-legged Locust (Melanoplus femur-rubrum, DeG.) Fig. 8. The Lesser Migratory Locust (Melanoplus atlanis, Riley) and the Two-striped Locust {Melanoplus blvittatus, Say.). The Red-legged Locust has a very wide range and is common in all parts of the country. It attacks all kinds of vegetation, and has a particularly bad habit, which has been much noticed this year, of biting off the heads of oats just before they ripen. The Lessor Migratory Locust resem- bles the last named very much. It is, as a rule, rather larger and brighter in colour. It has longer wings and can always be separated from it by the sharply-pointed sternum or breast-bone, that of femur-rubrum being spatulate or enlarged at the apex. This species is migratory in its habits, like the Rooky Mountain Locust, and frequently is the cause of great injuries to crops, 'not only in the North-west, but in Ontario and New England; in fact. Prof. Bruner credits it with being the species which most frequently does the locust injury in the New England States. The Two-striped Locust is a large, heavy-bodied and voracious species, which destroys a great amount of vegetation. It generally frequents rank growing plants in low ground, but as often occurs in gardens where it is very troublesome. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 13 Locusts are, as a rule, kept within due limits by their many enemies, but occasion - ally they appear in large numbers and increase so much as to cause locust plagues or " grasshopper years." This is generally in dry summers, when they get the conditions which are most advantageous for their development, but which are ad verse to the free growth of vegetation. In such years it is necessary to have recourse to artificial means to protect crops. The most successful of these have been the plowing under deeply of the eggs, which have been known to have been deposited in certain localities, before they have time to hatch, and the use of the tar-pan or " hopper-dozer," by means of which the insects are caught in large numbers and destroyed before they have developed their wings. These tar-pans are large, shallow pans, made of sheet iron after various patterns, but, as a rule, about twelve feet long by three wide, with the edge turned up slightly in front and the back about eighteen inches high. In the bottom of these pans a small quantity of tar or coal oil is placed and they are then drawn over the fields by horses. The grasshoppers spring in the air when the pan is drawn towards them and fall inside the pan, where they come in contact with the tar or oil, and even if they hop out again they are sure to die. Id this way enormous quantities are destroyed every year in the Western States. A vote of thanks to Mr. Fletcher, for his valuable and highly interesting address, was moved by Rev. T. W. Fyles, who remarked, in doing so, upon the occurrence at Quebec of both the species, Orgyia leucostigma and nova. Dr. Bethune cordially seconded the motion and expressed the great pleasure that all present had experienced in listening to the address. In the course of his remarks he referred to the unusual abundance this year of the Tomato-worm, the larvae of Sphinx quinque maculata, and of several species of grasshoppers and to the entire absence in his garden of the Pear-tree slug, which had been very abundant and injurious for several years previously. He stated that a friend, resident in Toronto, was of opinion that the number of house flies had been very greatly diminished by the English sparrow, which devoured the larvae, and enquired whether this observation was correct. He spcke also of the publication of a bibliographical catalogue of the Noctuidae of North America, by Prof. J. B. Smith, as one of the notable events of the year. Mr. Denton, in putting the motion to the meeting, spoke of the value of the remedies for the Horn fly, and gave instances of herds of cattle being kept in splendid condition by being protected from the attack of this annoying insect. The reports of the different sections for the past year were next read by their respective secretaries. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL SECTION OF THE ENTOMO- LOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO FOR 1892-3. This section has held about half a dozen meetings during the year, most of which have been attended by almost every member. The approach of the collecting season, however, led to such a scant attendance that the meetings were dropped. A ledger was opened to record the distribution, abundance, nesting habits, etc., of the birds of Middlesex and surrounding counties, on which several evenings' work was done before the cessation of meetings, and it is the intention of members to push it to completion, if possible, during the coming season. Each member of the section has been devoting himself to the special study of one bird, and the hawk family has thus been divided between the members for report this present fall. Good results are looked for from this concentration of work. No very rare birds were observed during the season, but the Olive-sided Flycatcher and the Fox-colored Sparrow were observed to justify the opinion of their increased local abundance, while the Tennessee warbler was unusually common for a few days in spring, and was singing freely, a habit which was not previously noted in our locality. All of which is respectfully submitted. W. E. Saunders, Chairman. W. J. Stevenson, Secretary. 14 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. REPORT OF BOTANICAL SECTION OF ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. The Botanical Section held their first meeting for 1893 on April 29th, and from then till July 1st, weekly meetings were regularly held. The attendance at the meetings and the interest shown have been greater than in previous years. A careful list of the plants observed by members, their localities and dates of blossoming, has been made out. Outings to Port Stanley and to Komoka were very interesting and fruitful. A large portion of the collection presented to the Section by Wm. Scott, B.A., of Ottawa, has been mounted by Mr. Balkwill, and the work will probably be completed during the ensuing winter. Our herbarium is increasing and we hope to make it thoroughly representative of the district. Observations worthy, perhaps, of mention are the finding of Moneses uniflora and Hypoxjjs erecta, growing plentifully at Komoka, these being the first records for that district for some years at least. Hedeoma Drummondi, not mentioned by Macoun, and in late editions of Gray said to extend from Ohio southward to Texas, was also found near Komoka. A remarkable case of fecundity of the Beech is reported by Mr. Balkwill, who finds the cupules containing as many as six nuts each. Mr. Moffat found several specimens of Aphyllon uniflorum growing near the city, not before reported nearer than Port Stanley. W. T. McClement, Secretary. REPORT OF THE MICROSCOPICAL SECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. I have much pleasure in placing before you the annual report of our Section. It is now three years since this section was organized, and we can look back with pleasure on the work of the past few years. Thirteen meetings were held during the season which has just closed, from October 22, 1892, to May 19, 1893, when our section adjourned during the summer months. Our total membership numbers fourteen, an increase of fourteen per cent, since last year, with an average attendance of (13) thirteen, an increase of 45 per cent, over last year, which shows the interest the members are taking in this part of the work. The work undertaken by the Section has been of a very practical and useful character. Members have been thoroughly drilled in the cutting of sections, staining and mounting them. During the past year we have had several outings, when the manner of collecting material has been practically demonstrated, and we feel confident that this method of work adopted by our Society will make our members skillful in microscopical manipulation and will also acquaint them with all the uses a microscope can be put to. Several new microscopical (fungi) plants have been added to the list and their life history worked out. We are deeply grateful to the parent Society for the very liberal manner in which they have supplied us with periodicals and the great encouragement they have given our Section. We are sure that in return the Section will become a valuable adjunct to the Society. The subjects for the various meetings during the season were as follows : Oct. 22nd, 1892 : Open meeting. Examination of pond water. Discussion as to arrangement of meetings for the term. Each member is assigned a subject which he is expected to work up as far as possible and then report on it. — J. M. Denton, Chairman. Nov. 6th : Study of Desmids, by J. H. Bowman. Closterium and many others exhibited and described. Nov. 20th : Open meeting. Jan. 6th, 1893 : Reports of outings during Christmas holidays. Business meeting. — J. M. Denton, Chairman. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 15 Jan. 20th: (1) Clothes moths, by J. Dearness. An article by James Fletcher was quoted upon clothes moths, Tineola Biselliella, from 23rd Annual Report, page 53. Samples of fabric damaged by this insect were examined. (2) Desrnids. 1st, how to collect; 2nd, whereto collect: 3rd, what to collect, either as useful, beautiful or scientific objects, by J. H. Bowman. Feb. 3rd : Study of urinary deposits and what they signify, by Dr. J. P. Burkholder. Feb. 20th : Two lectures were delivered by Dr. J. P. Burkholder on the Mounting of Animal Tissue and Preparation and Staining. March 3rd : Mounting of Apimal Tissue continued. The use of the microtome, by Dr. J. P. Burkholder. Several very interesting sections were prepared and mounted under the lecturer's instructions April 7th : Three lectures were delivered on Vegetable Tissue, by J. Dearness. Preparation of Vegetable Tissue. April 21st : Staining of Vegetable Tissue, by J. Dearness. When is double staining necessary 1 Alum cochineal as a stain. Picro lithium carmine as a stain. Several specimens of ferns were stained. May 5th : The mounting of Vegetable Tissue, by J. Dearness. The several specimens of ferns which were stained last evening were mounted. May 19th: Report on the Examination of Dawson's Pond, by J. H. Bowman, A microscopical exchange was arranged with A. Allen, of London, Eng. All information as to the Society's microscopes, books and mounts, the number of members owning microscopes, will be found in " The Microscope," page 38, vol. 1, No. 3. (Washington, March, 1893.) All which is respectfully submitted. H. A. Stevenson, Secretary. REPORT OF THE GEOLOGICAL SECTION. With regard to the work accomplished by this section of the Society : The surround- ing district of London has been searched wherever an outcrop of the base rock could be found exposed from the overlying lacustrine and boulder drift. The bed of both forks of the river Thames as tar as Dorchester and St. Marys in one direction, and Kil worth and Komoka in the other, including a very good exposure of the quarries at Springbank, as also some miles of the river midway, were searched and found to yield many good speci- mens of Phalops, Bufo, Strophomena, Spirifers, Stricklandia, Orthis, Spirigera and a very peculiar specimen of the squid tribe, possibly an Omioceras. Some of the members have extended their researches further afield, and in the gorge of the Grand River at Elora and Gait have unearthed Phragmoceras, Oncoceras, Megalomus Canadensis, Lituiter, Belleroptoon — a fine specimen of the last was obtained from the cliff above Wiarton. The Rev. C. H. Andras, who has lately joined the society and has proved a very active member, has added very much to the knowledge of the fossils and minerals of this portion of Ontario and has visited also the mineral regions north of Lake Huron, discovering traces of gold in a blue quartz matrix in various districts along a line of 200 miles follow- ing the route of the C. P. R., specimens of which, as well as those of the copper, nickel and silver of these districts of mineral wealth have been exhibited to the society and now form a portion of the private collection of the professor at Huron College. During the year a report appeared in the local press that coal had been discovered in the Lambton formation at Kettle Point. To verify this the chairman (Dr. Wool ver con) accompanied by Profs. Andras and Sherwood, visited the district in question and found thin bands of bituminous coal in the Devonian shale which crop out at this point. It is questionable, however, whether workable coal could be obtained here, for a few miles 16 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. south of this — at llderton — a boring was made through this shale formation which proved only natural gas in a small quantity and upon being continued deeper, a bed of salt was reached which is now being worked — the salt works being lit by the gas thus obtained. Perhaps the most remarkable objects in the vicinity of Kettle Point are the globular concretions of semi-crystalline limestone, ranging in diameter from two to six feet and of an internal radical structure and bituminous in nature. Several specimens were obtained and brought home by the party. In all these expeditions the lo^al collections have been visited and their cabinets overhauled and exchanges made of duplicates. An interesting point to Geologists is Thedford and its vicinity — the railway cutting close by abounds in specimens of spirifers, orthoceras and fossil corals in great abundance, Favosites Cyatho- phyllum and Helliolites Halli. A fine collection of the local fossils has been made by the Rev. Mr. Currie, the Presbyterian pastor. A great need of geological maps of the peninsula has been felt to enable this society to carry on its work more thoroughly and pro- fitably. The library on the other hand is well supplied with Geological literature which this section highly appreciates, but would gladly welcome any additions of more recent publications as they appear. The want of room greatly contracts the possibilities of the society. It has now been felt, and the feeling is widely expressed, that the time has arrived for the society as a whole to obtain more commodious premises, in order that not only the parent Society should have more room for the display of its own fine collections of insects (at present by no means shown to advantage owing to the difficulty of access by three flights of stairs and the crowded condition in which they are arranged), but also that the sub-sections might each have the opportunity of making a display of its collections. This branch at least feels that from its progress and increase of numbers this is worthy of the consideration of the parent Society. We have the honor to submit to this Society the foregoing as our report for the year past. S. Woolverton, Chairman. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following gentlemen were elected officers for the ensuing year : President — W. Hague Harrington, Ottawa. Vice-President — J. Dearness, London. Secretary — W. E. Saunders, London. Treasurer — J. A. Balkwill, London. Directors — Division 1 — James Fletcher, F.L.S., F.R.S.C., Ottawa. 2— Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, F.R.S.C, Port Hope. *' 3 — Gamble Geddes, Toronto. " 4 — A. H. Kilman, Ridgeway. " 5 — R. W. Rennie, London. Librarian and Curator — J. Alston Moffat, London. Editor of the u Canadian Entomologist " — Rev. C. 5. S. Bethune, M.A., D.C.L., Port Hope. Editing Committee — J. Fletcher, Ottawa ; H. H. Lyman, Montreal ; Rev. T. W. Fyles, South Quebec ; J. M. Denton and J. H. Bowman, London. Delegate to the Royal Society — Rev. T. W. Fyles, South Quebec. Committee on Field Days — Dr. Woolverton, Messrs. McClement, Elliott and Steven- son, London, and one representative from each section. Auditors — J. H. Bowman and J. M. Denton, London. A paper was then read by the Rev. T. W. Fyles on " Entomological Mistakes of Authors,'' which was highly enjoyed and appreciated by all present. Mr. Fletcher drew attention to one point in the report of the Ornithological section viz., the success achieved by devoting observations to one bird alone, and urged that this principle should be adopted by Entomologists, so that each one might work out the life- history of some particular insect. The meeting adjourned at 10.30 p.m. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OP ONTARIO. 17 THURSDAY— MORNING SESSION. The meeting was called to order by the Vice-President at 10 o'clock a.m. A paper by Mr. A. H. Kilman, of Ridgeway, was read on a supplementary list of Coleoptera not previously recorded as taken in Canada This paper, being of a technical character, will be published in the Canadian Entomologist. Dr. Bethune read an extract from a newspaper, which stated that farmers in Eng- land were much alarmed because dead insects, especially grasshoppers, had been found in numbers in the recent large importations of hay from Canada. The purchasers feared that the animals fed upon the hay might receive injury from consuming the insects, and the farmers were afraid that through the importation of the bodies of the insects the eggs of the locust might be introduced into England, and a locust plague be occasioned in the country. The despatch went on to state that " Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod, the great insect authority of England, the consulting entomologist of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and special lecturer on economic entomology at the Royal Agricultural College of Cirencester, and who is also the English corresponding member of the Entomological Society of Ontario, has published very reassuring statements, which are calculated to allay all alarm. She says that it is unlikely that locusts will propagate in Great Britain, owing to the comparatively moist and cool climate. She also declares that there is no evidence whatever that locusts are at all prejudicial to the health of cattle that eat them." Dr. Bethune gave it as his opinion that the fears of the English farmers respecting the importation of our locusts were perfectly groundless, and there was no likelihood of eggs being hatched and colonies established from the dead insects carried over in bales of pressed hay. The remainder of the morning was spent in the examination and determination of specimens, many rare and interesting forms having been brought to the meeting by Mr. Fyles, Dr. Bethune and some of the local members. After comparing notes on various matters of entomological interest, the meeting, which was greatly enjoyed by those who were present, was brought to a close. Much regret was expressed by all at the absence of the President, whose address will be found in the following pages. The members from a distance were much gratified at the kindness and hospitality rendered them and desire to record their hearty thanks to their kind entertainers. ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. By W. Hague Harrington, Ottawa. While the earlier incumbents of an office, such as I have had this year the honor to hold, are fortunate in finding new lands through which to wander and from which to garner fresh crops, those who come in later years have, at least, well laid- out fields to till and good plain paths to follow. As the President's address is published in the Annual Report which our Society prepares for the Ontario Department of Agriculture, and as the address is often his only contribution to the Report, it becomes almost imperative that it should be of as economic and practical a character as possible, and at the same time be worded, in such a clear and simple manner, that it may be readily understood, not only by the members of our own society, but by the larger audience reached by the Re- port. Instead, therefore, of endeavoring to treat technically, or elaborately, of any of the many special branches of Entomology, I shall keep in the well defined paths which my predecessors in office have laid out. ^ A city residence and official duties, which for several weeks in midsummer prevent any ^observations, combine to cause my work in Entomology to lack the continuity which is necessary for a thorough investigation into the life-histories of our insect foes and friends. The assistance of fellow- workers enables me, however, to say a few words about some of the more noticeable insects of the past season. Of these I shall first mention 2 (EN.) 18 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. several species of saw-flies, as I have endeavored to give somewhat special attention to the extensive and injurious section of phytophagous (plant-eating) Hymenoptera, to which these insects belong. I have not yet had time to catalogue all the species recorded from Canada, but I find that we have in the immediate neighborhood of Ottawa about one hun- dred and sixty species, of which several are decidedly obnoxious pests. Saw-flies are so named because the female has the ovipositor saw-like in form, and fitted to cut a slit in the leaf or twig in which she desires to deposit her egg. The worm hatched from this egg is not a footless maggot, such as that of the other sections of the Hymenoptera, but is provided with both thoracic and abdominal feet, is able to travel about in search of fresh food, and has much resemblance to the caterpillars of certain moths. The worms feed upon the tissues of the leaves, and, when numerous, soon strip the plants attacked. A good example of the ordinary saw-fly larva is the worm that is so troublesome on goose- berry and currant bushes, when they are not carefully sprinkled with hellebore. The Larch Saw-fly (Nematus Erichsonii, Hartig.) It would be almost impossible to calculate, and very difficult even to imagine, the enormous loss occasioned in the tamarack forests of Canada, during the past decade, by the inconspicuous insect which has become known to Encomologists as the Saw-fly of the Larch. The first mention of it in the Annual Reports of the Entomological Society of Ontario is found in that for the year 1883 (No. XIV., page 17) where, in the account of the proceedings of the Annual Meeting, the Rev. Mr. Fyles, of Quebec, is reported as stating : " That much injury had been caused to the tamarack trees, Larix Americana, in Bury and the neighboring townships, by a species of saw-fly, the same, probably, as that which has caused so much injury in Maine and the other eastern States, Nematux Erichsonii" The following year the same gentleman reported that : "The larch saw-fly had ex- tended it ravages along the Beauce Valley to the neighborhood of Quebec, where it had stripped the tamaracks bare. A second growth of leaves had appeared, and this, prob- ably, would save the trees." Mr. Fletcher also spoke of the " enormous damage " done by this insect. He had first noticed it near Quebec, and had traced it down the Intercolonial Railway wherever any larch i,rees occurred, as far as Dalhousie (N.B.), where he found it abundant. He also exhibited a species of bug, Podisus modesties, which had been found destroying the larvae at Brome, Que. (Ann. Rept. No. XV., p. 22.) The same Report (pages 72-77) contains a carefully prepared paper by Mr. Fletcher, on the habits and appearance of the insect. In 1885 (Ann. Rept. No. XVI., page 12), Rev. Mr. Fyles reported : " That the insect had again been abundant at Quebec, and that tamaracks that had survived the attack of last year, now showed tokens of decay, some of the branches only putting forth a second crop of leaves, and that but a sparse one." He described the manner in which one of the fos- sorial wasps, Odynerus capra, had been observed to prey upon the larvse. At the same meeting in " Some Notes on Tenthredinidae, 1885," (Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XV1IL, page 39), I mentioned the finding, at Ottawa on 24th June, of several colonies of the larvse of this saw-fly upon trees near the line of the Canada Atlantic Railway. Mr. John G. Jack, of Chateauguay, Que., in a paper read before the Montreal Branch on 9th Feb., 1886, records (Ann. Rept. XVII., page 16,) the occurrence of the destroying insects in his neighborhood as follows : " On July 5th I found some larch trees with the foliage very much destroyed by saw-fly larvae, and on examining the trees in the woods and surrounding country, I found that they were all attacked. At this time most of the larvae seemed to be a little more than half-grown, and they continued to feed until about July 15th, when some of them made cocoons. Many of the trees were now entirely de- foliated, and the branches and twigs literally covered with the larvae, many of which were dropping to the ground, and with the falling ' frass ' made a sound like fast falling rain- drops." ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 19 Prof Saunders, at the Entomological Club of the A.A.A.S, in 1887, reported, " that in the Maritime Provinces, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, he tound the larch saw fly (Nematus Erichsonii), extremely abundant and destructive." (Ann. Rept. XVIII., page 31.) Mr. Fletcher, in his address as President in 1889, made the following brief reference to the spread of this pest : "The larch saw-fly was very abundant in the neighborhood of Ottawa, and in fresh districts in the Maritime Provinces ; the tamarack swamps being rendered almost leafless for hundreds of acres." (Ann. Rept. XX., page 3.) The Rev. Dr. Bethune, in his address the following year, referred to the species briefly: " The larch saw-fly, to which reference has been made of late years, has not been nearly so abundant as usual in those parts of Ontario where it has hitherto prevailed. It is to be hoped that its natural enemies have multiplied to a sufficient extent to keep it in subjection and prevent its undue increase." (Ann. Rept. XXI., page 7.) In 1891 he again stated that it " continues to be very abundant and destructive. Unfortunately it is a kind of attack for which there seems no practicable remedy." (Ann. Rept. XXII., page 14.) At this meeting also the Rev. Mr. Fyles presented a valuable paper entitled, " Nematus Erichsonii ; a Retrospect" (1. c. page 28,) to which reference will be made pre- sently. I have now traced the progress of this obnoxious insect, as recorded in the publica- tions of our society, but a few remarks may be added on its later ravages, and the extent to which it may have permanently injured the tamarack areas of the Dominion. While we have seen that as early as 1883 it had spread through Quebec, it is probable that it had been in Canada at least a year or two previously, but had only then reached a locality where it came under the notice of an entomologist. My own observations along the line of the Intercolonial Railway and the Maritime Provinces, during the period elapsed since the insect was first reported, fully confirm the extent of the injury wrought in the tamarack districts, and the extent to which the trees were killed. Up to 1890, however, the insect had not, as far as I could see, invaded the Island of Cape Breton, but in the autumn of that year I found, not many miles from old historic Louisburg, a single twig with the characteristic twist and the evidence of oviposi- tion, showing that the enemy had crossed the island. I did not find other evidences of its presence, and all the surrounding trees looked most healthy and vigorous. The worms were in this year reported as very abundant in Prince Edward Island. The next year I did not visit Cape Breton, but in the beginning of September, 1892, just after our annual meeting of that year, I was in Sydney, and. on driving out through the surrounding country, found that the beautiful green tamarack groves and forests, which (with spruce) are in this section of country quite extensive, had the tire-swept ap- pearance caused by the ravages of the saw-fly, and I was informed that in the previous summer they had been almost as much defoliated. The lower portions of many trees, and small trees had, as elsewhere, partially escaped, but many of the larger trees seemed to be killed. This year the same dreary appearance was observed, and there is no doubt that very serious loss of older trees has been caused. Whence came the obnoxious insect which has so devastated and disfigured our beauti- ful woods and by what route did it invade our territories 1 Apparently from Europe, whence have come many of our most injurious insects, and, unfortunately, but few beneficial ones, and probably through the New England States. The first record that I can find of its appearance in the New World is contained in one of Dr. Hagen's " Entomological Notes ", (Can. Ent. Vol. XIIL, page 37), where he identifies specimens of larvae, received from Harvard Arboretum in 1880, as agreeing perfectly with the description and figure of Nematus Erichsonii. These larvas, it may be added, had been discovered feeding on European larches, and at first the native larches appear to have escaped. In Maine in 1882 the spread of the insect was very extensive, and in the same year it occurred in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, proving that the insects had multiplied and spread with most astonishing rapidity. The United States Entomo- logical Commission made examinations, in this and following years, of the infected dis- tricts, and in its very valuable Report on Insects Injurious to Forest and Shade Trees (1890), Dr. Packard gives a full account of the insect and its ravages. In his Report for 20 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 1884, he summed up the condition of the larches as follows, and he thinks that the pre- diction therein contained, was almost verified in 1885 : " On the whole, then, while a small proportion of larches have been killed by this worm, this vigorous tree, though de- foliated for two successive summers, seems, in the majority of ca es, to survive the loss of its leaves, though it threw out much shorter ones the present summer. Possibly 10 per cent, of our northern larches died from the attacks of this worm. Very probably the numbers of this insect will diminish during the next year, and the species may ultimately become as rare as it has always been in Europe." The maximum of damage having been committed, and the supply of food having been correspondingly diminished, have probably led to an arrest in the further development of the insects, and their numbers may continue to decrease. It will be, however, many vears before th« districts ravaged by them regain their wonted luxuriance of vegetation, and the larch forests which they have destroyed will in many instances be replaced by spruces (Maritime Provinces) cedar (Quebec) or other trees which may find the vacated localities suitable for their propagation. In the paper by the Rev. Mr. Fyles, already mentioned, he gives some figures to show the amount of injury done in the one Township of Bury, in the County of Lennox, Quebec, and an application of these estimates for one square mile, to the extended areas of trees destroyed in the several Provinces, will give some idea of the actual money value of the damages inflicted upon our possessions by this unwelcomed immigrant. " As we have seen, there are in Bury 610 acres of tamarack, giving on an average forty market- able trees to the acre, or 25,600 such trees in all. Every tree contains at least 400 feet, board measure, of lumber. This gives for the whole forest 10,240,000 feet, which, in a sound condition, would have been worth $30,720," at $3 per 1,000 feet on the stump, 4< and which left standing, would, under favorable circumstances, have been increased in value." He places the total loss to the township at $50,000, and to the adjoining Town- ship of Lingwick at double that sum, and in consideration of the wide extent of the in- sect's depredations, he comes to the conclusion that " Nematus Erichsonii has been the worst insect pest that has ever visited the Province of Quebec." Regarding the re-growth of the trees, he adds : "The tamarack forest of the Townships is a thing of the past. There seems to be a law of nature, that, when one growth of trees is swept away, another of a different kind shall succeed it. The hemlocks and pines of our mountain sides give place to the poplar and the white birch, The tamaracks will probably be succeeded by the American arbor-vitse, or white cedar {Thuja occidentalis.) And, if there were no such natural law, the world is too old, its population too vast, and land in the temperate regions too valuable, for us to suppose that large tracks of lowlands will be left* in a state of nature for 200 years to come." Although this insect has probably come to us from Europe, it is not there the same prolific pest which it has become under the stimulus of our more extensive tamarack forests, a change of climate, and, perhaps, escape from hereditary parasitic foes. It was described and named in 1838, and Cameron gives its continental distribution as Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, Holstein, Harz, Bohemia, Holland and France. The only country in which it is reported as injurious is Germany. In Great Britain ■' it does not not seem to be a common species. I have only seen a specimen taken by the Rev. T. A. Marshall, of which I do not know the locality. Mr. Dale records it from Glanville's Wootton." Its parasites are given as Perilissus filicomis and Pteromalus Klugii, Rtz. The former genus has not been recorded from America, but the latter species may possibly be identical with the parasite of which D. Packard bred considerable numbers in 1882, and to which he gave the provisional name of P. nematicida. For descriptions of the insect and further information as to its habits, reference can be made to the excellent paper by Mr. Fletcher in Ann. Rept. No. X V. Cameron states that the male is unknown, and from all the larvae we have bred there has not emerged a single male. I have, however, one male, taken in a tamarack swamp on the 15th June, 1889, which seems to belong to this species, differing from the female chiefly in having the antenme, except two basal joints, and posterior legs almost rufous, and the sides of prothorax almost white. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 21 Rose Saw-flies. A new saw fly made its appearance this year upon my roses, so that there are now three species attacking these favorite plants. One of these has been known for many years to the lovers of the rose as a troublesome pest, which rapidly destroys the foliage if not promptly looked after. This is Monostegia rosce, Harris, described in 1841 and then placed in the genus Selandria, which has since been sub-divided. Although named in America there is very little doubt that it came from Europe, where it is well known as a troublesome insect, and where several names have been subsequently bestowed upon it. The small stout black flies are abundant in May and June, and the eggs are deposited in the under surface of the leaf, generally near the edge.* The slug-like larvas feed, at night, upon the upper surface of the leaf and cause it to become brown and withered. In about a foitnight they are fully grown and drop to the ground in which they con- struct an earthern cell to shelter them until they pupate and emerge the following May or June. There appear to be but two mentions of this saw-fly in our reports : The first by Mr. Gott, of Arkona, in 1878 (Ann. Rept. No. IX, page 57), who stated that it was becoming very abundant and troublesome ; the second in my paper on Saw-flies (Ann. Rept. XV, page 70) where its habits are concisely stated. The second of our pests has not been long known to us, as such, but probably it crossed the ocean many years since, as it was named by Harris about fifty years ago as a new species. This insect is called Cladius pectinicornis, Fourc..(C isomera, Harris), and its larva may be called the Bristly Rose-worm to distinguish it from that of the previous species. Dr. Riley, in an interesting article on " Rose Saw-flies in the United States," records this species as first discovered on his rose-bushes (Washington) in 1880 (Insect Life, vol. V, page 7), and it is also several years since I first bred the insect from larvse taken on a rose- bush in Ottawa, although I cannot find a record of the exact date. I have since bred the species on two or three occasions, and find that it is becoming more abundant. In 1891 I took a specimen at the High Falls on the Des Lievres about 50 miles from the city. The species is apparently double-brooded here (in Washington three-brooded) as the flies appear from May to July. The eggs are laid in the leaf-petioles and hatch in a few days. The larva feeds on the under surface of the leaf, remaining concealed there, and at first making small holes ; but these holes increase in size and number with the rapid growth of the grub, and in a few days nothing will remain but the midrib and some of the stronger laterals. The larva is greenish, with an almost orange head and with rows of small warts from which rise rather stiff bristles or hairs, f When fully grown a delicate thin cocoon, with a more or less complete outer one, is spun upon the under side of the leaves or branches, or in rubbish upon the ground. The pupal state of the first brood lasts about a fortnight, but the second brood passes the winter in this foim. The flies are consider- ably larger than those of M. rosce and have the legs and wings paler. The third species, which has been noticed here for the first time this year, is Emphytus ductus, Linn., of which the larva may be distinguished as the curled Rose- worm, from its position when at rest. This is also a well-known European species, which received a new name (cinctipes) from Norton in 1867. This species was first reported as a rose-pest in America by Mr. John G. Jack, who found it very injurious in Boston and Cambridge in 1887 and following years. The eggs are laid singly on the under side of the leaf, but there may be several on a single leaf. The larvre are smooth cylindrical worms, somewhat stouter toward the head, (which is tawny with a black patch on vertex) and are greenish or yellowish-green above and whitish below. They feed on the edges of the leaves until these are consumed, and when at rest are coiled spirally beneath a leaf, or on the stripped stems. When fully grown they are said to generally pupate in the rose- branches, or in rotten wood or pith. Those that I bred this summer, however, buried in the ground in preference to using the pieces of corn pith which I had provided for them. There are probably two or more broods of this species here, as in the United States and *Cameron states of the European insects that, " The eggs are laid in the midrib in May," and that, " The small oval cocoons are spun in the earth." fit may be mentioned here that the description given by Dr. Riley does not quite agree with that giver by Cameron of "British larvae. 22 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. Europe, although I only observed one this year. The worms of this brood finished feed- ing about the end of June, and the flies (of which I obtained five females and one male) emerged at different dates during July. The flies are about the same size as the preced- ing species, but may be readily distinguished from them by the banded legs, while the females have also a white band across the abdomen. Although the larva} were noticed this year for the first time, it may be stated that Mr. Fletcher gave me last winter a male, which had been previously captured by him. While these three species of saw flies are troublesome and rapidly defoliate neglected plants, they can be quite easily destroyed and kept in check, by a careful spraying at necessary intervals during the season, with a solution of hellebore made by using an ounce of the drug to a gallon of water. The Pear tree Slug, Eriocampa (Selandria) cerasi, Peck. Slug like larvae apparently identical with those which have been mentioned in previous Reports, (Nos. V, VI, IX, etc.) as attacking pear and cherry trees, were this year very abun- dant at Ottawa upon Mountain Ash and Crataegus. This worm, Fig. 9, is, when young almost black, or appears so on account of a slimy secretion with which it is covered ; the front portion of the body is much enlarged, and the head thereby almost concealed. When fully grown it is almost half an inch long, and after the final moult the color is yellow and the skin is free from slime. There are altogether five moults ; the cast off slimy skins adhering to the leaves. The insect feeds upon the upper surface Fig. 9. of the leaf, causing at first a small whitish patch, but as the epidermis of the leaf is devoured more and more rapidly with the enlargement of the worm, the foliage of a badly infested tree soon has a dark withered appearance and commences to drop off. Pupation takes place in the ground, in cells lined with a sticky substance, which forms a species of earth-encased cocoon. The species is double brooded ; the flies of the first brood emerging about a fort- night or three weeks after the larvse bury ; those of the second not appearing until the following spring. The larvae were noticed in the summer of 1892, but were much more abundant this year, and greatly disfigured some of the ornamental trees in the city. The attack was most severe upDn the variety known as Oak-leaved Mountain Ash (Pt/rus acuparia var. quercifolia) the American form suffering comparatively little. The ravages of this saw-fly, Fig. 10, may be easily checked by spraying either with hellebore or paris green. Although the larvae were so abundant I have not been able to recognize a single specimen of the fly among my captures, and specimens which I was breeding this summer of the first brood emerged during my absence from home and were so badly moulded as to be unrecognizable. ^S§ Fig. 10. The Cornel Saw-Fly, Harpiphorus tarsatus, Say. In Insect Life (Vol. II, page 239-243) is an article on " The Dogwood Saw-fly," which supplements a paper which had been contributed to Garden and Forest by Mr. J. G. Jack under the title "A Destructive Cornel Saw-fly {Harpiphorus varianus, Norton)." As this insect is also found to attack Cornel in Canada a brief mention of it may not be out of place. But before noting its operations I would like to point out that my observations go to show, as I have already indicated (Can. Ent. vol. XXV, page 59) that //. varianus, Norton, is only a paler form of the species described by Say in 1835 (Le Conte Ed., vol. II, page 679) from Indiana, under the name Emphytus tarsatus. H. versicolor, Norton, and H. testaceus of same author are also apparently forms of the same insect, which is variable in colour. The proper name for the species would, therefore, appear to be Harpiphorus tarsatus, Say, with varianus, versicolor and testaceus of Norton as variations, and it may perhaps be better to call it the Cornel Saw-fly, as in some portions of Canada the name Dogwood is not always confined to these shrubs. The flies appear at Ottawa in June and the early part ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 23 of July, and the eggs are then laid in the upper surface of the leaves, the larvae, when hatched, emerging on the under surface, where they rest coiled up out of sight. During the earlier stages the larva is covered with a white bloom, or efflorescence, which is very easily removed. The head is black, and the feet and under portions yellow. When the last moult takes place the appearance of the larva is greatly changed ; it becomes of a bright yellow with rows of black spots along the back and sides, and is no longer covered by the white powdery excretion. Pupation takes place in burrows bored in dead branches, pithy stems, decaying wood, etc., a habit which in some localities is evidently a preservative one, as the land may be flooded for a considerable time in the spring, and if pupation took place in the ground many of the insects would probably perish. The native species of Cornel upon which I have observed them is Cornus stolinifera, but at the Experimental Farm they have this year been abundant enough upon G. sibirica to be quite injurious. Mr. Fletcher, who has been rearing a number of larvae from these shrubs informs me that two species seem to be indicated, one being much larger and somewhat different in markings from the other, but until the flies emerge next season this cannot be decided. Under date of 7th Aug., Miss Rye, of Niagara, writes to Mr. Fletcher that the previous week these larvae had appeared upon her ornamental dogwood trees in immense numbers and had greatly injured them. Upon ornamental plants, however, the depredations of this insect may be easily checked by spraying with the usual Paris green solution. The Fall Canker Worm, (Anisopteryx pometaria, Harris), The next insect which I desire to mention is by no means a recent intruder, but one which has been frequently brought to the notice of our members and the public at large. I refer to that very destructive insect the Canker Worm, (Anisopteryx pometaria). This species, and the very similar Paleacrita vernata, Peck, were clearly described for us many years ago by the then President of the Society, Prof. Saunders. (Ann. Rept. VI., p. 26, 1875), and were illustrated by the beautiful figures of Prof. Riley. Fig. 11. Fig. 11, represents the Fall Canker Worm A. pometaria ; a, the wirjged male ; b, the wingless female ; c, a portion of an antenna magnified ; d, segment of larva, magnified, Fig. 12. Fig 12, the Spring Canker Worm (P. vernata); a, the winged male ; b, the wingless female ; c, a portion of an antenna magnified ; d, seg- ment of larva, highly magnified. It is nearly a century since Prof. Peck, one of the earliest of American entomolo- gists, penned his " Natural History of the Canker Worm," which even then was making itself known as a depredator in the New England orchards. Our two species of moths resemble each other so very closely, both in the larval and adult stages, that the trained enton ologist alone can readily distinguish them. This, however, is not a matter of very great importance irom the economic standpoint, as the habits of both species are identi- cally the same, and the same course of treatment will destroy the one or the other. The species are generally distinguished as the spring and autumn Canker Worms, but the larvae of both species appear in early summer and have the same pernicious habits of reaping where they have not sowed. These larvae are pale greenish " loopers " when young, becoming more striped and darker with successive moults. Voracious eaters, they rapidly defoliate the trees upon which they feed, and when fully grown they drop, by silken threads, to the ground, to burrow a few inches below the surface and construct a cell in which to pupate, the moths appearing partly in the autumn and partly in the spring. In his address last year Dr. Bethune made mention of the abundance of Canker Worms at several places in Canada, one of these being Ottawa. Having watched the 24 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. appearance of the pest during the past three seasons, I wish to make a few remarks upon the species which has been the cause of so much disfigurement of our shade and forest trees. The past summer was the third in which the attack has been severe, but there are indications that the crisis has been passed and that we shall probably next year have a less numerous host at work. The species which has been infesting our district is that known as the Fall Canker Worm, A. pometaria, and I am informed by my friend Mr. Fletcher, who has a fuller knowledge of the lepidoptera, that the other species (yemata), does not occur here. While a variety of trees have been more or less injured, it was easily observed that the basswoods were one of the favorite objects of attack, and the large succulent leaves of this densely foliaged tree were speedily riddled, and entirely eaten away by the swarms of caterpillars. In 1892 the ash trees suffered very much, and in many localities were also almost defoliated. In one locality especially, where some fine trees grew on the margins of a low meadow, the excrement dropped by the feeding swarms pattered like a heavy shower on the ground beneath, and walking beneath the trees was rendered most unpleasant on account of the scores of dangling worms, fallen from aloft and swing- ing to and fro on their silken lines. One soon got liberally sprinkled with worms, and at the same time had the unpleasant sensation of the threads across his face like so many strong cobwebs. The caterpillars which had fallen were of course anxious to return to the feast, and could be seen crawling upward upon every trunk. A natural result of this upward movement was, that all that got on one's clothing soon reached the collar, where they circled around in a most disagreeable manner seeking a way to go still higher, and liable to be crushed by any movement of the head. This year the attack in that locality was much lessened, either through the influence of predaceous and parasitic enemies, or by flooding of the ground in the winter and spring. Groves of hickories (Gary a amara) on the higher land adjoining, were pretty well defoliated, but here the Canker Worms were assisted in their work of destruction by several other species of caterpillars. The Canker Worms were most abundant during the first week of June, but by the 20th they were mostly finished feeding and had dropped to the ground. During the period of their presence upon the trees I tried to Fig. 14. observe as often as possible the enemies by which they appeared to be attacked, and it has been encouraging to find that some of these have increased rapidly in numbers, con- currently with the increase of the worms, This has been especially noticeable in the case of the fine beetle Calosoma frigidum, Kirby, which belongs to the same section of the genus as C. scrutator, Fig. 13, and C. wlllcoxi, the beautiful large green beetles which occur plentifully in some parts of Ontario, but whose range does not extend as far eastward as Ottawa, The tree climbing and larv re -seeking habits of these splendid insects are well known, and frigidum, which has a more northerly and easterly distribution, appears to have the same arboreal and predatory habits. Our other common species, G. calidum, Fig. 14, is essentially a ground beetle and is a most persistent destroyer of cutworms. While ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 25 frigidum has the more graceful shape of the scrutator group, it is quite black, and bears three rows of small bronzed or greenish punctures, which are, however, much less conspi- cuous than those of calidum. As an evidence of the rapid increase of frigidum during the recent infestation of Canker Worms, it need only be mentioned that my first capture of this beetle was on 23rd May, 1883, on an island about three miles below the city, and that no other specimen was taken by me until 28th June, 1891. During these eight years a careful watch had been kept for this species, and many additions of less conspicuous beetles had been made to my local lists, so that I was forced to the conclusion that it was one of our rarest species. In 1892, however, as recorded in Ottawa Naturalist (Vol, VI,, p, 150), I found several specimens in a locality where the Canker Worms were very numerous upon ash trees, and also took two specimens in the city. This spring the beetles were found to be quite abundant under stones, etc,, in the infested localities, and later when the worms made their appearance on the foliage they were soon attacked and greedily devoured by the beetles. Numerous examples of frigidum were seen ascending the trunks of the basswoods and extending their investigation as high as they could be watched. The worms seemed to be easily disturbed by the marauders, and when a beetle ran out on a leaf they would drop down a few inches to elude it, One of the less alert, or newly moulted worms, would, however, be captured, and it took a very few seconds for the beetle to devour the juicy body of its prey and to recommence the hunt. Enormous numbers of the worms must have been thus devoured by this beneficial beetle. At the Experimental Farm, the beetle was also found in some numbers on infested basswoods, showing that its range was becoming more extended. The Canker Worms were also attacked by parasitic hymenoptera, which, though less conspicuous, may not have been less destructive than the beetles. One of these which I have bred is apparently Apanteles paleacritai, a Braconid, described by Prof. Riley, (Trans. St. Louis Acad. Science, Vol. IV., p. 313), from 3 females, 1 male, bred from the larvae of Paleacrita vernata, found at Villa Ridge, Southern Illinois, the flies appearing May 10ch, and from 2 females bred from Canker Worm larvae, probably of the same species, received from Mr. J. Pettit, Canada West. This Apanteles differs from A, congregatus and other common allied species, in that the host only supports a single larva, which, however, seems to so exhaust its vitality that it does not reach maturity. Dr. Riley says that : " The greenish white cocoons are spun singly on the under side of a leaf," but I have often found that the parasitic grub, when satiated with the juice of the unfortunate Canker Worm, emerges from its back and spins Jits cocoon thereon ; the emaciated worm bearing this upright burden, like a tower on his back, wanders feebly about until death claims and relieves him. On the hickories I found numbers of the Canker Worms which had succumbed to a different internal parasite, and had become mere contracted and stiffened shells, attached to the leaves and stems on which they had died. Such a condition results with some caterpillars from the attacks of species of the Ophionid genus Limneria, and perhaps may have so resulted in this instance, but from a number of specimens collected I bred invari- ably a species of Hemiteles, the members of which genus are considered secondary or hyper- parasites. I have not yet had time to thoroughly identify the pretty little species bred from the Canker Worms, but it resembles //. sessilis, Pro v., in having two well defined bands on the wings, although evidently a distinct species, and closely related to H. melitaice, Ashm., if not identical with that species, which occurs in California. Another ichneumon which was quite common about the infested hickories was the handsome Mesostenus thoraacus, Cress, usually a rare insect, and I supposed from its unusual abundance that it was parasitic on the Canker-worms. After closely watching their movements, however, I ascertained that they were searching for the rough cases made by a species of leaf-folding caterpillar, and that they perhaps confined their attention to this species which was somewhat abundant. I collected some of the folded leaves and bred from them both the parasite and the moth, the latter a pretty little species, which Mr. Mofiat has kindly identified for me, and of which he says : " The name of the moth is Ambesa Walsinghami, Rag, as identified for me by Prof. Fernald from a single specimen taken at Hamilton several years ago, and I have never met with another. It belongs to 26 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. the Phycitnlae and Hulst gives its habitat as Cal., but gives no intimation of its food plant." In addition to this insect and the Oanker-worin, there were several geometrid and other larvae infesting the hickories, but I had not the time to collect or examine them. ^ While the Oanker-worm is a very destructive insect, it fortunately does not extend the area of its ravages very rapidly, as the females are wingless, and generally deposit their eggs upon the trees beneath which they have emerged from the ground where the caterpillars buried for pupation. The insect is thus not a difficult one to deal with when it infests the orchard or shade trees. The females may be prevented from climbing ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 27 up the trunks by means of sticky bands or funnel-shaped collars of tin. When thus stopped they often deposit their eggs below the obstruction, where they may be easily scraped off or destroyed by brushing with coal oil. When the attack is not observed until the worms are feeding, they may be sprayed with Paris green (one pound to 200 gallons of water), or may even be jarred from the trees and then destroyed. If they have been allowed to become full grown, and have buried themselves, plowing to the depth of a few inches, late in the autumn will expose them to the frost. The spraying of the trees when the young larvae are feeding is the most effectual means of destroying the insects. Miscellaneous Insects. jmmm The Tomat>worm, the large caterpillar of the Hawk moth, Sphinx quinquemaculata, Fig. 1 5, which last year was reported in some portions of Ontario very destructive to both tomatoes and potatoes (Fletcher, Rept. Exp, Farms, 1892, p, 161), has not proved so troublesome this season, The decrease of this obnoxious caterpillar may be largely due to the increased abundance of the little Braconid fly, Apanteles congregatus, with the little white cocoons of which the worms may be sometimes fcund almost covered, as many as 200 larva? of the parasite feeding and developing in one caterpillar, The Fall- Web- worm, tfyphantria cunm, Fig. 16, continues to be very abundant, and its unsightly webs disfigure a great many trees throughout the country, although there is no reason why its ravages should be permitted in gardens, orchards or lawnsj where a little care in removing the colonies of young worms would soon greatly reduce the pest. In the Maritime Provinces it seems fully as common as in Ontario and is one of the most noticeable insects. The handsome " Mourning Cloak " butter- fly, Vanessa Antiopa, whose rich purple wings are broadly margined with golden yellow, has been in unusual abundance this year, and its black spiny caterpillars have seriously defoli- ated the elms and willows. Because of its beauty and of the cheerful appearance it makes in the early days of spring, we can forgive this species for a considerable portion of its depredations. It is also so subject to the attacks of a small parasite, Pteromalus puparum, of which a single chrysalis contains hundreds, that its increase is kept well under control without the interference of man, Another beautiful butterfly which was unusually abundant, was Limenitis Arthemis, which has a most charming garb of purple, variegated with shimmering blue and broadly banded with white, It is a woodland butterfly, flitting gracefully along the paths through woods or about their margins, and thus hiding its beauty from the city residents, whereas the more hardy Antiopa enjoys both city and country life. Plant-lice of various species are a continual source of trouble and loss to plant growers and fruit-raisers, and the Apple-aphis may be cited as one of the more injurious species. Another plant-louse has badly infested the ornamental shrub known as Snowball, and much disfigured them by curling and shrivelling the leaves. The attacks of such insects can be easily treated with a spraying of the kerosene emulsion recommended by Mr. Fletcher, in Bulletin 11, Central Exp. Farm, which tells how to prepare and apply the most efficacious remedies for many injurious insects. Several species of beetles have come under my notice as having been injuriously abundant during the year. Among those were two of our common Blister-beetles — Macrobasis unicolor, the Grey Blister-beetle, Fig. 17a, was reported as infesting potatoes, Fig. 16. 28 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. a crop which is not infrequently attacked by this insect, and in New Brunswick it was also found destroying horse-beans, which are now being somewhat extensively grown with corn for ensilage. The favorite native / food of this beetle appears to be the Meadow-rue (Thalicirum cornuli), but it is also quite satisfied with the foliage of the Bass woods. The Black Blister-beetle, Epicauta pennsylvanica, Fig. 176, has- been reported infesting German asters and mangels, and has been previously known as attacking carrots, cabbages, and beets The method of attack by these two species of Blister beetles is much alike, and they sometimes may sud- denly appear in very great numbers. Their depredations need not, however, be much feared, as they are only committed by the adult, or fully developed insects, and are of comparatively short duration. They may be readily checked by dusting with lime or piaster^ or in extreme cases by sprinkling with paris green. In the larval stage the Blister-beetles are parasitic in their mode of life and some of the species render good service in destroying the eggs of grasshoppers. In Manitoba and the N. W. Territories a larger species, Cantharis Nutalli, is very abundant, and at times troublesome, and one or two species have been recorded as pests in British Columbia. The Spotted Tortoise-beetle, Chelimorpha argus, Licht, was brought to me several times as a destructive beetle, but its presence on some of the plants said to be attacked was undoubtedly accidental. The larvae of this beetle feed, in common with those of our species of Helmet" beetles (Ooptocycla) on the common wild convolvulus They are dis- agreeable looking spiny grubs, carrying their cast-off skins upon their backs like a bundle of old clothes. Before pupating, if their food plant has been pretty well destroyed, they may wander off and attach themselves to adjacent plants. Thty have been said to feed on potato, and on raspberry, but, if these were carefully made observations, it is prob- able that the proper food plant had been exhausted, and the larvae had sought the nearest plants. The Morning-glory, which belongs to the Convolvulacese, is subject to their at- tacks, and one instance came to my notice this season, in which serious havoc was made with the form of this creeper known as the Rose of Sharon. In the Maritime Provinces the Pear-blight Beetle, Xyloborus dispar, which belongs to the Scolytidee, or family of small bark-borers, continues to cause much alarm to the proprietors of the famous apple orchards, as it appears to attack healthy trees as well as those whose vigor has been impaired. If it continues to spread, this minute beetle will be the source of much loss, and will be extremely difficult to combat. Grasshoppers, which two years ago were unusually abundant and destructive, espesi- ally in oat-fields, in this section of country, were, probably on account of the very wet spring and summer, much less numerous this season and comparatively harmless. In the western parts of the Province, as for instance in the neighborhood of Lake Simcoe, where dry weather prevailed, they proved very destructive ; the season being favorable to their development, while at the same time reducing the vigor of the plants subject to their ravages. The three common species occurring were Melanoplus femur-ruhrum, M, atlanis, and M. femoratus. The Cattle Horn-fly, llcamatobia serrata, has continued to extend its area during the past season, and has undoubtedly caused a very serious loss to the stock -raiser and dairy- man. While the animals may not be dangerously or permanently injured by its attacks, the irritation is so great that sores are produced by the rubbing and licking by which they strive to relieve it, and the general effect is to cause the beasts to "fall off rapidly both in flesh and in yield of milk." For further information regarding this recent and serious pest, I would refer you to the excellent paper by Mr. Fletcher in our last Annual ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 29 Report, or to his Bulletin on the Horn-fly (Central Exp. Farm, No. 14.) As the dairy and stock-raising interests of Canada are of such great importance it is sincerely to be hoped that this plague of flies is but a temporary one. Parasitism in Insects. This, to me, is one of the most interesting problems in entomology, and the subject has been admirably dealt with by Prof. Riley, in his address as President of the Entomo- logical Society of Washington last year (Proc. Ent. Soc, Wash., Vol. II., pages 397- 431). After a mention of the animals affected (chiefly mammals, birds and insects), he defines the scope and meaning of the term parasite, and suggests the separation of para- sitic forms into three groups. First, Parasites Proper, including insects whose whole life is passed upon and is dependent upon their host, and which may be sub-divided into ex- ternal, as lice, and internal (or sub-cutaneous), as the itch-mite, etc. Second, Fatal Parasites, which, in the larval stage, live at the expense of the members of their own class. These are also sub-divided into internal, where the larva is nourished within the host upon the surrounding fluids, as are the majority of Hymenopterous parasites, and external, where the larva attaches itself to the host, as in Thalessa, and sucks its juices ; to this sub-division belong many hymenopterous, dipterous and coleopterous parasites. Third, Inquilinous Parasites, which includes the numerous forms which live upon the provision made by other species for the sustenance of their offspring, or which are found habitually associated with other insects, but not injurious to them. This class is sub- divided into fatal inquilines, where the guest's living means starvation and death to the host, and commensals, where association is mutually harmless, as where beetles are found living in the nests of bees and ants. An outline is then given of the parasitic forms occurring in the several orders of insects, with reference to some of the principal and more interesting groups. The ITymenoptera furnish by far the greatest number of species, which, by their abundance and rapidity of reproduction, tend to check and reduce the undue prevalence of other insects. Some of the most interesting parasites belong to the Coleoptera, especially those forms of which the larvae in the first stage are named triungulins, and which later, when the host has been reached and food assured, gradually become helpless grubs. Such are the Oil-beetles and Blister-beetles in the larval stages. The Diptera furnish the well-known Tachinid flies which deposit their eggs upon caterpillars and other insects, the footless maggot penetrating the body of the victim and feasting therein. These forms are very numerous and destroy enormous numbers of insects, such as the Tent caterpillars, etc. The order furnishes also many other important groups of parasitic species varying much in habits, such as the bot-flies and tick-flies. We may also include under this order the fleas. In the Hemiptera are found the true lice, unpleasant little creatures, subsisting on the blood of mammals and not even exempting man, especially if he be indifferent as to cleanliness of body and raiment. The bed-bug is often spoken of as a parasite, but is so, to such a limited extent, as not to fall into any of the classes enumerated, being merely predaceous in habit, a distinction which should be born in mind, as there are many predaceous insects which do not come under the stigma of parasitism. The Platyptera (bird-lice) and Arachnoidea (Ticks and Mites) contain numerous species, principally external irritants, but the remaining orders of insects are almost free from any parasitic inclinations. The causes which might produce the parasitic habit are then considered, and the effects of the parasitic life, which produces degradation both by limiting the freedom of motion and by obliterating structural features common to closely allied non-parasitic forms, although at the same time certain organs may gradually become highly modified and specialized to meet the requirements of the new conditions of life. The modifications observed are both external and internal, and form in themselves an extensive subject for consideration. Finally the economic bearing of parasitism is briefly referred to, and it is shown that the agriculturist is very greatly aided by the numerous species which subsist upon phytophagous insects. The address is one well worthy of careful study, and, as has been elsewhere remarked, would serve as a basis of a very acceptable volume. 30 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. Entomological Publications. The study of Entomology from an economic standpoint, has, of recent years, been rapidly developed in America, and the Association of Ecoromic Entomologists, organized to bring together the workers in this field of applied science, must exercise a powerful in- fluence upon future investigations of this nature. The agriculturist will have no excuse, for remaining in ignorance of at least an elementary knowledge of his insect enemies when the results of the investigations of trained entomologists in every section of the country are so frequently and freely issued in bulletins and reports. In Canada our Society has been a pioneer in this direction, and for more than a score of years has issued an Annual Report, which is generously distributed by the Ontario Department of Agriculture. In more recent years the Dominion Government has sought to assist and develop the agricultural interests of the various Provinces and Territories, by the establishment of Experimental Farms. These are under the direction of Prof. Saunders, for several years President of this Society, who is well-known as a writer on economic entomology, and especially by his able treatise on Insects injurious to Fruits, which is a standard text-book for fruit-growers throughout America. He is fortunate in having associated with him, a3 Entomologist and Botanist, Mr. Fletcher, who has also been more than once our president, and whose industry and scientific acquirements render him unusually well-qualified to occupy such a difficult and responsible position. His yearly reports and occasional bulletins are replete with information clearly and concisely ex- pressed, and, as they are gratuitously supplied to applicants interested in these subjects, it is unnecessary for any one to suffer insect depredations to go unchecked. In the United States the Division of Entomology at Washington, under the guidance of the most eminent of all economic entomologists, Prof. Riley, assisted by a staff of numer- ous tramed and skilful observers, conducts most thorough investigations in all parts of the country where any pest attains unusual prominence. The publications, based upon these researches, are most valuable and reliable records of the habits of injurious species, the parasites from which they suffer and the remedies which may be most easily and effectually employed against them. A complete series of the publications issued up to date forms in itself a very valuable library. The Smithsonian Institution, in the Bulletins of the II. S. National Museum and other publications, affords to authors a means of issuing more extensive and exhaustive monographs than could be received by the regular entomo- logical journals. Among recent issues from this great source of scientific knowledge may be mentioned the Directions for Collecting and Preserving Insects, by Prof. Riley, which is the most complete and satisfactory text-book known to me on a subject which forms the basis of all entomological study and advancement. A larger work, although appeal- ing to a more specialized and limited class of readers, is Bulletin No. 44, in which Prof. John B. Smith gives a further proof of his untiring energy and ability in a Catalogue of the Lepidopterous Sub-family Noctuidae, found in Boreal America, forming a volume of 400 pages. The various State Entomologists, Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations swell the tide with reports and bulletins. It would take too long to enumerate even the most important of these, but mention may be made of the many valuable reports of Lintner, Comstock and Forbes, to indicate the character of the work accomplished by such professional workers in the wide field of economic entomology. The general literature relating to insects increases with great rapidity, and the yearly additions are so voluminous as to be almost discouraging to students who desire to have, or to know, all that is being published. The record of entomological writings of 1892 (Insecta ; Dr. Sharp) gives over one thousand titles of papers. It is scarcely pos- sible for any of us to obtain, or even see, all these writings, however much we may de- sire to possess, or, at least, to peruse them, but a certain number of publications are neces- sary if we desire to obtain a knowledge even of our own fauna. Of these, The Canadian Entomologist, now completing its twenty-fifth volume, is the most essential to Canadian students, and, although dealing more especially with the in- ecLs of our own dominions, it contains many valuable contributions from wider fields, by he most noted entomologists of the day. Under the careful editorship of our late Presi- ent, Dr. Bethune, it shows a steady improvement in quality and quantity of matter, and. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 31 (started Aug. 1868) enters promisingly upon its second quarter of a century. This is the only Canadian journal devoted to Entomology, but the Ottawa Naturalist, published monthly by the Ottawa Field- Naturalists' Club, frequently contains valuable papers and reports on the iusects of the surrounding section of country. Occasional entomological contributions also appear in the Canadian Record of Science, and possibly in the trans- actions of other societies. Of the United States' periodical publications the most important are as follows : Transactions of the American Entomological Society ; Psyche, issued by the Cambridge Entomological Club ; Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington : Entomo- logical News,hy the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia : Insect Life, by the Divi- sion of Entomology, Washington, and the Journal of the ftew York Entomological Society, which has recently made a brave and promising entiy into the arena. While the more advanced student may be embarrassed by the wealth of entomolog- ical literature provided for him, the beginner has hitherto found the information most needed not to be readily obtained. He has had to seek here and there a little, like the bee gathering honey, and has lost much valuable time in the search, as does the bee when flowers are scattered. A new era seems to be now opening, and the long road is being cleared and smoothed for him. Dr. Riley's directions for collecting and preserving insects enable him to prepare good specimens and to form satisfactory collections, and by the aid of Dr. Packard's " Entomology for Beginners," or Prof. Comstock's " Introduction to Entomology " (Part I. only issued) he can study their structure and classification. The next stage, the identification of specimens, without having to impose upon more advanced students the labor of naming even the commonest forms, promises soon to be covered by the issue of hand-books on the various orders, in which will be gathered generic and specific descriptions, now often scattered in foreign and miscellaneous literatures, accessible but to the favoured few. Such a help to the determination of the diurnal lepidoptera has already been issued by Dr. Scudder, under the title of " A Brief Guide to the Commoner Butterflies of the United States and Canada." The introductory chapters narrate clearly and concisely the structure and habits of butterflies, and are followed by carefully arranged tables for readily determining the species. The omission of rare forms makes these tables less complicated without lessening the value of the work to the young students for whom it is specially intended. Each species is fully described in its several stages, and interesting facts are added in regard to its habits of )ife. Those who may consider themselves too far ad- vanced to profit by this valuable little book will await with interest the author's promised "Manual of the Buttei flies of North America." From the same facile pen we have also a charming little volume for the general reader, on the Milk-weed Butterfly, simply written and devoid of technicalities, yet giving not only the life history of the species selected as a type of our " winged flower," but much of interest in regard to its tribe. The Journal of the New York Entomological Society informs its readers that the preparation of a Hand-book of Coleoptera found in North eastern America is contem- plated, and is now publishing a preliminary catalogue of the species, compiled, from printed and manuscript lists of various entomologists, by Messrs. Lengand Beutenmuller, who express the hope that they may be notified of any corrections or additions tending to perfect the catalogue. When this hand-book appears the Butterfly and Beetle collectors will be well-equipped, and the students of the remaining, equally important if less generally attractive, orders will await the preparation at a later date of manuals to meet their needs. In conclusion, I have to express the great degree of satisfaction derived from the knowledge that our Entomological Society continues to find itself in a healthy and pro- gressive condition, and to apply itself faithfully to the study of those innumerable forms of life, which, though individually minute and feeble, are in the aggregate a very important factor in modifying the conditions of existence of even man himself. Upon each fellow- member I would urge the necessity of constant work in some selected section of the great field of Entomology, for only by untiring effort, and often by considerable self-denial, can we master its problems and utilize our investigations for the benefit of others. I shall gratefully remember the honour, which I have this year enjoyed, of having been the chief officer of this important Society, and shall strive in the future, as in the past, to assist in its labors. 32 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. ENTOMOLOGICAL MISTAKES OF AUTHORS. Rev. Thomas W. Fyles, F.L.S., South Quebec. I lately took up Gage's Second Reader, authorized for use in the schools of Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia and the North West Territories ; and I opened it at the chapter entitled " How a Butterfly came." I was curious to know the value of the lesson in Natural History provided in this authorized work for the children of the provinces and territories named ; and I read it carefully. The lesson tells that " Late in September a lady saw a worm upon a willow leaf." The worm is described ; and a rude cut of it is given. " The lady carried leaf and sleeper home. She took willow leaves for it to* eat, put them all in a? lass dish, and tied lace over it. In just one week her guest was gone ; only a lovely green bag was left." Here the bag is represented. " It was just one inch long, was made very neatly, and looked much like a little bed or cradle. No stitches could be seen, and the seams had an edge like gold cord. Gold and black dots like tiny buttons were on it. The caterpillar had sewed himself in." . . . " Almost six weeks thfc little sleeper lay in his silken cradle. Early in November he burst the pretty green hammock." . . . " A lovely butterfly came out out. It had brown and golden wings, with stripes of black like cords on them, and a feathery fringe of white for each stripe On the edges of the wings were white and yellow dots. The head was black and also had white and yellow dots on it." Here comes a representation of a butterfly — decidedly a Papilio. " The inside of the wings was darker ; it was like orange-tinted velvet. All these changes were in less than two months." The caricatures of the larva and pupa given, and the descriptions of the insect in its different stages, are faintly suggestive of Danais Archippus ; but Archippus feeds on Asclepias ; and Archippus is not a Papilio. Papilio Turnus is, I believe, sometimes found on the willow ; but the description and the cuts of larva and pupa are not even faintly suggestive of this species. What insect is really meant in the lesson I am quite unable to determine ; but this I can with confidence say : The Canadian child, who may be led by this chapter in the Second Reader to search the willows late in September, for banded worms two inches long, that will in a few days sew themselves into silken bags, out of which, in November, swallow- tail butterflies will come, will simply have its labor for its pains. r,giVn This wonderful lesson in Entomology upon u How a Butterfly Came " set me " a- thinking," and led me to make various mental and literary excursions. For example : I have accompanied poor " Tom " in Charles Kingsley's " Water Babies " to the " other- end-of -no where," and sat at the feet of " Mother Carey," and learned from her that the fairy who made butterflies was not nearly so clever as the fairy " who made butterflies make'themselves." This lesson, I take it, was intended for a sly joke at the evolutionists, and suggests the question, How did the butterfly and other insects originally come ? The Egyptians told Herodotus that some living things were generated from the slime of the river and the sea ; Pliny supposed that insects sprang from the dew falling upon leaves ; Virgil thought that bees might spring from the corrupting bowels of slain beasts ; Pietro Martire that " gnattes of divers kindes " were V ingendered of moyste heate " ; Ashmole assured Pepys — at any rate Pepys tell us so in his " Diary " under date of April 23rd, 1661 — that "many insects do often fall from the sky ready formed;" Swedenborg taught that worms are (t procreated from the effluvia of the earth, and from the exhalation of vapors of vegetables, by which the atmospheres are impregnated f and Du Bartas that God " By his wise power made many creatures breed of lifeless bodies So the cold humour breeds the salamander ..... So, in the fire, in burning furnace springs The fly Perausta." All, these worthies were mistaken — as much so as a very modern savant in the person of a little school-boy, who a few days ago told me gravely that " if I would put a horse-hair ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 33 into the water and keep it there, it would turn into a snake. " He did not make a disciple of me, for I had read Cobbold's, Leidy's and Agassiz's observations on Gordlus aquaticus, etc. I have come to this conclusion that whether we go to the " other-end-of nowhere," or to " the uttermost parts of the morning," we shall find nothing better to rest upon than the old statement, " God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind; and it was so.' Gen. I, 24. That every kind has its own well-ordered and fitting life-history we are assured, from the success that has attended the efforts of entomologists in following through their various stages of existence many of the most minute and obscure of living things. I have shewn that an authorized school-book may be misleading — the school master's desk is not always the seat of entomological authority. From the pulpit too, hard sayings sometimes reach our ears In the language of the ancients, as you know, the word Psyche meant both a butterfly and the soul. And in ancient art an association of the two ideas was embodied, in a figure of a beautiful damsel holding an expiring torch in one hand and a butterfly in the other. In this manner, the soul escaping from the worn-out body was portrayed. Christian writers have endeavored to improve upon their imagery, and in doing so have erred. They have compared man's earthly life to the caterpillar state of the insect, the tenantless body to the aurelia, and the future glorified body to the imago of the insect. In all this there is an evident straining of the analogy. The apostle St. Paul, to illustrate the great doctrine of the resurrection, said : " Thou fool that whi :h thou sowest is not quickened except it die " (I Cor. XV, 36). But under normal conditions an insect does not die in the aurelia stage — death with it is the final scene — and so we never find the inspired writers making use of the metamorphoses of insects to illustrate that great doctrine. One quotation from a modern writer will show at once, and better than a long argument, the inappropriateness of such illustrations. In the 2 ad vol. of "Sermons for the Christian year" by the Rev. William H. Lewis, D.D., Rector of Christ Church, Watertown, Conn., page 312, we read : " We stand by the sedgy pond, and see dark form3 of water-insects skating along, that could not live a moment if they were taken in that state out of the waves, just as we could not bear with such bodies as we now have the life of heaven ; but by and by these insects " (appear ?) " to sicken and die, ani lie motionless for a while, and then a creature ris-'S t<> the surface, climbs up some reed or flag, and dries ibself awhile in the sun, and then flashes through the air, with the splendid wings of the dragon fly, perhaps. Nor could it live in its old home in the waters any more ; just as man raised in his spiritual body will no longer be fitted for such life as he now lives on earth. It is an emb'em of the resurrection —a creature of one world, or element, passing by decay and seeming death to another." Unfortunately for this illustration, the nymph of the dragon-fly is both active and predaceous, and carries on its pursuits until the very hour in which it ascends the stem of a water-plant, or other prominence, from which, as from a vantage-ground, as soon as its outer skin is ruptured and cast off, the transformed body takes its flight to pursue its depredations in the upper air. The illustration is a very unsavoury one. The Libellula is a terror to its neighbours in every stage of its existence ; and surely the man who has " bulldozed " his fellow creatures in this world can hardly be warranted in indulging in blissful anticipations of doing the same in the world to come. The giants among men of letters, the great masters of song and others, who in the strength of genius have trusted to their own observation, have sometimes, by a word, brought before us peculiarities of insect form or habit recognizable in all time. Thus Homer speaks of the ringed wasps ; Shakespeare of the mealy wings of butterflies ; Rogers of the glow-worm's emerald light ; Shelley of the golden bee ; Tennyson of the " high- elbowed grigs that leap in summer grass," Even Horace's ■' mali culices " strikes the musquito-bitten entomologist as singularly appropriate. But lesser lights who have given rein to fancy, or have imperfectly interpreted the phenomena of nature, have often greatly blundered in treating on entomological subjects. The entomological mistakes of writers have arisen : (1) From sheer ignorance. — This was the case with the man who translated the pas 3 (EN.) 34 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. sage in the Greek Testament, which tells us that Herod was eaten of worms (scholeches, larvae) and died,* by " He became a Skoletobrote, and died in the enjoyment of that office." Such also, as regards Natural History, was the case with Bp. Oxenden, when on page 70 of " My First Year in Canada," he wrote : " The little humming-bird ii rather rare, and they are seldom seen but in gardens. They are more like butterflies or gad-flies than birds both as regards their size and habits." From this slovenly statement we may fairly make this deduction : Since the hum- ming-bird resembles, both in size and habits, the butterfly or the gad-fly, these insects in the same particulars and to the same extent, resemble one another. A somewhat startling entomological conclusion ! A lady whom I know, having read the Bishop'* book, still speaks of the ruby-throated humming bird as the Canadian gad-fly. Bulwer Lytton makes a remarkable mistake from sheer ignorance of entomology. He describes one of his heroines as a lady of refined tastes, who kept living butterflies in her conservatory. Some of these she allowed to escape ajter they had been confined for a year. (" Kenelm Chillingley," Bk. V., ch. 5). The veriest tyro in entomology knows that the preservation of a living butterfly for a year would be miraculous. Lytton made a new departure in his statement. The usual tendency of authors has been to shorten the insect's life. Thus Mrs. Barbauld very elegantly says : " Lo ! the bright train their radiant wings unfold, With silver fringed and freckled o'er with gold. On the gay bosom of some frag' ant flower, They idly fluttering live their little hour, Their life all pleasure and their task all play, All .spring their age, and sunshine all their day." Another mistake frequently made in ignorance by authors is to portray the butter- fly's life as one of unalloyed pleasure. Spenser says of the butteifly that — — "evermore, with most varietie, And change of sweetness (for all change is sweet), He cast3 his glutton sense to satisfie Now sucking of the sap of herbe most meet, Or of the dew, which yet on them doth lie ; Now in the same bathing his tender feet, And then he percheth on some branch thereby To weather him, and his moyst wings to dry." ******* " What more felicitie can fall to creature, Than to enjoy delight with libertie And to be lord of all the works of Nature ? To reign in >he aire from th' earth to highest skie, To feed on flowers and weeds of glorious feature, To take whatever thing doth please the eye ? Who retts not pleased with such happiness, Well worthy he to taste of wretchedness." Commenting on these lines, Leigh Hunt wisely says : " After all, Spenser's picture of the butterfly's enjoyment is not complete entomologically. The luxury is perfect, but the reader is not sure that it is all proper butterfly luxury, and that the man does not mix with it. '' The butterfly perhaps is no fonder of ' bathing his feet,' than we should be to stick in a tub of treacle. And we ought to hear more of his antennae, and feathers (for his wings are full of them), and the way in which they modify, or become affected by his enjoyments."— The Indicatory ch. LXIV. The lines are beautiful, but the picture they present of insect delight is altogether overdrawn. St. Paul had a much better appreciation of things when he said, " The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now," (Rom. viii., 22). We who have studied insect life can tell of the foes that beset it from its earliest stage to its final scene ; the Proctotrypidse that spoil the eggs ; the Ichneumonidae and Chalcididse that assail the larvae ; the life-sapping fungi that destroy both larva? and pupa? ; Phymata erosa that lies in wait for the perfect insects in the very flower heads that attract them; the Dragon- flies, the Vespid;e, the Orabonida3, that (as well as the insectivorous birds) pursue them in the upper air, all these form a terrible array of adversaries. Then there are to be borne the dark hours that curb their faculties, the rains that wash away their *Kai genomenos skolekobrotos exephuxen. — Acts. XII, 23. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 35 beauty, and the winds that wear and fray their wings. In the case of the Vanessida? and Graptidse there are the terrible torpidity into which the winter chills them, and what I imagine to be no less terrible, the partial awakenings on intervening milder days. No greater contrast to the picture presented in the fine verses of Spenser can be shown to us than the reality, when in the early spring, a pair of hibernated Graptas — Grapta Progne, for example — perform their nuptials. Worn and dilapidated, the bloom and glory of youth swept away from them by winter storms, they furtively and in contradiction to the very name they bear (Proem, a swallow, one that shuns the woods), seek the shades and safeguards of the trees, whose lichens and mosses resemble in colour their own sober hues, and there unite themselves. The cycle of their existence is then soon completed, and they perish ere yet the summer has robed the world in beauty. The judicious writer, whose comments on Spenser's lines I have quoted, says in the same chapter : " A year or two back " — his work was published in 1833 — " everybody in London that had a voice was resolved upon being a butterfly born in a bower." When I was a boy the song to which he alludes was still popular, and the melody to which it was sung haunts me still. Copies of it hive beome scirce. When I was last in England I had great difficulty in finding one. This is how the words run : " I'd be a butterfly born in a bower Where roses and lili°s and violets meet, Roving for ever from flower to flower And kissing all buds that are pretty and sweet, I'd never languish for wealth or for power, I'd never sigh to see slaves at my feet, I'd be a butterfly born in a bower, And kissing all buds that are pretty and sweet." " What though you tell me each gay little rover Shrinks from the blast of the first autumn day, Surely 'tis better, when summer is over, To die when all fair things are fading away. Some in life's winter may toil to discover Means of procuring a weary delay, I'd be a butterfly living a rover, Dying when fair things are fading away." T. H. Bayley. Epicurean, is it not 1 " Let us eat and drink for to-morrow we die." The sentiment is bad, and God, who has fitted all things in just proportions, never gave real ground for false sentiments. As we have seen, the butterfly is not a fit emblem of selfish frivolity. It bears the part in nature that it was destined to bear, and it has to endure its share of ills. Instead of dying when fair things are fading away, many species have to survive the winter, and to perish when fair things are bursting into life, and herein is a truer lesson for those who are aiming at what they are pleased to call a butterrly existence here. Adelaide Taylor recognized the false sentiment in the song, and in one of those little rhyming lessons on propriety which she and her sisters composed for Cl infant minds," says — " The butterfly, an idle thing, Nor honey makes, nor yet can sing, Like to the bee and bird ; Nor does it, like the prudent ant, Lay up the grain for time of want, A wise and cautious hoard." " My youth is but a summer's day, Then, like the bee and ant, I'll lay A store of learning by, And though from flower to flower I rove, My stock of wisdom I'll improve Nor be a butterfly. " But in this little lesson we cannot help noticing another very common mistake, that of setting forth the ant as an example of acquisitiveness. Adelaide in the verses quoted suggests the acquisition of learning, but the example is generally taken to suggest the acquisition of wealth. Solomon's words are, — "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise : " VVhich having no guide, overseer, or ruler, " Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth food in the harvest."— Prov. VI., 6-8. Now, the lesson conveyed in these words is only that conveyed in " Whatever thy hand 36 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. findeth to do, do it with thy might," or in u Be not slothful in business," or in the homely saying, " Make hay while the sun shines." There is nothing in them to countenance the hoarding propensities of the miser. It has been supposed that Solomon referred to the Atta barbara of Palestine, which, like the Atta malefaciens of Texas, is said to store up grain. However this may be, it is very certain that Adelaide Taylor had an English ant — Formica rufa, or one of its con- geners— in view. Rev. J. G. Wood says, — " Ants do not, as has been so frequently said, lay up stores of corn for the winter, for they are in a state of torpidity during the cold months, and require no food. Moreover, an ant would find as much difficulty in eating or digesting a grain of corn as we should in devouring a truss of straw."— 111. Nat. Hist., p. 426. Thomas Hood, however, in his " Ode on Autumn," goes to the full length of the mistake and says, — " The ants have brimm'd their garners with ripe grain." (2) Many entomological mistakes of authors are found to be exaggerations of the truth. Whatever is strange in other lands becomes a " traveller's wonder." Stories of the admiration it excited in the beholders have afforded food for credulity and speculation. Of mistaken ideas the following Eastern Townships' story affords an instance. Two young Irish immigrants landed at Montreal some years ago. They travelled by the then new line to Waterloo, as far as Farnham. They walked from that place to Cowansville, and arrived at the hotel in the dusk of the evening. After supper they retired to their room. It was a hot July night and they threw open the window for air. In flocked the mosquitoes of course, and began to be very attentive to the new-comers. One of the lads., who was already in bed, called to his fellow, " Pat, put out the light and jump in, and then the omadhouns will not find us." Pat put out the light, but at that moment in sailed a fire-fly. " Och, Terry," he exclaimed, " its not a bit of use, one of the spalpeens has been and got a lanthern" Saint Pierre, the ingenious author of <( Paul and Virginia," learned from Father du Tetre concerning Pi/rophorus noctilacus, and says of it, in his " Studies of Nature," Vol. II., p. 299. " There are insects which need no pharos to guide them in their nocturnal perigrinations. They carry their lanterns with them ; such are the luminous flies." Pietro Martire, in the "Decades of the New World," tells us thit the lanterns of the fire-flies enable them to see the musquitos on the sleepers' noses, and to pick them off. (He says faces ; but the whole includes the parts). His account is as follows: " Hee who understandeth he hath these troublesome guestes (the gnattes) at home, diligently hunteth after the Cucuij. Whoso wanteth Cucuij goeth out of the house in the first twilight of the night, carrying a burning fire-brande in his hande, and ascendeth the next hillock that the Cucuij may see it, and he swingeth the fire-brande about calling Cucuius aloud, and beating the ayre, with often calling out Cueuie, Cucuie." .... " The hunter having the hunting Cucuij returneth home, and, shutting the doore of the house, letteth the preye goe. The Cucuij loosed, swiftly flyeth about the whole house, seeking gnattes under their hanging bedds, and about the faces of them that sleepe, which the gnattes used to assayle : they seem to execute the office of watchmen, that such as are shut in may quietly rest. Another pleasant and profitable commodity proceedeth f rom the Cucuij. As many eyes as every Cucuius openeth, the hoste en- joyeth the light of so many candels ; so that the inhabitants spinne, sewe, weave and dance by the light of the flying Cucuij." The same writer tells us that the inhabitants travelling at night used to tie a fire-fly to each great toe. Madam Meriam, the authoress of a History of the insects of Surinam, says that the light of the lantern-fly, Fulgora lanternaria, is sufficient to read by. Now, all these stories are " travellers' wonders," and need to be taken cum grano salis. Dr. G. A. Perkins, in the American Naturalist, Vol. II., p 462, states that — " By placing the luminous pads of one insect quite near the paper, very fine print can be easily read by its aid, though I cannot imagine the light, even of a large number, to be sufficient for any practical il- . luminating purposes, as has been affirmed by some writers." ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 37 But Southey, the Laureate, trusted to such particulars, and in " Madoc in Aztlan," Oanto XVII., telling of Madoc's deliverance by Ooatel, says : "Fast along the forest way, And fearfully, he followed to the chasm. She beckon 'd and decended, and drew out From underneath her vest, a cage, or net, It rather might be called, so fine the twigs Which knit it, where, confined, two fire-flies gave Their lustre. By that light did Madoc first Behold the features of his lovely guide ; And through the entrance of the cavern gloom, He followed in full trust." " Now have they reach'd The abrupt descent ; there Coatel held forth Her living lamp, and turning with a smile, Sweet as good angels wear when they present Their mortal charge before the Throne of Heaven, Sheshow'd where little Hoel slept below." Robert Pollock, the author of the " History of Peter Wilkins," which is an entirely imaginative and unnatural work, may, perhaps, have read of the occasional phosphores- cence of earth-worms. At any rate he makes the lighting up of the houses and streets of Arndrumstake to depend upon the supply of " Sweecoes," creatures which were bred by all the well-to-do persons in the community, for the sake of their light-giving properties. The lamps in which they were confined were globular, " like calabashes." The creatures were changed twice a day, and fed on leaves and grass. Pollock enters into no minute descriptions of these creatures, and gives no particulars ^as to the breeding of them. He leaves all such things to the imagination of his readers ; and to it we also must leave them. (3) Other entomological mistakes of authors have arisen from their launching from the known into the unknown. It is a dangerous thing to give the fancy scope on subjects with which one is imper- fectly acquainted. Isaac Walton, in " The Complete Angler " (Fourth Day), gives a brief but accurate account of a larva of the Privet Hawk Moth {Sphinx Ligustri). The caterpillar died, u but if it had lived," says Walton, " it had doubtless turned to one of those flies that some c*ll flies of prey, which those that walk by the rivers may, in summer, see fasten on smaller flies, and, I think, make them their food." It is never safe to make guesses in Entomology. Charles Kingsley knew some things about the Dragon-flies ; but he made a venture, and — he made a slip. The redoubtable Tom of the " Water Babies " came face to face with an " ugly fellow " who informed him that he wanted to " split-" " Why do you want to split ? " said Tom. " Because my brothers and sisters have all split, and turned into beautiful creatures with wings : and I ■want to split too. Don't speak to me. I am sure I shall split. I will split ! " A wise resolution, I dare say ; but a little " too previous." However — "Tom stood still, and watched him, and he swelled himself, and puffed, and stretched himself out stiff. At last, crack, puff, bang— he opened all down his back, and then up to the top of his head. " And out of his inside came the most slender, elegant, soft creature, as soft and smooth as Tom : but very pale and weak, like a little child who has been ill a long time in a dark room. It moved its legs very feebly ; and looked about it half ashamed, like a girl when she goes for the first time into a ball-room ; and then it began walking slowly up a grass stem to the top of the water. " Tom was so astonished that he never said a word ; but he stared with all his eyes. And he went up to the top of the water too, and peeped out to see what would happen. "As the creature sat in the warm bright sun; a wonderful change came over it. It grew strong and firm ; the most lovely colours began to show on its body— blue and yellow and black spots, bars and rings ; out of its back rose four great wings of bright brown gauze ; and its eyes grew so large that they filled all its head, and shone like ten thousand diamonds. " Oh, you beautiful creature !" said Torn ; and he put out his hand to catch it. " But the thing whirred up into the air, and huag poised on its wings a moment, and then settled down again by Tom quite fearless. " No !" it said, " you cannot catch me. I am a dragon-fly now, the king of all the flies." — " Water Babies," Ch. HE. 38 ENTOMOLOGfCAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. The mistake, of course, in all this is, that Kingsley makes the " splitting " to occur under water. Who ever saw, or heard of before, a dragon-fly bursting from its nymphal case below the surface 1 Why, it would drown ! The nymph extracts oxygen from the water by means of a gill-like arrangement within the abdomen ; the perfect insect breathes atmospheric air, through spiracles, as other imagos do. [t is the nymph, or pupa, that performs the climbing — not the fly. Wood, in his " Insects at Home," p. 273, says : " When the pupa has nearly completed its time it ceases to feed, and the respiration seems difficult and labored. An irrepressible instinct then drives it to leave the water in which it has so long lived : and, seizing the stem of a reed or other aquatic plant, it crawls upwards until it is a foot or two above the surface : clasping the reed firmly with its feet, it sways itself backwards and forwards until the pupal skin splits along the shoulders and the wings and body of the perfect insect shows themselves beneath it," etc. Mr. Spence, in Chapter XXV of " Kir >y and Spence' s Introduction to Entomology," points out a mistake made by the poet Darwin respecting the nut-curculio. Darwi i'a lines referred to are : " So sleeps in silence the Curculio, shut In the dark chamber of the cavern'd nut ; Erodes with ivory beak the vaulted shell, And quits on filmy wings its narrow cell." It is the maggot and not the beetle that quits the nut — its transformation takes place under ground ; and the beak of the perfect insect would be better compared to ebony than ivory. In connection with these lines, Spence says : " The gratification which the entomologist derives from seeing his favorite study adorned with the graces of poetry is seldom unalloyed with pain, arising from the inaccurate knowledge of the subject in the poet." (4) Of her entomological mistakes of authors seem to have arisen from mere want of consideration of the balance of circumstances. Edgar Allen Poe, in one of his highly sensational tales, tells of "a gold bug." This bug, he informs us, was a scaraba3us ; but we are not to conclude that it was a right down honest " tumble-bug." The term scarabseus was formerly used for beetles generally. It may have been a sort oiCotalpa ; but it had some peculiar qualities ; ponderosity was one — it was so heavy that it was used as a plumb ; but notwithstanding its great weight, it was very active — it flew on before. Then too its pugnacity was remarkably — it bit its captor's hand ; and it was not without suspicion of exercising poisonous qualities like the centipede and the tarantula. / need hardly say that the species has become extinct. I have no doubt that many other instances, such as I have adduced, of the entomo- logical mistakes of authors could be found ; but these will suffice for the presnt occasion. There is a satisfaction in turning the laugh against men of letters ; for some of them have shown a disposition to under-estimate those benevolent, amiable and altogether- worthy gentlemen, who have been good enough to pursue the study of entomology for the benefit of mankind. For example : Does Fennimore Oooper wish to portray an entomologist ? He does so in Dr. Obed Batt ; and the crowning scene in which this personage is presented is that in which he is brought forward by the Indians seated upon the Vespertilio Horribilis Amerkanus with his butterflies and other " specimens " disposed about his person — con- verting him into a sort of perambulating museum. An( yet Fennimore Cooper was considered a decent sort of man ! I am told he was a church varden ! ! But what shall we say of that horrible fellow Barham, the author of the Ingoldsby Legends, and of the fate that he awarded to an amiable scientific gentleman % You have read, I dare say, of Vidius Pollio, who, in the days of one of the Osesars, was accustomed to throw his aged and worn out slaves into his fish ponds to fatten his lampreys for the market. To such a fate does Barham devote an entomologist, " Sir Thorn is." This good man, while searching for nymphie, tumbles into the water and is ENTOMOLOCxICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 39^ drowned. After a length of time (during which his widow is consoled by the attentions of one Captain McBride) he is fished out in a dilapidated condition ; and, from the pockets and other recesses of his clothing, a number of fat eels are taken. Some of these are cooked for the lady's supper. And this is what she says of them : " Eels a many I've ate ; but any So good ne'er tasted before ! They're a fish, too, of which I'm remarkably fond I So pop Sir Thomas again in the pond — Poor dear ! Hell catch us some more. " The man, who could imagine such a termination to a useful and honorable career, ought to have been one of the crew of the " Nancy Brig," but not the ' long and weedy " survivor ! THE SEASON OF 1893. By Rev. Thomas W. Fyles, F L.S., South Quebec. The season of 1893, though it opened somewhat later than usual, has been a favor- able one for entomologists. Diurnals in the early part of it were particularly abundant. My first capture of any kind was made on the 13th of April, when I captured a fine specimen of Ufeus satyricus Gr., in a window of the church at Ifawdon, P. Que. After this came a cold spell ; and Chionobas Jutta, Hub., which usually appears on the 1st of June, did not show itself till the 3rd. On this date I saw three specimens. On the 7 th Mr. H. H. Lyman and I found it in perfection and in fair numbers. The improved drainage of the sourrounding properties is affecting the swamp at Bergerville in which this species is taken — it is not nearly so wet as it was in former years. The first specimens of Ne.onympha Eurytris, Fabr. (Fig. 18) that — as far as my knowledge extends — have been captured in the vicinity of Quebec, were taken at St. David's by Mr. Hanham on July 1st. This species is not uncommon at Montreal. Debis Portlandia, Fabr., appeared in this neighborhood in the 1st week of July and continued through the month. I have seen worn specimens of the species as late as the 2nd week of August. Satyrus N'ephele, Kirby, first showed itself on July 18th, and very dilapidated specimens of it were to be seen as late as August 31st. Papilio Turnus, Linn. (Fig. 19) was remarkably plentiful early in the season. I had wondered in former years that it should be abundant at Quebec, seeing that so few apple-trees grow in the vicinity. The mystery was solved when I found the Jarvas feeding on Amelanchier Canadensis which is abundant here. (Edemasia concinna, A. & S. (Fig. 20) which in the Eastern Townships feeds upon the apple, feeds upon the bramble at Quebec. The larvse in their early stages lie clustered on the under-side of the leaves, and thus escape notice.. I found a batch oi them on Aug. 5th and took them to my home, where 1 fed them alternately on bramble and apple. They fed with avidity upon both and throve equally upon them. They attained their growth (Fig. 21) and went into cocoon among dead leaves on the surface of the earth. Another apple-tree feeder that has to change its diet at Quebec is Platysamia Gecropia, Linn. It feeds on the soft maple (Acer rubrum) and also, I am inclined to think, on the alder. Last autumn I found two cocoons (Fig. 22) of the species in the midst of an alder swamp, far from tree or shrub of any other sort In the Society's 23rd Report I recorded my first captures, on the Heights of Levis, of Colias interior, Scud. They were made in the month of September. This year I watched carefully for the appearance of a summer brood. It came in July. I took one or two specimens at St. David's on the 1st of the month, and on the 6th the insect was out in increased numbers. It was gone by the end of the month. As I have said the autumn, brood of Interior appears in September. 40 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. Feg. 19. Fig 20. Fig. 21. Fig. 22. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 41 In the last week of July a second brood of Colias PhUodice, Godt. (Pig 23.) appeared. It was out in abundance by the 1st of August. On the 31st of that month worn females were still to be seen laying their eggs on Vicia craeca. On the 2nd of October I captured fresh specimens of a third brood of Philodice ; and on the 22nd of that month this species was still plentiful, flitting about the flower-heads o£ Taraxacum. Argynnis Cybele, Fabr., Argynnis Aphrodite, Fabr., and Argynnis Atlantis appear in July. On the 6th of the month they were all on the wing together. 1 found a full-grown larva of the first named on June 18th. It went into chrysalis on the 20th, and the imago appeared on July 9th. For the escape of this the pupa case was ruptured on the unrter side — the upper remaining intact. On the 31st of August very worn speci- mens of Atlantis were still on the wing. Melitoea Harrisii, Scud., was plentiful at Levis, this year at the end of June. It continued till the 2nd week in July. A few years ago I took this species at St. Henri, 9 miles south from Levis. It frequents spots in which its food-plant, Diplopappus umbel- latus, is abundant. Limenitis Arthemis, Drury, was rather plentiful from the 1st of July till the middle of the month. Two of the prizes of the season were taken by Mr. Hanham on the Island of Orlears, viz : Anisota senatoria, Guen, and Plusia thyatiroides, Guen. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Hanham the former is now in my collection. 1 have only heard of one previous capture of this insect in the Province of Quebec. It was made some years ago by the late Mr. Bowles. Other captures worth recording were Feniseca Tarquinius, Fabr., Aug. 14th, Isle -of Orleans. Grapta gracilis, Gr. & R , July 17th, Levis. Vanessa Milberti, Godt., July 3rd, Isle of Orleans. Pyrantels Huntera, Drury, Aug. 5th, Isle of Orleans. Hemaris tenuis, Gr., Aug. 5th, Isle of Orleans. The season has been a fine one for the " Skippers." The order in which the different kinds of these appeared at Quebec was as follows : The first to show itself was Pamphila Zabulon, Bd. — Lee. It came early in June. While it was still out Pamphila Taumus appeared in crowds dodging about the meadows like children " playing tag." Pamphila Mystic, Edw., presented itself on the 1st of July and continued till the 20th. On the former date Mr. Hanham took a worn specimen of Carterocephalus Mandan, Edw., at St. David's, on the south side of the St. Lawrence ; and on the 9th of the same month he captured at the same place a specimen of Amblyscirtes Samoset, Scud. Both Mandan and Samoset are very rare at Quebec, two or three specimens only of each kind having, to my knowledge, been taken. On the 11th of July Pamphila Wamsutta, Harr., and Pamphila Metacomet, Harr., showed themselves. At this date Taumus was still plentiful. Pamphila Manitoba, Scudder, appeared on the 5th of August and continued till the 25th. It was plentiful on the Island of Orleans and on the Heights of Levis (see 23rd Rep., p. 31) frequenting the flower-heads of Solidago and Gnaphalium. On the 10th of the month and again on the 13th I obtained eggs of the species. They were laid dis- persedly on blades of grass, etc. Their size (nearly one-twentieth of an inch in diameter at the base) was large in comparison with that of the mother insect. Their shape was that of a gum-drop — flat at the bottom and rounded above. They were white like frost- ing and in some lights seemed to be irrorated with red, blue and green. They have not yet hatched. An insect which has been very abundant in this locality this season is Depressaria Heracleana, De Geer. The species was well and fully described by Dr. Bethune in the Canadian Entomologist, vol. II, page 1. In this district it feeds in the umbels of the I Cow Parsnip, Heracleum lanatum, and, when full fed, bites its way into the hollow-stems of the plant and spins its cocoons in their recesses. The moths come out in the Fall and .hibernate. 42 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. The Wild Haze], Corylus Americartus, has this year been much infested with the larvae of a species of Lithocolletis — probably L. Coryliella, Chambers. These creatures form circular blisters, about the size of dimes, in the leaves of the plant. In appearance they somewhat resemble the larvse of L. hamadryadella as shown in an article by Prof. Saunders, in the Eeport of the Fruit-Growers' Association of Ontario for 1882, p. 277. They are about three-tenths of an inch in length, much flattened and having the segments very distinctly marked. In colour they vary from sage-green to amber. The head is small and flat. From the 3rd to the 1 1th segments inclusive, there are, on the under side, remarkable elongated, brown markings ; and on either side of each segment, from the 6th to the 11th inclusive, there is a round, brown spot. The feet are white and are merely warty projections. Along the sides are a few slight bristles. The larvse have not yet gone into chrysalis but have become more plump and of a lighter tint of amber. Perhaps the most note-worthy occurrence of the year, from an entomological point of view, lias been the amazing numbers of the larvse of Oatastega aceriella, Clemens. From Montreal to Quebec and southward to the border they have appeared in myriads. Every maple-leaf seemed to have its tenant. The operations of the Catastega larva are very remarkable. Working on the under side it gathers around itself a considerable portion of the leaf, securing the lines of contact of the gathered part with a web. Then it bites away portions of the inner skin of the leaf and proceeds to make itself a case; and, as it grows, it enlarges this till it is about an inch and a half long and in shape something like that of a cornucopia. Into this it can completely retire. The larva when full grown is about half-an-inch long, cylindrical, pale green, with an amber-colored head. It attains its growth about the time that the leaves begin to fall. It then vacates its case and spins a slight cocoon between the leaves or in the folds of a leaf. The pupa is about one-fourth of an inch long, pale yellowish brown in colour, having rather large wing cases and tapering abdominally to a point. The insect was named by Clemens who mentions it in the Proceedings of the Ent* Soc. of Phil., vol. I (1861), p. 87. He seems to have been acquainted with the case only^ There is a reference to the insect in Packard's Forest Insects, p. 409. We shall probably know more about the insect next spring when the imagos begin to appear. In the meantime, the way to check the increase of the species is obviously to rake up the dead maple-leaves into small piles, and — under favorable circumstances — to burn them. On August the 23rd, a curious phenomenon was witnessed in Quebec. All the streets of Lower Town were occupied with clouds of winged ants, of the species Formica flava, Fabr. The carters had the utmost difficulty in controlling their horses ; and the foot-passengers shrouded their faces as they walked along. I read in the papers at the time that a similar plague had appeared in one or two places in the Maritime Provinces. The Lombardy Poplars in these parts were, this season, affected by a species Pemphigus. The insect produced galls on the leaf-stalks, resembling in size and shape the nut-galls of commerce, and having on one side a slit about three-sixteenths of an inch long. I opened one of the galls on the 6th of July, and found it to be full of insects of the kind, some winged and some wingless. After the galls had withered, I found num- bers of apparently the same species of insect, in the wingless state, infesting the young willows near by. The creatures lay thick on the under sides of the twigs sucking the plant-juices. My last captures this year were made on the 4th of October, when I took Therina- Jervidaria, Hubn, and Epirrita dilutata, Bork,* as they were resting on the trunks of trees at Spruce Cliff, Levis. On the same day I saw a fresh female of Orgyia antiqua, Linn, laying her eggs on a young spruce. *E. dilutata was taken at London, Ontario, about the same time, by Mr. J. Alston Moffatt. T.W.F. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 43 MOSQUITOES. By J. Alston Moffat, London, Ont. The mosquitoes belongs to the order " Diptera," or two winged flies, which includes all insects of whatever size, form or color, which have bub two wings, making them easily- separable from the Rymenoptera, to which the bees and wasps belong, which are pos- sessed of four wings. Again, the mosquitoes belong in that order to the family Culicidae which are characterized by long and slender mouth parts, long legs and antennae, of which there are many genera, and the genus to which the mosquito belongs is called Cnlex, which is re- cognizable from the other genera of the family by its biting propensity, whilst the dis- tinguishing, or specific name of our common form, is Pipiens of Linnaeus ; a name sug- gested by the constant piping produced during its flight by the rapid stroke of its narrow wings which are said to vibrate three thousand times a minute. (Fig. 24) represents a mosquito, and (Fig. 25) its mouth-parts highly magnified. A large number of species have been described and named by different authors — 30 are given to Amercia, 35 to Europe and 100 to the rest of the world. Mr. F. W. Urich, in a paper read before the Trinidad Field Naturalist's Club, says : " So far as Trinidad is concerned I may say I have observed at least ten different kfnds of mosquitoes, varying in size and color, and the bite of some of them is far from being pleasant." But as in other departments of natural history, species have been created upon very slight differences, the probability is that many of those so-called "species" are Fig. 24. Fig. 25. but local variations of one species. Yet certain it is, very considerable difference in size is to be observed in the same locality, but as all creatures are given to vary in size, the sime liberty may be allowed to Culex pipiens. Whether the bite of the large ones is severer than that of the small ones, does not seem to have been specially observed, but personal experience corroborates the statement that all bites are not equally sharp. The name Mopquito is a Spanish term, signifying " little fly," and would probably be applied to any biting winged insect, regardless of structure, by the Spaniards who first landed on the continent. And those of them that returned to their own country would relate stories of suffering they had to encounter and endure from their tiny foe3 ; which were of more than Aztec ferocity and tenacity. Even yet extraordinary tales are told of the size and savage nature of the mosquitoes of some localities over those of others. The fame of the New Jersey breed and the Mississippi gallinipper has gone far abroad, but I suspect that the principle cause of suffering in one locality over another, is to be attributed to numbers, rather than to any diflerence in the size of the insects. Travellers have re- corded their experience with mosquitoes in all parts of the world ; some declaring that those of the Artie regions are the worst they ever encountered, but South America, from its climatic conditions, and its low-lying lands, which are frequently flooded, is in a posi- tion to carry off the prize against the world for its crop of mosquitoes, and that the early travellers there were duly impressed with this fact is evidenced by the names given to 44 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. places such as the Mosquito Coast, Mosquito Bay and Mosquito Town. In ancient his- tory we read of armies on the march being arrested on the way and made to beat a hasty retreat from the attack of these tiny warriors, which is quite believeable ; for if we take into consideration the scant and loose covering which they probably wore, which gave the wearers so much more space to defend, they were not in a condition to pursue human foes when every man of them was engaged in a double-handed conflict with such pertinacious insect enemies. There is a prevalent opinion in Europe that mosquitoes are an exclusively American production, and in England especially it is the general belief. We often see it in print and hear it confidently asserted that there are no mosquitoes in England. The usual expres- sion is " We have gnats but no mosquitoes," whilst the fact is, the English Gnat and the American Mosquito cannot be separated generically and probably not even specifi- cally. The two names being but local synonyms for the same insect. But even scientific authorities have assisted in perpetuating the misunderstanding. Newman in his " Familiar introduction to the history of insects," has a paragraph headed " Mosquitoes or Simulites," in which he refers to a wood cut of a Simulia, which strongly resembles that terrible pest to the early settlers of the country, the " Black Fly," Simulium molestum, whilst he gives Gnat as the common name for the genus Culex. , The settlers of this country adopted the common name Mosquito for Culex pipiens, and used the name Gnat to designate an insect that was more felt than seen. So micros- copic was it, that the excessive irritation produced by its attack on exposed parts was often the first intimation of its presence ; yet so abundant were they at times, that small clouds of them were distinctly visible from their density. They were active only in the evening, or in densely shaded woods. This pest seems to have entirely disappeared with the clearing up of the country. Many people call all mosquito-like insects by that name, or, if in Europe, they would call them gnats, and include under these names, the families Tip alulae and Ephemeridae, which are quite innocent of all biting propensity. So that when these names are used and alarming reports circulated as to their abundance, it is impossible to be quite sure what insect may be meant. It is recorded that in 1736, gnats were so numerous in England, that vast columns of them rose in the air from the spire of Salis- bury Cathederal, like smoke, which made the people think it was on fire. Mention is made of a column, pyramidal in form, over a tree, 50 or 60 feet in height (1) — whilst, at a more recent date, another column is mentioned as being seen in a garden 3 feet in diameter and 20 feet high. We may justly conclude that these columns were not com- posed of Culex pipiens. And when we are informed that "every part of these columns was in the liveliest motion," we may at once infer that they were composed of some of the Ephemeridae, which Wordsworth alludes to, as "The gilded summer flies, That mix and weave their sports together in the solar beam." And when we are told that " their bite was so envenomed that it was attended with violent and alarming inflammation," we may safely say, that these bites did not belong to those columns, but to the genus culex, whose habits are quite different. Who ever saw Culex pipiens in a playful mood 1 She is ever intensely absorbed in business, even her song seems to indicate that her thoughts are bent in that direction ; at least it turns ours very quickly to her business methods. Whilst on the subject of these dancing columns, I will give an illustration of their remarkable powers of sustained flight, which came under my own observation. I was returning from an excursion by rail, on a fine summer evening, and to have an opportun- ity of enjoying it to the utmost, I took my seat on an open car which had been fitted up to provide extra accommodation. The car in front of me was high roofed, and over a rear corner of it had gathered one of these clusters, high and dense, which was vigorously besport- ing itself in the rays of the setting sun. I thought to myself " when we go, you will get left," but I was mistaken. When the train started it went with it, and the cluster maintained its position with as much apparent ease as when the car was at rest. Did ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 45 each individual of that cluster keep its eye on the car, so as not to fall behind ? But it could not accommodate its movements to suit the lateral swaying of the car ; every now and again it found itself a little more off or on the corner. It maintained its position until darkness obscured or dispersed the dancers. Culex pipiens, like many of its relations, lives the earlier part of its life in the water. The female mosquito when ready to deposit her eggs, seeks for stagnant water as the most suitable place on which to do so. The Rev. J. G. Wood thus clearly de- scribes the opperation : " Placing her front legs on a piece of floating stick, straw, or anything that will support her tiny weight, she allows the middle pair of legs to rest on the surface of the water, and crosses the hind pair so as to look like the capital letter X. She then deposits a rather long and spindle-shaped egg, and places it upright with the base downward in the angle of the X. Another egg is quickly placed by the side of the first, and followed by others, all of which are glued together by a cement which is not affected by water. Guided by the crossed legs, the eggs are formed into a boat-like shape, and are left to float on the surface of the water." These boat-like masses are often longer than wide, the lower end of the eggs being the largest, where the head of the future larva is to be, gives more surface below thin above, which naturally turns the ends upwards and helps to give them the boat-like form. In a few days time, according to the weather, the eggs mature and the tiny larva i3 ushered into what is for the time its native element. In this state it is a particularly interesting creature, large in head, slender in body with two openings at the tail ; one situated a little to one side, and surrounded with fine hairs, opens into the breathing tubes, the other being the end of the digestive canal. It is very active, propelliig itself through the water with a peculiar jerking and wriggling movement, which has procured for it the appellative " wriggler," going to the bottom to feed, then rising to the surface to breathe. It may at times be seen resting with its breathing tube above the surface, head down and its mouth-parts moving as if it was taking nourishment Having changed its skin several times, and eaten all it wants, it prepares for another change of form, and throwing aside its larval covering, it emerges a pupa. Its form is greatly altered, much larger at the head end where the mouth-parts, win^s and legs of the future mosquito are bunched together in a rudimentary state, the abdomen slender with two propeller-like blades at the end to assist its movements, for it is still active, but more singular still for a pupa, it breathes now not through a tube at the tail as fomerly, but through two pro- jections which it has been provided with, which are situated on the top of the thorax, so that when it rises to the surface of the water to breathe, it holds its head up now. A wonderful change of habit in so short a time ; whilst living in this state, it also enlarges but does not feed. Having thoroughly matured it is now ready to change its aquatic life for an aerial one. The pupa comes to the surface of the water, the thorax rising above it, the hinder part straightens out, and almost immediately the pupa case bursts on the top of the thorax, and the head of the mosquito appears in the opening by a- contracting and ex- panding of the abdomenal segments, the head and thorax are pushed forward and out sufficiently far to free its legs, when it feels for a support which may be the pupa-case which now floats on the water as a boat. The wings now expand, the abdomen is with- drawn from the case, and Culex pipiens is off on other business. The whole time re- quired for this last transformation is a minute or less. The length of its preparatory life is variously estimated, the weather having a powerful influence — a month is considered quite sufficient. Three or four days to mature the eggs, fourteen or eighteen for the larval stage, and five to seven for the pupal. But Prof. Riley, says : " Their delevopment is rapid and with one species at least it has baen ascertained that the entire life-round from egg to adult is undergone in less than two weeks." As soon as they have got their wings they make for the thickest vegetable shade within reach. It is said that they will fly for miles inland, but never fly far over water. We read of travellers on the South American rivers, that they prefer to pass the ni^ht in their small boats anchored out on the river, rather than attempt to sleep on shore • willing to run the risk of being devoured by alligators in order to escape the certainty of it by mosquitoes. 46 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. Culex pipiens is a frail and delicate creature, to be possessed of such a vicious and blood-thirsty disposition. But here it must be stated that the s^xes differ in this respect. It is the female only that bites ; she alone is responsible for all the evil reputation which has been attached to the species ; the male has not the power, even if he had the will, whilst her will and power seem to be commensurate. The mouth parts of the female constitute a wondrously elaborate and complex ap- paratus, which no verbal description can do justice to. What appears to the naked eye to be a single sting, is composed of no less than seven distinct and separable parts. What is taken for the sting is only the sheath in which the sting rests when not in use. Two of the parts are barbed at the point for cutting the skin. All but the sheath enter two- thirds their full length before they begin drawing the blood, the sheath doubling up under the body of the insect. The manner in which the mosquito draws up the blood to satisfy its cravings, is probably similar to that by which a butterfly secures the nectar from the flowers. Let us consider the long proboscis as lips, the mouth proper being situated in the head at their base ; when the lips have entered the fluid the muscles around the mouth a**e contracted ; that produces a cavity which is necessarily a vacuum, the fluid naturally rushes in to fill it. When it is filled the muscles around the mouth relax, a valve at the base of the lips closes and prevents its return, and the fluid is forced down the gullet. The rapidity with which the mosquito thus pumps up the blood, and the quantity it secures in a given time, may easily be observed by any one curious to know, by allowing one of them to operate on the back of the hand, and watch the filling up of the abdomen. I once clipped the end ofi the abdomen of one thus situated without disturbing its opera- tion, and it pumped away until a pool of blood that had run through it formed on the back of my hand and began to run off, when I stopped the performance. I had been informed that this could be done before I succeeded in doing it. No poison gland has yet been found in the mosquito, but the irritation resulting, and often continuing long after the bite is given, has led to the general conviction that poison must be conveyed with it. One writer relates that a drop of clear fluid has been observed at the end of the trunk, whilst Reamur says he saw fluid in the trunk itself. Some con- tend that this fluid is used for diluting the blood so as to enable it to pass through the extremely fine tube, but the quantity that they produce is so small, as compared with the amount of blood they take, that it could have but little effect in that way ; unless it was endowed with some powerful chemical property. Some have stated that if they are allowed to take all they want, there will be no after irritation, the poison being all removed with the blood taken. But personal experiments in this direction do not confirm the statement. There is a great diversity in the effect of the mosquito bite on different persons, just as there is in the sting of a bee ; not from any difference in the sting and bite, but from something in the constitution of the individual. The Rev. J. G. Wood tells us of the effect of a single gnat bite on himself, gi ven at the j unction of the thumb with the wrist. (It is culex pipiens he is speaking of). He says : " The hand swelled up until it looked like a box- ing glove, was purple in color where it was not crimson, and it was more than three weeks after the bite was inflicted before I fully recovered the use of my hand." This may be considered a serious case, and if he had received several bites at the same time, some of them about the face, we shall say, there is no saying how much more serious it might have been. I copy the following from a communication by H. Stewart, of North Carolina, dated Nov. 3, 1891, given in Insect Life, Vol. 4, p. 277, as illustrative of this point : " I was interested in reading a recent number of Insect Life to the effect that the poison of the mosquito was provocative of insanity. When I was engaged in exploring in the vicinity of the north shore ot Lake Superior about twenty-five years ago, I had more than one proof of this fact. One of my men was badly bitten, and seemed to suffer more than any others of the company. He became violently insane and ran off in the woods, and in spite of efforts he eluded pursuit and was never found again. Another man on a different occasion was affected in a similar manner, and was captured with diffi- culty, after a long chase, in which he exhibited the utmost terror, but after a few days' close confinement in the camp he regained his reason. Afterwards he was so seriously ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 47 affected l>y the poison that he had to be sent home. I have noticed that the poison affected persons differently, causing severe swelling in some, fever in others, pains in the limbs in others, while some were but slightly annoyed. I was myself very little troubled by these pests " Along with that we may place the report given by a German professor, -of a Mexican doctor who was attending a lady suffering from inflammation of the brain. She had been unconscious for twelve hours, and gave signs of approaching dissolution. The doctor removed the mosquito net and opened the windows, giving the mosquitoes free access to his patient for two hours, when consciousness returned and the lady given up for lost started on the way to recovery, which is quite a likely thing, as blood-letting would be an excellent method for relieving the congested parts. We frequently read in the newspapers of people suffering from alarming sores, the result of " a mosquito bite," some of them ending fatally. Thoughtless persons, or those ignorant of the nature of mosquito bites, will persist in rubbing the bitten parts, which only tends to increase the irritation and calls for more rubbing. This, continued, may break the skin, blood-poisoning may then ensue, and, if combined with an unhealthy condition of the system, death may quite likely be the result. I have seen children whose bodies were covered with sores caused by their scratching the mosquito bites. To those who have not lived in a mosquito infested-district, and have formed their opinions by reading such reports ; it might seem to them that life in such a place would be constant misery, and would expect to find the inhabitants covered with sores and bandages ; but such is not the case. There is unquestionably^ a kind of inoculation that takes place in those much exposed to the attack, which gives them immunity from any in- convenience after the bite is given. The writer of the article " Mosquito," in the Encyclo- paedia Britannica, says : " Even in Britain the annoyances caused by the gnats — " culex pipiens " — is very great, and in marshy districts often unendurable, especially to new comers, for it seems probable that the insects really attack a visitor more furiously than they do the natives of the district, but, on the other hand, the latter may be more in- different to their assaults." Now, we cannot suppose that the mosquitoes prefer a stranger to a native, or that the native does not feel the bite. It is the consequences that make the difference ; the visitor dreads these, the native does not, as there are none to him, he having been thoroughly inoculated ; the bites may be felt equally by both, although there are some endowed with a greater amount of pachydermatous insensibility than others. It is undoubtedly new-comers to an affected district that suffer the worst, that is, if they have not previously been subjected to the attack. Usually a bite on such a one raises a spot about the diameter of half a pea, hard and whiter than the rest of the skin, with a distinct red dot in the centre, producing an immense desire to rub the spot, which, if in- dulged, causes various degrees of inflammation and redness, with an increased inclination to rub, lasting for two or three hours with some, but twenty-four or more with others. This sort ot thing may have to be endured for the whole of the first summer. After that the bite may be felt just as sharp as before, but no such after discomfort will follow. Hence the apparent indifference of the native, but sufficient numbers would make even him quail before their assault, but, being once clear of them, no further inconvenience is felt by him. This kind of inoculation is vividly illustrated in the case of children going into an infested locality to live ; for the first season every bite leaves its mark conspicu- ous, but afterwards bites show no more than if they had not been given. How long the mosquito lives in the mature state, is not known with any degree of cer- tainty. Dr. C. V. Riley says : " So far as we know, our northern mosquitoes pass the winter in the imago state, but in limited numbers." Supposing these hibernators are the parents of the summer crop, they might in this latitude begin depositing their eggs — of which they lay about 300 — in the beginning of May, and allowing a month between egg and imago, we see that by midsummer the number, under favorable circumstances, would be great. But the question to settle is, how long does the female live in summer before depositing her eggs 1 for we cannot suppose that, contrary to the nature of other insects she lives long afterwards ; unless she does not lay them all at once. When one visits a piece of woods situated a long way from stagnant water every few days, and finds an un- 48 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. limited supply kept up for weeks, or even months together, it does not seem to favor an early demise. Another interesting question in this connection is, are these hibernat- ing females fertilized before winter sets in, or do the males live over also 1 It is the prevailing opinion that mosquitoes live exclusively on animal blood, and yet, probably, not one in a million of them ever gets a taste of it. It is not reasonable to suppose that the life, even of the mosquito, can be sustained long without food of some sort. Several reports have been made from time to time of a vegetable-feeding species of mosquito having been seen. Is it a separate species, or is it our old acquaintance Culex pipiens indulging in a little of her natural vegetable diet 1 I once saw a mosquito on the smooth bark of an aspen poplar, seemingly engaged in an effort to extract something out of it, but with very limited success, so far as the appearance of the abdomen indi- cated, yet it went through all the movements required to make the success complete. If they will attack the hard bark of a tree, how much mora likely is it that they would try the soft stems of succulent plants. When we understand that this is one of the habits of the insect, we see that there is a double reason present why they should seek the cover of rank vegetation, one protection from the direct rays of the sun, which they cannot en- dure ; the other, that they may obtain food to sustain life, Yet, no matter what amount of vegetable juice they may take, it never slacks their thirst for blood. This the unfortun- ate collector well knows to his cost, when he has been allured in the pursuit of some at- tractive specimens, to the stirring up of a tall and luxuriant clump of weeds in a damp and shady place. Many remedies have been suggested for relieving the irritacion produced by mosquito bites. The Rev. Mr. Wood says arnica saved him from a vast amount of torture. A wash of ammonia is said by others to give immediate relief. To rid the house of their presence in the evening, so as to get peaceful rest at night, all are familiar either by observation or report, with the use of smoke. Indeed, the primitive "Smudge " was the only method available in new settlements ; but now we have a more clean, convenient and efficacious material to use for the same purpose in insect- powder, ' pyrethrum." Make a little pyramid of the powder about an inch an a half in diameter at the base, on some incombustible material, and ignite it ac the top. It will con- sume slowly, producing smoke enough to fill a large room, which will kill or stupify «very mosquito in it. I copy the following from Insect Life, Yol. Y., p. 359 : "The Indian Medical Journal for March 16th says that a Bombay newspaper calls attention to the virtues of the castor oil plant as a means of protection against mosquitoes. In Egypt it is planted about houses to drive the insects away. In towns a better plan is to have the growing plants in pots, and bring them into the house for a day or two at a time, but they must not be kept too long in the shade, for Palma Ghristi is a sun-loving plant. A writer is cited as say- ing that the mosquitoes are killed by a poison they find on the lower side of the leaf, but it is stated that if a dozen leaves are placed about a room that swarms with mosquitoes they will disappear without leaving any dead ones lying about." But vigorous efforts should be made in all mosquito-infested localities to reduce as much as possible the oppor- tunity for their breeding. Stagnant water is well-known to be the principle source whence comes the mosquito plague. This, then, should be got rid of as soon as possible. When this cannot be done at once it should be treated with a little coal oil, which will put an effectual stop to their propagation as has been demonstrated by Mr. L. 0. Howard's ex- periment, published in the last Annual Report of the Society, and thus an immense amount of suffering will be saved to man and beast. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 49 CANADIAN UROCERID^E . (Abstract of a Paper presented to the Royal Society of Canada.) By W. Hague Harrington, Ottawa. The paper which I have the honour to submit is, from its length and the number of descriptions contained in it, not suitable to be read in full. I have, therefore, made a short abstract from its contents, to indicate its scope and purposes. It treats of the Uroceridae, a family of the order Hymenoptera ; the species of which are lignivorous in the larval state and attack our forest, shade and fruit trees. In discussing these insects I have accepted the name Uroceridae in accordance with the classification of North American Hymenoptera published by Mr. E. T. Cresson, who for many years has been a diligent student of the order, and who has described a large proportion of the American species. In agreement with European nomenclature, the name Siricidse would be used, as the first species described were placed by Linnaeus in Sirex, one of the ten genera into which he divided all the Hymenoptera. His simple classification has been so expanded, to receive the vast number of insects since described, that the Hymenoptera of America, north of Mexico, are separated into about a thousand genera. The genera placed by Cresson in the family Uroceridae have been the subject of much discussion by systematic entomologists and their relations to one another and to the Tenthredinidae, have been variously viewed. The object of this paper is not how- ever, to discuss the systematic position of the genera, but to bring together for the benefit of students of the Canadian fauna, the descriptions of the various species, and to add such information regarding them as my observations have furnished. No new species are described, but I have rather endeavored to show where the present number of species could be lessened, and the suppressed be placed as varieties. The insects of this family vary very much in size and sometimes in coloration, and several of the species being widely distributed and rare, have been redescribed trom different regions. There are five genera : Ceplius, Xiphydria, Urocerus, Tremex and Oryssus. To facil- itate the identification of specimens, I have prepared synoptic tables based upon such features as seem most distinctive. The individuals of Cephus appear to be very rare in Canada, but six species are represented, including G. pygmosus, Linn., which has been introduced from Europe, where it is well known, and at times a destructive borer in the stems of wheat. In Xiphydria several species have been described, but some are only varieties. The most common species is X. albicomis, Harris, which is frequently found on maples, and which does considerable injury to shade trees. I have given observations upon its habits, in the publications of the Entomological Society of Ontario. The typical genus Urocerus (Sirex) contains about twenty American species of which nearly all occur in Canada. Some of these are large, handsome insects, widely dis- tributed throughout the Dominion ; from Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island and very far northward. The larva? of these insects are borers in our coniferous trees and their dis- tribution is probably co-extensive with the trees they infest. In some sections, pine, spruce, fir, etc., suffer considerably from their attacks. The three most common species are U. albicomis, black, with white banded legs aod antennse ; U. flavicornis, black, with yellow bands and antennae, and U. cyaneus, blue, with ferruginous legs. Tremex contains only one species, the well-known T. columba, the larvae of which are popularly known as Horn-tails, a name also applied sometimes to the adult insects on account of their long ovipositors. This insect attacks chiefly the maple and beech, which are often thoroughly riddled by its larva?, but it also infests other forest trees, such as oak and sycamore, and fruit-trees, as apple and pear. It is a striking insect in appearance ; one of the largest of our Hymenoptera ; richly marked with black and yellow, and pro vided with a long, stout ovipositor for penetrating the thick bark of the trees in which it deposits its eggs. 4 (EN.) 50 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. The genus Oryssus differs in many important characters from the preceding, and the insects have a very different appearance. They are short and cylindrical in form \ black, or with the abdomen partially red ; have the antennae short and geniculated, and in their movements they are extremely alert and active. Four species have been on the Ameri- can lists, but observations which I have made on these insects for several years have con- vinced me that they all belong to one species. The larvae live in maples (and possibly in other trees) but it is not known whether they live upon the substance of the tree, or are parasitic upon other wood-boring insects. For a satisfactory knowledge of the habits of our Uroceridae, it will be necessary for our entomologists to devote much close attention to the several species. Unfortun- ately the order Hymenoptera has not at present many students, although both from the scientific and economic standpoints there are many reasons why it should be thoroughly investigated. The late Abbe Provancher, whose scientific labors, especially in Entomology, gained for him a membership, which, unhappily he did not long live to enjoy, in your honorable Society, was a zealous worker in this Order, and he described very many of the Canadian species. His death was a great loss to the study of Entomology in Canada, but it is to be hoped that his collections, which contain the types of so many species, may be placed where they will be carefully preserved and accessible to future investigators. ADDITIONAL NOTES ON JAPANESE INSECTS. By W. Hague Harrington, Ottawa. On my return in November, 1891, from a visit to Japan, I prepared for the annual meeting, held a few days later, a hasty outline of my impressions of the insect fauna of that country. My captures have since been mounted and arranged, and the number of genera and species ascertained, although time has not yet been found to determine the names of the insects. My stay in Japan lasted only ten weeks, and this time was largely occupied in travelling and sightseeing, so that I had few opportunities for systematic collecting, and many of my most interesting specimens were accidental captures. The wealth of the insect fauna is evident, from the fact that under such conditions, and after the most prolific season had passed, six hundred species were taken, Coleoptera constitut- ing one- half, Hymenoptera one-fourth, and miscellaneous insects the remaining fourth. The majority of the specimens were obtained in the vicinity of Yokohama, Hakone and Nikko, which are all situated in the central portion of the Empire. Adding to my own captures some Coleoptera received from my brothers residing in Yokohama, I find my little collection to be composed as follows • Coleoptera 350 Species. Hymenoptera 160 Hemiptera 75 Diptera 30 Orthoptera .. 20 Lepidoptera 10 Neuroptera , 10 Total 655 The last four orders are too scantily represented to be compared with those of our fauna, and even the Hemiptera are scarcely numerous enough to afford a basis of comparison. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 51 The Ooleoptera and Hymenoptera, however, seem to warrant a few remarks, as a supple- ment to my former very imperfect paper, and I have therefore prepared tables showing the number of genera and species in the families represented in these orders. Ooleoptera. Families. 1 Cicindelidae 2 Carabidse 3 Dytiscidae .... 4 Hydrophilidas . 5 Silphidae 6 Staphylinidae . . 7 Coccinellidae. . . 8 Endomychidae . 9 Cucujidae. ..'.'.. 10 Mycetophagidse 11 Dermestidaa . . . 12 Nitidulidaa 13 Trogositidae . , 14 Derodontidae . . 15 Elateridae 16 Throscidae 17 Buprestidae .... 18 Lampyridse .... Genera. Species, i 1 6 i 21 39 3 7 4 4 5 8 ! 9 10 11 17 3 4 1 2 1 1 1 1 3 3 2 2 1 1 8 13 1 1 5 7 3 3 Families. 19 Cleridae 20 Lucanidae 21 Scarabaeidae 22 Spondylidae 23 Oerambycidae. . . . 24 Chrysomelida? . . . 25 Bruchidae 26 Tenebrionidae .... 27 Cistelidae 28 Lagriidae 29 Anthicidae 30 Meloidae 31 Rhynchitidae 32 Attelabidae 33 Otiorhynchidae. .. 34 Curculionidae y 35 Calatidridae ...... Undetermined. . . Total Genera. 1 6 21 1 21 33 1 8 1 1 3 2 4 2 10 12 2 7 Species. 222 1 9 44 1 25 63 5 12 1 1 4 3 11 5 13 IS 2 7 354 About seventy-five per cent, of the genera occur in Canada, and while probably not more than half a dozen species are common to the two countries, there is on the whole a striking similarity of form and ornamentation, with a sprinkling of conspicuously exotic looking individuals. One such species is found in the Cicindelidae (C. chinensis var1?) which wag abundant on the Usui Toge, about one hundred miles northward from Yokohama, and still more so at Chofu, near the straits of Shimenoseki, several hundred miles southward. This beetle is very gaily coloured and appears very brilliant when flying or running in the sunlight. In Carabidse the striking genus Damaster is represented by two species (probably D. pandarus, and D blaptoides), from Chofu and Yokohama. There is p. very fine Carabus, and among species closely resembling American forms may be mentioned two of Scarites, a Panageus, a Dromius, and four or five of Ohl?enius. Water beetles were not searched for, but among the few obtained are three fine species of Cybister and a Hydrophilus more robust in form than our H. triangularis. Staphylinidse were not numerous, although the few species represented apparently furnish one which occurs in Canada, viz., Oxyteles fuscipenne, which flew into our chamber at Nikko one damp evening in great numbers, and a species more like O. rtcgosus, of which one specimen only was taken. Although the Histeridse are not represented in my collection, I captured on Enoshima (island famous for glass sponges, shells and marine curiosities) a species much larger than any of the American forms known to me, but the specimen was afterwards lost. One of the coasting steamers upon which we spent a day or two, swarmed with Silvanus surinamensis, and afforded also another cosmopolitan species, Necrobia ruficollis. A few specimens of Derodontus beaten from foliage at Yokohama, are perhaps identical with D. trisignata, which occurs in British Columbia. A curious Trogositid of a bronzy colour, with two yellow tubercles on each elytron, might from its size and sculpture be readily mistaken at first sight for a Buprestid near Chrysobothris. The splendid buprestid Chrysochroa fulgidissima, brilliant green with purple stripes on thorax and elytra, is not uncommon in the forest regions of Nikko and Hakone, and is said to infest several trees, including the Keaki (Zelkowa Keaki) which furnishes very valuable timber. There is also a smaller Chrysochroa, more subdued in colour, but still a very handsome insect, which appears to be less abundant. From the mountainous province of Shinshiu (famous for its silk-worms) I have two examples of a tine Chalcophora, much like C. fortis in sculpture, but larger . 52 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. The family Lucanidre (Stag-beetles) affords several fine species, which quite over- shadow the Canadian representatives of this family, while species of Scarabseidse are both numerous and attractive, the most remarkable being the colossal Xylotrupes dichomotomus, of which the male has a long bifurcated horn on the head, and a shorter cleft one on the thorax. This fine species is apparently common in some districts, and good specimens can be obtained for three or four sen. At Hakone I obtained a living male, and at Yokohama picked up a dead female upon one of the Bluff streets. Several species of Anomala, Strigoderma, Euryomia, etc,, were very abundant and did immense damage to various crops and to trees and shrubs. The most brilliant beetle of this family is a magnificent Geotrupes, of which I found several on the path from Hakone to Atami. Some of the Cetoninre, however, vie with it in splendor and are perhaps more beau- tiful. I have not at hand Spondylis upiformis with which to compare the Japanese species, but it if very like the European S. buprestoides, with the costse of elytra more elevated and the punctuation somewhat less dense, The Cerambycidse are very fine, and this family shows less resemblance to our fauna than perhaps any other, while still containing some familiar genera. A common species in the coniferous forests, and which I took upon pines on Fuji, is a flossy black beetle with white markings (Melanauster Chinensis, var, macularia), about the size and shape of our large pine-borer (Monohammus confusor). An allied species also from the forest at foot of Fuji, is Apalimna liturata, Bate, prettily marbled with grey and black, and with antennae three inches long, The profusion of vegetation naturally leads to a rapid increase of leaf-eating forms, and the Chrysomelidse are correspondingly well represented in species and individuals, exceeding in these respects as well as in number of genera all the other families represented in my collection, While many of the species are pretty and of consider- able interest, none are remarkably large or conspicuously colored. Other families are poorly represented until we come to the Rhyncophora, when numerous interesting forms are found. Rynchitidse and Attelahidse seem especially numerous in comparison with Canadian species, while Otiorhynchidre and Curculionida3 have each some large and curious species, although the genera closely resemble our own. The pine woods yielded some fine species of Hyiobius and closely allied genera. Hymenopteea. The members of this order have a more homelike look than the beetles, and very few genera occurred which are not represented with us, as will be seen by the following li3t of the genera and number of species in each family : I, Tentliredinidfji, — Hylotoma 6, Cladius 1, Nematus 1, Harpiphorus 2, Aneugmenus 2, Athalia 3, Allan tus 1, Macrophya 1, Tenthrede 1, Taxonus 2, Strongylogaster 1, II. Cynipidae, — Aspicera 1. in. Ichneumonidce, — Ichneumon 8, Ambly teles 1, Trogus 2, Hemiteles 2, Ophion 1, Thyreodon 1, Anomalon 1, Campoplex 2, Paniscus 2, Limneria 1, Mesoleptus 1, Tryphon 1, Theronia 1, Pimpla 3, Glypta 1, Genus near Glypta 1, Lampronota 2, unplaced 2. iv. Braconidae, — Bracon 1, Rhogas 1, Orgilus 1, Phylax 2, Apanteles 1, unplaced 1. v. Chalcididce, — Chalcis 2, Stomatocera 1, Lelaps 1, Eurytoma 3, Tetrastichus 2. vi. Proctotnjpidce, — Proctotryp^ 1, Goniozus 1, Sparasion 1, Macrotelia 1. vii. Chrysididcv, — Chryis 1. viii. Formicidce, — Camponotus 1, Formica 2. ix. Myrmicidce, — Myrmica 2. x. M/Uillidce, — Sphserophthalmia 1, Chyphotes 1, Myrmosa 1. xi. Scoliidw, — Tiphia 3, Scolia 2, Dielis 4. xii. Pompdidce, — Pompilus 5, Priocnemis 1, Planiceps 1, Agenia 2. xni. SphecidcB, — Ammophila 6, Spex 1. xiv. Larridce, — Lyroda 1, Larra 3. xv. Philanthidce, — Cerceris 3. xvi. Pemphredonidce, — Cemonus 1. xvn. Crabronidoe, — Crabro 1. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 53 xviii. Eumenidce, — Eumenis 4, Odynerus 4. xix. Vespidce, — Vespa 3, Polistes 4, xx. Andrenidce, — Parasphecodes 1, Halictus 7, Andrena 5, Norma 1, xxi. Apidce, — Coelioxys 1, Megachile 3, Lithurgus 1, Ceratina 2, Synhalonia 1, Xylocopa 1, Bombus 5, Apis 1. In all there are eighty -two genera represented by 162 species. The Saw-flies number twenty-one species, but are exceeded by the Ichneumons with thirty three species, including several fine forms. The Ophion has chitinous spots in the sub-marginal cell as in 0. purgatitm, and the Thyreodon is identical in colour with T, morio, but is more coarsely sculptured. The two Chalcis are C. minuta, Linn, (a cosmopolitan insect), and C. mikado a handsomer species which was not rare on lawn shrubberies. Ants were seldom collected, so that the few specimens taken give no indication of the abundance in which these insects occurred at some places. The species of Tiphia and Dielis were very abundant, the former on umbelliferous plants at Hakone, the latter on lawns. One Pompilus seems identical with our P. biguttatus and the others much resemble American species. The species of Odynerus are larger than ours, and several individuals were found to be stylopized. Two of the wasps are very large and build immense nests, while Polistes were very abundant, building their nests in shrubberies. Among the bees is a very large Lithurgus, which apparently used the leaves of Wisteria for its nests, and a Bombus which seems identical with B. lapidarius of Europe. NOTES AND QUERIES. By Rev. W. J. Holland, Ph. D., Allegheny, Pa. I have just received a specimen of a Erebus odor a, which was captured last Wednes- day evening in the lecture room of the First United Presbyterian Ohurch in the City of Allegheny, where its appearance caused no little consternation among the devout "Mothers in Israel," who were at prayer meeting, and who thought it was a bat, of which evil things are said by the unsophisticated. It is a male in good case. This is the third specimen I have received this summer. The first was taken about four weeks ago in the cellar of my father's residence in Bartholomew County, Indiana The second was taken at Jeannette, Pa., near a spring house. All three specimens are fresh in appearance, as if not long from the chrysalis. Undoubtedly this great moth is more than an occasional visitor from the tropics, and should be reckoned as belonging to our fauna, though scarce. Its capture has been recorded north of the Ohio and Potomac many scores of times, and it has been taken repeatedly in Canada. Papilio Cresphontes, Fig, 26, for the first time, has been taken this summer in the neighborhood of Pittsburg and in considerable numbers. One collector obtained four specimens in one locality. The food-plant is Zmthoxylum and Ptelea in these parts. In Florida its larva is abundant upon the orange and lemon trees. One of the commonest of our Papilios is Pkilenor, Fig. 27. Here its larva is found upon Aristolochia. In southern Indiana, in Bartholomew County, I have observed it summer after summer, sometimes in immense numbers. It is one of the commonest butterflies there as here. But, with the exception of one or two specimens of Aristolochia growing about verandahs in the Village of Hope, I think I may safely say there is not a plant of Aristolochia within many miles of the fields in which I have counted the perfect insect by the score. What is the other plant upon which the larva feeds 1 It runs in my mind that I have read that the caterpillar has been found upon the smart- weed {Poly- gonum hydropiper) but I cannot recall where I have seen this statement made. I have never been able to verify it. by observation. Perhaps some reader of the Canadian Entomologist may be able to throw light upon the subject. 54 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. The banana merchants in our town have proved themselves possessed of curious entomological stores. I have received from them a couple of living tarantulas, and not long ago a living specimen of Galigo Teucer, which had emerged from a Chrysalis, hidden Fig. 26. in a bunch of bananas. The insect had been transported by sea and land from either Honduras or some port in the norlhern portion of South America, a journey of several thousand miles. This reminds me that in several consignments of eastern lepidoptera I feSfrfch. \ ^ Fig. 27. have found one Danais plexippus, Linn. One of the sendings was from Borneo, the other from Java. We shall soon hear of its domestication on the mainland of Asia, and it will probably spread all over China and Japan. The insects taken by the XJ. S. Eclipse ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 55 Expedition of 1889, at the Azores, numbered among them two specimens of the butterfly. There were only about a dozen specimens of insects taken at the Azores by the industri- ous (1) naturalists of the party, and I judge that it must be common there. Why we have not yet heard of its domiciliation on the African continent is a mystery to me. It will, no doubt, get there before long. I have a specimen of Limenitis taken in Warren County, Pa , this summer, which is most remarkable. It has all the markings of L.ursula, but both the primaries and sec- ondaries are crossed by very broad white bands as in L. Arthemis. It is, however, larger than any specimen of Arthemis I have ever seen, and exceeds the majority of L. Ursula in size. It has the white spots in the cell of the primaries, which appear in some female specimens of L. Weidemeyeri. It is altogether a queer beast combining the characteristics of three of our species. No doubt they all sprang from a common ancestry, and this specimen reveals the force of atavism. THE DRAGON-FLY. By T. J. MacLaughlin, Ottawa. As Economic Entomology has become so important a subject to the farmer, fruit- grower, gardener, and others, and as all insects are now regarded^ as either noxious or beneficial, a few words in reference to the Dragon-fly might not, perhaps, be without in- terest, and might assist those who may not be conversant with its habits in assigning it a proper place in the field of economy. The dragon-fly family — Odonata — belongs to the order Pseudo (or false) Neuropter a. That is to say, to that order of mandibulate insects having four membranaceous reticulate wings, and which undergo an incomplete metamorphosis or transformation. The family is divided into three tribes : Agrionina, Aeschnina, and Libellulina and these again into sub-divisions. The first tribe, Agrionina, embraces all the smaller forms — commonly called hammer- heads— and some of the most beautiful of the whole family, such as the different species of Calopteryx, as the name implies. C. maculata, C. virginica, G. wquabilis, etc. The wings of all the species of this genus are densely reticulate, broad at, or near, the apex, or tip, and very narrow at the base, with many anticubital veins, and the pterostigma wanting in the males ; the color of the wings varies according to the species — jet black, brown, hyaline, semi-transparent and clouded ; and the head, thorax and abdo- men are of a light green or blue. From their erratic course, the color and comparatively slow motions of their wings, and habit of alighting so frequently, they are readily mis- taken for butterflies. They proceed from and spend their life along swift running waters, especially such streams as flow through woods or shaded places ; while the other insects of the same tribe — the Agrions, etc., proceed from and frequent only stagnant pools, or the borders of very sluggish streams. This tribe is composed of two sub-families and two legions, with many genera, sub-genera and species, all presenting the same peculiarities — < slow, graceful flight and delicate constitutions. The noiseless, gentle movements of these pretty little objects (and they are sometimes found to- gether in vast numbers) dressed in many colors, is truly a picture of combined beauty, ease and Y1(~ 28. contentment, rarely seen. Thousands of the small creatures might float through the air about the ears of the beholder and not a sound could be heard to indicate their presence. They show their affection for each other in the most impassionate and gentle manner ; the male, with the little forceps at the extremity of his abdomen, clasps the female gently about the neck, and in this way they fly away on their hymeneal wanderings in the same slow and careless manner which characterizes their movements when flying alone. 56 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. Tribe II., Aeschnina. This tribe is sub divided into two families : Gomphina and Aeschnina. The latter contains the largest and most repulsive of the dragon-flies. The head is large ; the eyes are connected from near the labrum, or upper lip, to the upper part of the head and cover both sides down to the jaws, or mandibles. The mandibles are large and powerful and the thorax is of immense proportions. The abdomen is long and slender, and upon capture the insect will coil and slash it about, which always gives the capturer the impression that it is feeling for a place to sting. The wings are broad and strong, and have little of the colors which beautify those of the other tribes. Aeschna heros is the largest of the species ; it measures about 3J inches in length, including the appendages, and the expansion of the wings is about 4 inches. Theinsects of the first tribe — Agrionina — fly low and are seldom seen far away from their natural haunts, but nearly all the species of Aeschnina are high fliers and are met with everywhere, in the woods, fields, on the tops of mountains and in the valleys, continually searching for food ; devour- ing every soft-bodied insect which crosses their path, and looking for more. Fig. 29 Tribe III., Libellulina. This tribe is divided, like the preceding, into two sub- families, Cordulina and Libellulina. The Canadian genera are Macromia, Epitheca, Cor- dulia, Plathemis, Libellula (Fig. 29, L, trimaculata), Diplax (Fig. 28, D. Elisa : Fig. 30, D. Berenice male ; Fig. 31, D. Berenice, female), and Nannophya (Fig. 32, N. Bella). The prettiest? of all our large dragon-flies belong to this division. They are less repulsive and voracious than those of Aeschna, and the wings of most of the species are beauti- Fig. 31. fully marked with clouds of various hues. They are readily distinguished from those of the second tribe — although nearly equal in size — by the abdomen alone ; this member is not capable of being coiled up ; it is comparatively short, stout at the base, and gradually tapers off to the end. The segments are joined closely together and the whole moves, to a very limited extent, up and down on the first segment, after the fashion of the moth and butterfly. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 57 With this short and very imperfect description of the three tribes in the perfect, or winged state, something may now be said with regard to the earlier stages of their ex- istence. Dragon-flies are then wholly aquatic animals and are carnivorous in all their stages. The parent fly lays her eggs in the water ; some drop the eggs in while flying over the water ; others submerge the abdomen and glue the eggs to reeds or sticks, while certain species go below the surface several inches for the same purpose. It is not definitely known how long the eggs are in hatching, nor the length of time the young remain in their larval and pupal states, but the water period of existence is variously stated to be from one to three years, the time varying according to the species. It is known, however, that they all feed upon other aquatic forms of animal life, to a large extent upon the larvae of the mosquito, etc. The larva (Fig. 33, left hand), can only be distinguished from the pupa (Fig. 33, right hand), by the latter having wing pads, the insect being equally active in both stages. When the pupse are ready for transformation they crawl out of the water upon the stems and branches of plants, secure a firm hold and remain until the skin is dried, which then Fig. 33. splits on the back and the perfect insect comes slowly forth, leaving the hull or pupa case clinging to the plant. Many of these may be seen long afterwards in the same position on reeds and grasses, along the borders of streams, ponds, etc. After coming from these a short time is required to dry and expand the wings ; then away flies this beautiful creature, with gauzy wings of many colors, which, but a few moments before, was a horrible, repulsive, voracious object, crawling over the slimy bottom of a filthy pool of stagnant water. Some of the larger species of these insects are very sluggish in their larval state, and on this account nature has endowed them with a very remarkable weapon (Fig. 33 left), which enables them to capture their prey in this and their pupal state, as readily as they can afterwards do upon the wing ; it consists in a prolongation of the under lip, which is very long and shaped like a ladle, the end terminating with two in curved hooks or mandibles. When the insect is at rest this elongated lip is folded and concealed beneath the under jaw until some luckless creature comes within striking distance, when out slips this trap-like apparatus (against which its victim has made no provision) and secures the booty. With regard to their manner of breathing, Duncan, in his work on the transforma- tion of insects, says : " The larvse and nymphs, although living under water and must re- spire, have no external organs by which they can breathe. Their method of respiration 58 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. is unique ; they breathe with their intestines. The large intestine is covered with numer- ous tracheae, and when the animal wishes to breathe it opens the orifice of the intestine and admits a quantity of water. This, of course, contains air mechanically suspended which is taken up by the tracheae just mentioned." In expelling the water just taken into the intestine, it is sent out with considerable force, which propels the animal for- ward with a jerk, several times the length of its own body ; by this means it keeps out of the way of its enemies. Dragon-flies are the most harmless creatures in existence, utterly incapable of in- juring man or beast, but, on the contrary, highly beneficial in all stages, inasmuch as they are the natural enemies of the mosquitoes, house-flies, moths, and other nox- ious insects, which would abound in greater numbers and interfere much more seri- ously with our comfort and our products than they do under the continuous and effective check of the dragon-fly. Yet, strange to say, th^se insects are not known by five-tenths of the people of Canada, and most of those who know them by name are not acquainted with their habits, but — to quote from a previous article on the sub- ject— " Avoid or destroy them on account of the mistaken impression which some people have as to the poisonous effect of their sting, or the childish tradition as to their habit of sewing up the eyes and then stinging their victim to death." Others admire them for their beautiful colour, slender forms and graceful motions. They are known by various name3 and epithets, such as : Devil's darning-needles, mosquito-hawks, horse-stingers and some others in English. The Germans call them Wasser-jung-fern, or virgins of the water. The Indian knows them by the name of Kow-ne-she, or Duch-kow-ne-she, and the French are pleased to style them Demoiselles. The last does not seem so appropriate as some of the other appellations, as the points in which any of these creatures resembles a lady, are not clearly defined, unless it be in their slender waists. I know that some of the large ants are called Demoiselles by the French, and their delicate forms rather suggest the name, but with all their admiration for the beauty and modesty of women, I agree with Duncan when he says : u No Frenchman would think of comparing a dragon-fly with a lady, if the nature of this animal was known" In this part of Canada dragon-flies begin to issue from their pupa cases about the midlle of May, the first appearing are those of the genus Libelhda, and by the 10th of June all the different species may be found on the wing. After the middle of September they gradually disappear, but some of the hardy species, such as D iplax hudsonica and A eschna vert icalis and yewosa, may be seen well on in November, apparently as vigorous as they were on starting out, and hungry enough to devour the elements. It is interesting to know that even at this late date the Odonata is beginning to assert its personality, and the services so long rendered by this family of insects are now being observed, acknowledged and appreciated, not only by naturalists, but by many who do not pretend to make a study of the subject, as the following will show : A few years ago, while engaged in building the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railway, Dr. R. H. Lamborn, of New York City, had occasion to make frequent excursions, in the capacity of director and treasurer of the company, through the swampy forests around the head of the great lake, and his experience with the mosquito and other troublesome flies of that region was so impressive that he determined to array his own with all other natural forces against them. Having observed the activity of the dragon fly in the destruction of the mosquito, and also having witnessed an entomologist feeding a dragon fly that had eaten thirty house-flies in rapid succession, without lessening its voracity, the thought came to him that the artifical multiplication of the dragon fiy might accomplish a mitigation of the mosquito and house-fly pests. He accordingly sought among entomological works for some account of experiments tending to throw some light upon the subject, but without the desired result. Finding that science had left those investigations almost untouched, and that there was nothing in the known life history of the dragon-fly that would enable him to form an opinion as to the possible success of such an undertaking, he addressed letters to Dr. Uhler, of Baltimore, the highest American authority in the great class of insects to which the dragon-fly belongs, and Rev. Dr. McCook, another naturalist of high standing, and having received the greatest encouragement from both of those gentlemen. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 59 as to the importance and possible practicability of his scheme, Dr. Lamborn at once placed $200 in the hands of M. K. Jesup, president of the American Museum of Natural His tory, New York, to be paid by him in three prizes of $150, $30 and $20 for the three best essays based on original observations and experiments on the destruction of mosquitoes and flies by other insects ; the prizes to be awarded by Dr. H. C. McCook, Vice-President of the Academy of Natural Science, Philadelphia, and Dr. J. S. Newberry, President of the New York Academy of Science. A circular was accordingly prepared in July, 1889, and sent to the working entomologists of the country, embodying the conditions and the object of the contest. The time given to respond was five months. It is not stated how many took part in the contest, but at the end of the time given, awards were made as follows : first prize to a lady, Mrs. C. B. Aaron, of Philadelphia, and the second and third equally divided between Mr. A. C. Weeks and Mr. Wm. Beutenmiiller, both of New York City. These three essays, with nine plates showing several species of dragon-flies, house- flies and mosquitoes in the various stages of development and the different devices sug- gested for the extermination of the mosquito, along with bibliographical lists of the authors quoted and literature on the subject, an article by Dr. H. 0. McCook, and a letter from Capt. Macaulay, were published by D. Appleton & Company, New York, under the title of " Dragon-flies vs. Mosquitoes," in a handsomely bound octavo vol. of 200 pages. Mrs. Aaron's experiment with petroleum is so interesting and valuable that we feel constrained to make the following quotation. On page 63 she says : "The United States Department of Entomology and the various State reports, as well as numerous entomo- logists abroad have long recommended the use of petroleum in some form for the extermina- tion of plant lice and many other noxious insects. Petroleum emulsion, sprayed pet- roleum, the naphtha compounds and others from the same source, are prompt and deadly insecticides. With this in mind, we early began a series of tests with common illuminat- ing oil on culicid larvce under all circumstances. The narration of one series of experi- ments, typical of all, will illustrate the efficacy of this treatment. In a shallow pool of water with an area of ten square inches, five pupae, two grown larvae and about six others in various stages of development, were put, with them, also two immature Odonata, and a number of Cyclops and Cypris. On the surface ten drops of oil were placed and were observed to cover the whole area in ten minutes. At once great uneasiness was mani- fested by the larger larvae. Then they all began cleaning off the breathing tube with their jaws, with apparent disco nforfc. The evident effect of the oil was to coalesce the cilia at the tip of the tube, thus miking respiration difficult or impossible The annoy- ance, fear, agony and finally desperate frenzy, were clearly depicted by their actions. The two grown larvae were dead in eight minutes ; several of the half-grown died in ten minutes ; at the end of twelve minutes most of the remainder, save the very smallest had succumbed. The pupae had both expired in fifteen minutes. In an hour and a half every- thing was dead except the Odonata and minute crustaceans; the former seemed to be in in perfect condition owing to their multitudinous breathing appliances. After the oil had been put on the above area, it was at once seen that the proportion was too great. A second pool of the same dimensions was tried with one drop of oil which was quite enough to have the same deadly effect, though the results were not so rapidly attained. The all-pervading nature of the oil was shown by the fact that one of the larvae removed to a pool of eight square inches of surface took enough oil with it to cause almost intense uneasiness to the inhabitants of the otherwise fresh water. These experiments were tried time after time, always with the same result, and show conclusively to us that oil is the s;reat hope of nearly every mosquito infested district, for the following reasons : (1) Its cheapness ; (2) its deadly nature when applied to the culicidae ; (3) its comparatively harmless nature as applied to other forms of aquatic life ; and (4) the ease with which it can be applied. It is obvious that the time allotted was far too short to admit of much original observation or experiments along the lines of the scheme which brought forth the call for the contest. Had the time been two years instead of rive months and the prize corres- pondingly great, the results would have been much more important and the conclusions 60 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. perhaps very different. As it was the essayists — not having had time to prosecute experi- ments in the artificial culture of the Odonata, were obliged to draw conclusions from what had been done by others in that way (which was almost nothing) or from their own imagination — without data, both as to the possibilities of artificial multiplication of the dragon-fly and the effect that such would have on the mosquito and house-fly. Time will not permit giving even a short account of the other essays ; suffice it to say, all the important scientific knowledge on the subject up to the year 1890 has been reproduced in concise and accurate form, and it must be admitted — aven if nothing more is done as a result of this initial step — that the collection of all the scientific knowledge on the subject in an easily accessible form is well worth the time and outlay ; and it is not too much to say that Dr. Lamborn has not only assumed a neglected function of the state and thus shown the Government an example in this philnnthropic movement, but he has placed science and humanity under an obligation. Sufficient has been produced to show that the dragon-fly is the most baneficial insect at least in the order to which it belongs, and deserving of a foremost rank among the insect friends of man. THE SONG OF THYREONOTUS. By William T. Davis, Staten Island, N. Y. Mr. Samuel H. Scudder, in the Report of the Ontario Entomological Society for 1892, gives an interesting account of the " Songs of Our Grasshoppers and Crickets," and kindly permits the stimulations of a number of Staten Island insects to be heard mid the general medley. There is, however, an addition songster to be added to this list, as appears from the following. On the 26th of last June I heard in a moist pasture, on the north shore of the Island, a stridulation that was unknown to me. It much resembled that produced by Orchelimum vulgare, with the preliminary zip, zip, omitted. It was a continuous z e e e, with an occasional short ikt caused by the insect gettiug its wing-covers ready for action after a period of silence. It was too early for Orchelimum vulgare by about a week ; at least I have never heard one on the Island before the fourth of July ; so in the present instance I made careful search for the musician. In due time I discovered, in a tussock of rank swamp grass, the brown songster perched on a dead leaf, and receiving the evidently wel- come rays from the afternoon sun. It was Thyreonobus pachymerus, and in the swampy field about me I heard others of its kind, so that this individual was only one of a con- siderable colony. A failure to make proper use of his legs (the wings are abortive) resulted in the transfer of Thyreonotus from the tussock to a tin can. At home I made a bowery for him in a larger tin can covered with netting, into which was introduced a branch of the coriaceous leaved post oak, and when the leaves dried, there were innumerable nooks and crannies wherein to hide. Usually, however, the insect did not hide at all, but perched himself on one of the topmost leaves and there waved his antennae after the manner of all long-horned Orthoptera. Starting with raspberries, he had the rest of the fruits in their season, including watermelon, of which he snowed marked appreciation. If I offered him a raspberry, and then gradually drew it away, he would follow in the direc- tion of the departing fruit and would finally eat it from my hand. As the bowery was kept in my bed room, I had the full benefit of the songs of its occupant, and was often awakened in the night by his sudden, alarm-like outburst of melody. He stridulated with unabated zeal to the first of August, when I noticed that his energies were lagging — he seemed to be much less sprightly. Finally his song, instead of filling the room, was but a faint sound, and I was obliged to place my ear close to the tin can. This wasn^aring the end, which came either on the tenth or eleventh of Septem- ber, I cannot say which, for the bowery was not disturbed until its occupant had been missing from the upper leaves for several d ready to agree to this, but I am certain that they act so slowly as to be / \ useless. Fig. 34. Frequently we find insects whose life habits are such that we cannot reach them with insecticides, even if we have such as would readily kill them. Of such a nature is the " Boll" or " Corn worm," the larva of Heliothis armiger, which in tomatoes lives in the fruit, and in corn lives in the ear : in both cases safe from any application we can make. We have next a series of forms which in their injurious stage live in the soil itself and feed upon the roots of our crops. In cases such as I have mentioned our battery of poison is of little or no avail, because there is no proper opportnity to make use of it. We must adopt other tactics and, if possible, use preventive measures. These may be either positive, as where we cover a tree trunk with a substance mechanically protecting it from injury ; or they may be more indirect, as when we change a crop, or plant late, or early, to avoid the period at which injury is done. This latter means of prevention is one which, in my opinion, is worthy of the closest attention and consideration on the part of entomologists. Not the mere planting early or late, but the question of so arranging farm practice as to avoid insect injury to the important croo. Insects have a life history which in the vast majority of cases is practically invariable. There is, usually, a fairly well-marked date of appearance, a tolerably defined period of adult life, and a normal period of development. The first and most important problem to be solved is the exact life history of the injurious species. That done, before the matter of insecticides is to be considered at all, the question should be : Can we avoid trouble or injury by modifying our practice without impairing quantity, quality, or price of crop ? In many more cases then is usually believed a mere change of time will avoid injury. I do not claim any originality in this suggestion, and need only instance the fact that by a proper attention to the date of sowing, damage from the Hessian fly may be avoided. Rotation of crops, if intelligently practised, will frequently prevent trouble when insecticides are out of the question. Our fellow member, Mr. Webster, applied this principle in dealing with the Diabrotica longicomis, easily controlling what threatened at one time to become a very serious pest. Trap crops, planted principally to save the more important staple, are often available. For instance a full crop of late squashes may be obtained, free from the borer, Melittia ceto, if summer squashes are first planted and the Hubbards and Marrowfats somewhat delayed. The summer squashes will attract the vastly greatest percentage of moths to oviposition, and these may be removed after getting an early crop, filled with the larvae that would otherwise have attacked the later vines. The pro- position to use corn as a trap crop to prevent injury from the Boll worm to cotton has been forcibly urged by Mr. Mally in a recent bulletin from Dr. Riley's office. Methods of cultivation are frequently of use — as for instances in squashes again, where borers attack the vines near the roots. In fertile soil the joints may be covered at intervals and roots will be formed at every such joint sufficient to mature the fruit, even if entirely cut off from the original base of supplies. I have mentioned only a few instances to illustrate the suggestions made, and make no claim to originality so far as the principles involved are concerned. All have been applied by no means as often as they might have been, but ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 69 more often by far than the cases cited by me. The importance of fall plowing to destroy forms hibernating in the soil is not even suspected by many of our farmers, but need not be dwelt upon here. In one other way much may be done to check many forms of destructive insect life — the scientific application of chemical manures, or fertilizers. In the older States the natural fertility of the soil has long been exhausted, and it is necessary to supply the necessary plant food in some form. The traditional fertilizer is barnyard manure, and to this a very large proportion of the farmers cling as the only true material. Scientific experiments and investigations have shown that the necessary ele- ments of plant food can be as well or better furnished in the shape of inorganic substances, and that they possess in many directions points of superiority over the traditional barnyard manure. In New Jersey the use of these chemical or " artificial " fertilizers or manures is annually increasing, and many of our best truckers, those that actually make farming pay, use nothing else. Merely as an instance of the result it may be recorded that the finest strawberries shown in Chicago this year were from New Jersey and were grown with chemical fertilizers only. It occurred to me, some years ago, when I noted that farms where these chemicals were used were unusually free from insects, that they might have insecticide properties that could be very usefully employed. Peach orchards were then suffering quite severely from the Aphis persicce-niger, which sapped the roots, especially of small and nursery trees, and my first experiments were directed to the question of the effect of kainit and muriate of potash on plant lice. I found them sufficiently effective to risk recommending them for use, particularly the kainit. Since that time almost every large grower of peaches in the State has dosed his infested trees with kainit, and I have not yet found an instance of failure where it was intelligently applied. How far stupidity can go is shown by a grower who carefully piled little hills of this material around his nursery trees, to make certain it should all get to the roots. He lost almost every one of his trees, though the application, if broadcasted, would have been considered a moderate one only. Of course the potash acted as a stimulant and supplied needed plant food ; but even though part of the improve- ment was explainable in this way in some cases, yet it really made very little difference so long as the primary object, the destruction of the Aphids, is concerned. In some sections of New Jersey the Corn Web-worm has become somewhat trouble- some of late years, and in this season of 1893 is worse than ever before. I have inquired and examined carefully in a number of cases, and in every case I found that where chemical manures were used injury was insignificant or entirely wanting, while in many other fields in which old methods were employed no stand was obtained after two or even three replantings, and the fields loooked excessively ragged and uneven. In one of the bulletins of the Delaware Experiment Station this fact is quite evidently brought out, though not aimed at in the experiment made. Muriate of potash is less effective than kainit, but has very decided insecticide value. Nitrate of soda ranks close to kainit in effectiveness, and is peculiarly valuable as a fertilizer from the rapidity with which it becomes available as plant food, strengthening and stimulating growth as well as destroying insects. I have had opportunities several times thi3 year to note wire- worm injury on farms treated by chemical fertilizers as compared with those on which the usual routine was followed, and the verdict was always and vastly in favor of the chemical manures. No insects can live for any lengthy time in a soil saturated with these fertilizers, and I have tried all forms that have come under my notice. Mr. Fletcher found white hellebore very effective against the cabbage maggot ; tried on a maggot that is found in diseased onions, hellebore was far inferior in its action to kainit or nitrate of potash. Truckers using these materials constantly are a unit in claiming practical exemption from cut-worm injury, which is often very severe on plant crops. I have no desire to present statistics on this subject ; these I will reserve for another occasion ; my object will be gained by the few citations that have been made and which are examples of those upon which I base my faith that the intelligent use of fertilizers will be of very great aid in eventually freeing us from the injuries of many troublesome species. 70 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. This, combined with other intelligent farm practice will, I think, prove the main reliance of the farmer in future. Insecticides will and must continue to be used in some cases j but in my opinion they have been sometimes relied upon to the exclusion of more radical measures. The strength at which a substance proves effective, and its action on the plant, are matters of importance. Two hundred pounds of nitrate of soda and 600 pounds of kainit are not unusually large applications, and calculating this amount to onion rows I found that to make a thorough application I must use the nitrate at the rate of 5J ounces to 1 gallon of water, and kainit, 1 pound to 1 gallon. I made certain that these were effective insecticide mixtures, and then had one of our leading onion growers try them over onion rows. They did not injure the plants in the least, either as to leaf or bulb, and as 10-foot rows were treated, injury would have been quickly noticed. Even the tender foliage of the rose will stand a solution of kainit at the rate of 8 ounces in 1 gallon. As a matter of fact the solutions which come into contact with the insects are often saturated, and much stronger than the mixture given, for if the material is broadcasted or sown in the rows, each drop of water carries with it all that it can dissolve, and as the moisture evaporates, the mixture becomes just as strong as it is possible to be, and of course the insecticide effect is intensified. I will close by simply referring to the fact that the phospates have no insecticide value so far as my experience has gone — not even the odorless phosphate, which has been put upon the market with the usual nostrum circular claiming that it would kill every- thing. This paper was discussed by Messrs. Hopkins and Webster. Mr. Hopkins thought it was a question as to whether the fertilizers really kill insects, or by giving plants increased vigour enable them to outgrow injures. He had observed in his practice on the farm that the use of stable manure on sod infested with white grubs and wire-worms had the effect or producing a good crop of corn when plowed under, while on adjoining land not fertilized, the attack of these insects was very destruc- tive. Mr. Webster had no doubt that fertilizers increased the vigor of plants, but thought that Mr. Smith had n >t demonstrated that they destroyed or drove away the insects. The above papers were all read at the first session of the Association on the after- noon of August 14th. At the second session on the morning of the 15th letters were read from certain foreign entomologists regretting their inability to attend the meeting. Mr. Carman presented a paper on the " Preservation of Larvae for Study." He drops the larva into water heated to the boiling point, leaving it for 15 seconds. Then, when the body wall is somewhat rigid, he takes it up with the forceps and with a fine sharp scissors cuts a slit along the underside of the body, dropping it into the water for a few seconds longer. It is then transferred to 50 per cent, alcohol and in 12 hours to 70 per cent., and in 12 hours afterwards to 95 per cent, for permanent preservation. Shape, colours and structure are well preserved in this way. As a substitute for alcohol he recommends : boiling water, 250 cc. ; common salt, 3 tea-spoonfuls ; powdered alum, one teaspoonful; pure carbolic acid, 5 drops ; filter. Mr. Forbes spoke of the preservation of fruits at the World's Fair and suggested that plants injured by insects may be preserved in the same way. Mr. Summers had found nothing which would satisfactorily preserve fruits. Mr. Osborn thought that aqueous preparations would freeze. Mr. Smith has employed with success methods similar to those of Mr. Carman. A paper by Mr. Cockerell entitled, " The Distribution of Coccidse," was read by the Secretary. He compared the Ooccidae of the different West India Islands with the adjoining mainland, and spoke of the further distribution of a number of species which he had studied in Jamaica. Of 18 species found on that Island all but 3 are known else- where, and 11 have been detected outside of neotropical regions. Mr. Hopkins presented his views on " Note and Record-keeping for the Economic Entomologist." He described the system which he has worked out and adopted and which ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 7 1 he has proved to be well adapted to the requirements of his work. The system consists of an accession catalogue and a species catalogue. Specimens of his cards or note pads were exhibited, and Messrs Smith, Osborn and Webster discussed the paper, — Mr. Webster giving in full his own system of note-keeping. Messrs. Smith and Osborn objected to the use of check-list numbers alone for species as adopted by Mr. Hopkins. Mr. Garman's paper on " Illustrations for the Economic Entomologist " was next presented. He considers that the object of illustrations is to convey information and to save time in description, finish and technique, being, therefore, matters of secondary im- portance. The different methods of reproducing drawings were very carefully and fully discussed. Etching was considered in general impracticable as calling for a special method of drawing. Lithography was considered too expensive and wood-engraving is subject to liability of the engraver to misinterpret certain details of the drawing ; but at the same time it was admitted that of our published figures, wood-cuts are the best. In spite of its disadvantages it is the most satisfactory method, although somewhat expensive. Cheap process figures are excellent for newspaper and otber transient literature. Their right in permanent literature and especially in scienti6c writings is questionable at the present time. No cheap process known to the writer gives good results in shaded Bgures. These figures give promise of something better in the near future. If it were not, how- ever, for this hopeful outlook it would be well to return to wood-engraving. Entomol- ogists were urged to make their drawings with extreme care and to adapt them to a particular process and not to rest satisfied with inferior reproduction. The paper was discussed by Messrs. Osborn, Weed, Smith, Hopkins, Gillette, Forbes and Howard Mr. Gillette read a paper on " The Arsenites and Arsenical Mixtures as Insecticides." The article comprised a general summary, historical and critical, of the use of these sub- stances in their different combinations. The paper was discussed briefly by Messrs. Beal, "Wood and Galloway, all of whom were present at the meeting, although not members of the Association. Upon invitation, Mr. B. T. Galloway, Chief of the Division of Vegetable Pathology, of the U. S. Departmnet of Agriculture, gave a short account of some recent work done in his Division upon a bacterial disease of melons and other cucurbits which had been found to be largely disseminated by the agency of insects, particularly of Diabrotica vittata and D. 12-punctata. Messrs. Webster, Smith and Garman had seen the same disease in their respective localities. At the third session, held in the afternoon of August 15th, an amendment to the constitution was adopted, levying annual dues of 50 cents upon each member of the Association, and a resolution was passed authorizing the publication of the whole proceed- ings in Insect Life and the sending of an abstract to the Canadian Entomologist. Messrs. Osborn, Webster and Weed were appointed a committee on nomination of officers. The following paper was then read : DESTRUCTIVE SCOLYTIDS AND THEIR IMPORTED ENEMY. By A. D. Hopkins, Morgantown, W. Va. Within the last three years enough evidence has come under my observation of the destructive powers of Scolytid bark and timber beetles to convince me that they are among the worst enemies of our forest trees. In fact it is my belief that bark and timber beetles have caused the loss of more property, having a commercial value in West Virginia, within the last ten years, than that occasioned by any other single class of insects within the same time. The destruction of our pine and spruce forests alone, resulting from the primary attack of a single species of bark beetle, has caused, since 1890, the loss of timber having a value of not less than a million and a half dollars. Certain great devastations in the spruce forests of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, New Brunswick, France and Germany, since 1860, were evidently the work of 72 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. bark beetles, which, aided by timber beetles, not only cause the death of trees, but so damage the wood and hasten its decay that the timber soon becomes worthless, and in this country proves almost a total loss. The destructive species of Scolytids may be divided into two classes, one class, including only a limited number, makes the primary attack, or prefers to enter the bark, roots and wood of living trees and other plants. The other class has a preference for injured, unhealthy, or felled treen, etc., the bark and wood of which these insects infest for the purpose of perpetuating their species. The first is primarily to blame for causing the death of trees, or at least a diseased condition, while the second is responsible for the death of the diseased ones and for causing the premature decay of the wood. All bark and timber beetles are, therefore, more or less destructive in their habits, their power of destruction depending more than anything else perhaps upon their numbers. Nature has provided plant life with the power, to a certain extent, of resisting the attack of enemies and with natural means of healing wounds, recovering from disease, and other injuries occasioned by severe drought, cold, etc. Therefore, in order for a single species of insect enemy of a tree to attack and kill it, it must not only infest a vital part, but must occur in sufficient numbers to overcome all resistance. This is especially the case with destructive Scolytids, which, to accomplish this end, must enter the bark or wood of living trees, where they meet with the flowing sap, which offers the greatest resistance and is most difficult to overcome. Therefore, no single species of Scolytid bark beetle can cause the death of large or small forest trees unless occurring in immense swarms. In fact, it is doubtful if any single species could overcome the resistance thus offered by vigorous, healthy trees, without the assistance of numerous species of Scolytids and other insects which always come as reinforcements after the first attack is made. Hence, to cause a widespread devastation of timber, numerous species must work in concert. One species makes the primary attack and causes at once an unhealthy condition of the bark and tree. This diseased condition, if ever so slight, attracts other species to the affected tree. One or more kinds will attack the bark and wood at the base, others attack the bark at different points on the trunk, others infest the large and small branches, while still others enter the bark and wood of the terminal twigs, until the infested trees may be the hosts of twenty-five to forty species of Scolytids, each aiding the other in making the conditions favorable for the perpetuation of their species, and all contributing to the death and premature decay of their host. Thus, through certain favorable conditions (the increased numbers of the species which are capable of existing in the green bark of living trees being the most favorable), an invasion may be started which in a few years results in the loss of milHons of dollars worth of property. The fact that the primary attack of one species makes the conditions favorable for the increase of others, which in turn contribute to the increase of the first, is an important feature to be considered, in our effort to discover methods of checking or preventing the ravages of this class of insects. If the number of those making the primary attack can be reduced below their power of causing a diseased condition of the trees, the trouble of which they are the primary cause must end. If, on the other hand, their undue increase can be prevented, invasions by them can not occur. Thus, it is evident that, before considering a remedy against an invasion of Scolytids, we must discover the species to blame for the primary attack, and become as familiar as possible with its life history and habits, as well as the life history and habits of other species co-operating with it, and also study other causes which might contribute to or oppose the progress of their destructive work. In the consideration of preventive measures against invasions of Scolytids, we must study the habits of the different species of the family in order to ascertain which of them are capable of causing diseased conditions of trees, or through increased numbers, their death. During an investigation of serious trouble caused by these inseets in our state, I have given special attention to these subjects. After discovering the species to blame for the ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 73 primary attack, and its principal aids in continuing the devastations, methods of checking the increase of the destructive kinds and protecting forests of healthy timber from their invasions were considered. I was convinced from the first that no artificial remedy, such as cutting and burning the infested trees, the removal of the bark from the trunks, eta, could be successfully applied in our West Virginia forests. Therefore, my attention was turned toward the study of the parasitic and predaceous enemies of Scolytids, with a view of ascertaining the most desirable kinds with which to conduct experiments in utilizing them as a means of checking the increase of the destructive species. An enemy of Scolytids was desired which would not have to depend on one or two species for its existence, but could readily adapt itself to different species and to varying conditions. I found that while Scolytid bark beetles have numerous parasitic Chalcid, and Braconid enemies, few, if any of them, in my opiaion, can be relied upon as introduced enemies to suppress or prevent an invasion of these beetles. I found, however, among their predaceous enemies, that the habits of certain species of the Coleopterous family Cleridse were such, if these beetles occurred, or could be introduced in sufficient numbers in the infested forests, this would certainly have the desired effect. In my search for literature regarding native and European Clerids, I found, in a report upon forestry, by F. B. Hough, 1882 (p. 264) as copied from a special publication of the French Forestry Administra, in connection with the Universal Exposition at Paris, that a European species, Tillus formicarius, was mentioned as being a " foe of Bostrichus typographies that pursued them without mercy," during an invasion of these bark beetles in the forest of Abies excelsa in the Jura mountains, from 1868 to 1872. This led me to make further inquiries in regard to this and other European enemies of Scolytids, and on October 13, 1891, I wrote to my correspondent, Oberfoerster W. Eichhoff, of Strasburg, Germany, asking him to send me some pinned specimens of insects known to be special enemies of European Scolytids. At the same time I indicated to him my desire to introduce live examples of such species as in his judgment would prove beneficial in this country as natural enemies of Scolylus rugulosus, Polygraphias rufipennis, Dendroctonus terebrans, and Dendroctonus frontalis. Among the thirty one species of pinned specimens received from him on November 12, he mentioned Clerus formicarius as being " beyond a doubt the best destroyer of Scolytids." On May 30, 1892, I again wrote to Mr. Eichhoff, mentioning the damage to our forests by Dendroctonus frontalis, and stated that I was very anxious to try the experi- ment of introducing Clerus formicarius into our forests as an enemy of this and other bark beetles. In his reply of June 26, he referred me to Director C. Schaufuss, of the museum at Meissen, Saxony, as one who could give me efficient aid in this matter. Upon further investigations of the ravages of the bark beetles in our forests, I prepared a special report, dated July 9, which was addressed to the principal owners of the spruce and white pine timber in West Virginia. In the closing paragraph of this report, reference was made to the successful introduction of the Vedalia into California, and the possibility of introducing in a li^e manner insects from Europe which would feed upon the destructive bark beetle. It was suggested that it might be necessary to make a special trip to France and Germany for this purpose, and that if the timber interests of the State would share in the expenses of such a venture, this object might be speedily accomplished. In reply to this communication six of the principal timber companies of the State responded with liberal contributions, and I was authorized to proceed at once to Europe for the purpose of studying the insect enemies of European Scolytids, and to collect and import to this country such species as in my judgment would prove efficient in checking the ravages of insects in our forests. In studying the enemies of European Scolytids, I found, as in this country, numerous Hymenopterous and Coleopterous parasitic and predaceous species in company with the Scolytids in the bark of the infested trees, but realizing to the fullest extent the danger of introducing insects into this country which might prove injurious as well as beneficial, I took every precaution in the selection of the species. Out of quite a number of enemies of Scolytids observed and considered, only one, Clerus formicarius, was selected, primarily 74 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. on account of its being regarded as the greatest destroyer of European bark beetles ; secondarily on account of the general opinion of entomologists and forest officials whom I consulted, and my own convictions from a personal study of its habits, that it would not be injurious. The first examples of this European bark beetle destroyer collected by me were taken in the Hagenau forests of Pinus sylvestris, on August 29, in the first tree examined, and they were afterwards found common in the larva, pupa, and imago stages in their pupa cases or winter quarters in the outer bark of large and small trees which had been injured or broken by storm and heavy snow. The bark of these injured trees was infested principally by the common European bark beetles, Hylesijius {Myelophilus) minor, Hart, and Hylesinus (Myelophilus) piniperda, Linn. The larva of the Clerid had evidently been devouring the larv?e and pupae of the latter species at a fearful rate, for in many instances scarcely one had escaped where there had apparently been thousands. The Clerid was also found under the same conditions in the forests near Meissen in the Kingdom of Saxony, and was taken from the bark of spruce logs in the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland, where they had been feeding on Tomicus cembrae, Heer. Upon my return to this country, with something over a thousand specimens, a small colony of the beetles and larvaa were placed in a pine woods near Morgan town, on October 10, 1892, being the first examples set free in America. The remainder were successfully kept over winter in the larval and pupal stages, and between April 20 and May 10, they were distributed to the timber companies which had contributed to the expenses. Colonies of 25 to 100 were placed by me, or under my special supervision, on and in the bark of trees, logs and tops, where the conditions were most favorable for their propagation. Eight importations, numbering 2,082 examples, have since been received from collec- tors in Alsace and Saxony, Germany, and the living examples have been sent to the timber companies in five different counties, with special instructions for their proper loca- tion in colonies in the same manner as first mentioned. In all 26 colonies have been placed in the different sections of our forests. The conditions surrounding each colony are most favorable for the Clerid s to thrive and increase, and we have every reason to believe that they will do so under their changed conditions, but as yet we have no means of ascertain- ing to what extent they have multiplied, and, of course, it is too early to expect results. There is one interesting fact, however, that I have observed this season regarding the destructive Pine bark-beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, and that is that its numbers have been very greatly reduced since last fall, consequently at this time very little, if any, timber, is dying. On the 24th of July, 1892, I found this species attacking and mining beneath the bark of living trees, in which they occurred in immense numbers. By the latter part of September a brood had emerged from the bark of the same tree while the leaves were yet green and those that had emerged were entering the bark of oilier living trees. In November the bark of the same trees were found to be infested by countless thousands of the insects in all stages from eggs to adults. Trees so affected subsequently died, but through persistent search in the bark of such trees in different sections of the State, I have failed, as yet this season, to find a single living example of Dendroctonus frontalis. Hence the trouble, as caused by this species, is evidently at an end in West Virgina, for the present at least. No other species of Scolytids infesting the same trees seem to have been affected by the cause which it would seem has rendered Dendroctonus frontalis almost extinct. In fact the great number of trees that died last summer and fall were found last spring to be infested by immense numbers of bark and timber beetles of different species. These have since emerged, and it would seem that the only danger to be appre- hended from a continuation of a trouble like that we have mentioned, would be from the attack of some of the species which have thus emerged from the dead trees, for it is evident that unless they find favorable conditions in the felled trees, tops, stumps, etc., in lumbering regions they must either attack and kill living trees or they must perish. One species, the Turpentine Bark-beetle, Dendroctonus terebrans, has already made a desperate effort in this direction. Early in May the adults emerged from the trees in which they had bred, but failed to find dying trees, the bark of which they preferred to in- ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 75 fest for the purpose of depositing their eggs. Then followed a remarkable and interest - ing occurrence, probably never before observed in the life habits of this and other species of Scolytids. They with numerous other members of the Scoly tid family, including both bark and timber beetles, must have started, with one accord, in search of more favorable condi- tions for their propagation, for they occurred in different sections of the State, at about the same time, in great swarms like migrating locusts. Specimens were sent to us ac- companied by startling accounts of plagues of bugs that invaded mill yards, furniture shops, newly painted houses, etc. They were reported as coming like a hailstorm against the windows, and in at the open doors like swarms of bees, and that the air on all sides was full of them. Lmring my absence from Morgantown (where our station is located) one of these migrating swarms of Scolytids invaded the town and occurred at certain houses and at furniture factories in such immense numbers that some of the people became alarmed. The report was started that Hopkins' German bugs had devoured all of the pine bugs and were going to prove like the English Sparrow, a universal pest. It was probably well for me that I was absent at the time. The men were painting a new greenhouse at the station at the time, and the number of the beetles attracted to the building, evidently by the odor of turpentine, was so great that the men were exceedingly annoyed in their work. When I returned to the station, several days after, I found evidence of their numbers in the hanolfuls of dead beetles that failed to escape from the greenhouse. Dendroctonus terebrans occurred in by far the greater numbers in these migrating swarms, and when they failed to find dying or injured trees they attaeked living Pine of all kinds, Black Spruce and Norway Spruce, entering the bark at the base of the trees. Some of the trees thus attacked in May were examined July 15, and the bark near the point of the attack was found to contain parent adults, eggs, and full-grown larvae, the larvae occurring in great numbers surrounded by the flowing turpentine. Trees so attacked were still living, but the injury will probably cause a diseased condition of the trees, which will attract other specips and result in their final death, thus we may be on the eve of a new destructive invasion like that which has just passed. Other species, like Poly- graphias rvfipennis, Tomicus calligraphus, and Tomicus cacographus, which are capable of existing in green, sappy bark, occurred in such abundance in the dying spruce and pine trees last spring that it is evident they must exist in the forests in great numbers, and are ready to attack trees showing the slightest indication of disease or weakened vitality, if they do not make a primary attack. Therefore, this imported enemy will find abundant food and favorable conditions for its rapid increase in the infested bark of felled trees, tops and stumps in lumbering re- gions in which or near which the colonies have been placed. This imported Clerid does not confine itself to one or two species of bark beetles in one kind of trees, but the adults, it would seem, will attack and devour the adults of any species of bark and timber beetles found in the United States, and their larva will feed on the eggs, larvae, pupae and young beetles of any species infesting the bark of pine and spruce trees. In fact, they are inclined to make themselves generally obnoxious to the little bark pests. It would seem that all of the conditions necessary for the imported Olerid to multiply and become an efficient protector of our pine forests from future destructive in- vasions of bark beetles are most favorable. Dendroctonus frontalis, evidently the most destructive enemy of our pine forests, has, from some cause, been reduced far beyond its destructive powers. Other species which have depended upon it for the primary at- tack are, it would appear, somewhat demoralized on account of the disappearance of their benefactor. The large amount of felled timber found in the several lumbering regions will probably attract the larger portion of other threatening bark beetles away from the green trees, and by the time Denaroctonus Jrontalis can again marshal sufficient forces to successfully attack and kill the trees, they will, it is hoped, be met with a force of enemies led by the European Bark beetle Destroyer, which will successfully repel them and thus save our forests in the future from destructive invasions of bark beetles. 76 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. S^fMr. Smith, in discussing this paper, said that he thought the experiment entered upon in West Virginia well conceived, but thought that parasites did not greatly benefit the farmer. Mr. Hopkins, in reply, slated that it required enormous numbers of the Scolytids to kill the pine trees, and that his idea was to get some means of reducing the numbers of the beetles and not completely exterminate them. That parasites were a benefit to agriculture was, he thought, demonstrated by the irruptions of pests which took place when, by some means, they reached localities from which their parasite was absent. PARASITIC AND PREDACEOUS INSECTS IN APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY. By C. V. Riley, Washington, D. C. The importance to man, and especially to the agriculturist, of the parasitic and pre- daceous insect enemies of such species as injure vegetation, has been recognized by almost all writers on economic entomology. Indeed, it is a question whether the earlier writers did not attach too much importance to them ; because, while in the abstract they are all essential to keep the plant-feeding species in proper check, and without them these last would unquestionably be far more difficult to manage, yet, in the long run, our worst in- sect enemies are not materially affected by them, and the cases where we can artificially encourage the multiplication of the beneficial species are relatively few. While fully appreciating the importance of the subject, therefore, it is my purpose in this paper to point out the dangers and disadvantages resulting from false and exaggerated notions upon it. There are but two methods by which these insect friends of the farmer can be effectu- ally utilized or encouraged, as, for the most part, they perform their work unseen and unheeded by him, and are practically beyond his control. These methods consist in the intelligent protection of those species which already exist in a given locality, and in the introduction of desirable species which do not already exist there. The first method offers comparatively few opportunities where the husbandman can accomplish much to his advantage. That a knowledge of the characteristics of these natural enemies may, in some instances, be easily given to him, and will, in such in- stances, prove of material value, will hardly be denied. The oft quoted experience which Dr. Asa Fitch recorded of the man who complained that his rosebushes were more seri- ously affected with aphides than those of his neighbors, notwithstanding he conscientiously cleaned off all the old parent bugs (he having mistaken the beneficial ladybirds for the parent aphides) may be mentioned in this connection. Other cases will recur to you, and I will mention one rather striking experience related by my assistant, Mr. L. 0. Howard. The Army Worm [Leucania unipuncta) was overrunning a large and valuable field of timothy and threatened the destruction of the adjoining fields. The insect was as yet, however, circumscribed and susceptible of remedial treatment. The owner of the field, observing the buzzing swarms of the Red-tailed Tachina-fly, assumed that the fly was the parent of the worms, and as the former was an active winged creature, capable of ex- tended flight, he concluded that remedial work was useless, since the flies could, and doubtless would, deposit their eggs over the entire surrounding country. As a conse- quence the worm was allowed to travel to the adjoining fields and the injury thus in- creased through ignorance of the fact that the Tachina flies were the most important of the parasitic enemies of the worm. For many years well-informed gardeners in parts of Europe have practised collecting ladybirds and some of the ground beetles to liberate upon plants infested by plant-lice or by cutworms. The characteristics of these two families, Coccinellid?e, and Carabidye, should be taught in our schools, as a definite know- ledge of certain species, which is readily acquired, may often be turned to account in a limited way by the cultivator. In a tew cases like this there is no reason why the farmer should not be taught with advantage to discriminate between- his friends and his foes, and to encourage the multi- plication of the former ; but for the most part the nicer discriminations as to the bene- ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 77 ficial species, some of the most important of which are microscopically small, must be left to the trained entomologist. Few of the men practically engaged in agriculture and horti- culture can follow the more or less technical characterizations of these beneficial species, and where the discriminating knowledge is possessed, it can, as just intimated, only ex- ceptionally be turned to practical account. Thus our literature on this subject in the past has been of interest from the entomological rather than from the agricultural point of view, as most writers on economic entomology have contented themselves with de- acribing and illustrating such beneficial species. In other cases much good may be done without any special knowledge of the bene- ficial forms, but as a result of a knowledge of a special fact which enables the farmer to materially encourage the multiplication of parasitic species while destroying the plant- feeding host. The Rascal Leaf-crumpler (Mineola indiginella Z.) a common insect which disfigures and does much damage to our apple and other fruit trees, and which hibernates in fej^ Fig. 35. cases attached to twigs, is a case in point. (Fig. 35, a and b, represents the curious cases made by these worms; c, the head of a larva; d, the moth. Fig. 36, shows a case covered with a bunch of withered leaves.) Many years ago I urged the importance of preserving the several parasites known to prey upon it, in the following language :* The orchardist has but to bear in mind that it (the leaf-crumpler) is single brooded and that it passes the winter in its case, and he will understand that by collecting and destroying these cases in the dead of the year when the tree is bare, he effectually puts a stop to its increase. . . . Whether col- lected in winter or pulled off the trees in spring or summer, these cases should always be thrown into some small vessel and deposited in the centre of a meadow or field away from any fruit trees. Here the worms will wander about a few jards and soon die from exhaustion and want of food, while such of the parasites, hereafter mentioned, as are developed or in the pupa state will mature and eventually fly off. In this manner, as did Spartacus of old, we swell the ranks of our friends while defeating our foes. The practical value of this suggestion was subsequently fully demonstrated, and especially by the late D. B. Weir, who, at a meeting of the Illinois Horticultural Society, as secretary of a committee appointed by said society to consider the best means of secur- ing co-operation in the warfare against the fruit-growers' insect enemies, announced that this policy had been followed with happy results. Fourth Report, Insects of Missouri, 1871, p. 40. 78 ENTOMOLOCxICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. A similar course was urged by me in the case of our common bag- worm (Thyri- dopteryx ephemerceformis ) (Fig. 37.) This species, as we know, is also subject to para- sites, and the bags or cases which are collected in winter, instead of being burned, should be allowed to remain until the middle of the next summer in some vessel well separated from trees and shrubs, in order that the young worms, when they hatch in spring from the eggs contained in the female bag, may perish, while the parasites develop and escape. Prof. J. H. Comstock has suggested in a similar way the placing of the hand-collected chrysalides of the imported Cabbage- worm {Pieris rapce) in boxes covered with wire netting, in order to admit of the ready escape of the little Chalcid parasite (Peteromalus puparum) and at the same time retain such of the butterflies as may issue — a practice which had, I believe, been successfully employed in Europe. Other similar cases of this mode Fig. 37. of encouragement will occur to you, but, as already stated, with comparatively few ex- ceptions, such as those indicated, the multiplication of our parasitic and predaceous species on the line of the first method is practically beyond our control. It is quite different in the second method of dealing with beneficial insects, fur here man has an opportunity of doing some very effective work, aud it is only within compara- tively recent years that the importance of this particular phase of the subject has been fully realized. The Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, of Canada, was probably the first entomol- ogist to suggest, in one of the earlier volumes of the Canadian Farmer, the importation of the European parasites of the Wheat Midge ( Diplosis tritici) into America, on the supposition that this cosmopolitan species might thus be kept in check on this continent to the same extent that it was in Europe. So far ar I am aware, the attempt was never actually made, and though some subsequent correspondence was entered into between Fitch and Curtis, and later between Walsh and some of his English friends, nothing tangible resulted. The matter was, in fact, never seriously studied with this purpose in view. The importance of this phase of the subject was early forced upon my attention, as it was upon that of others, and is frequently referred to in my earlier writings. Thus, in 1869-70, in studying the parasites of the Plum Curculio, it became evident that they were of such a nature that they could easily be trasported from one locality to another, and I distributed from Kirkwood, Mo., Sigalplius curculionis Fitch and Porizon conotracheli, Riley, to several correspondents in other parts of the Scate. I also urged a similar course with regard to some of the parasites of the Coccida3, which it happens may be easily trans- ported from one place to another in their undeveloped or adolescent stages.* Le Baron, in his studies of the Oyster-shell Bark-Louse of the Apple and one of its parasites (Apltelinus mytilaspidis) transported scale-covered twigs during winter from Geneva, 111., * Third Rep., Ins. Mo., 1870, p. 29 ; Fifth Rep., do., 1873, p. 90. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 79 to Galena, 111., with beneficial results. The experiment was conducted on a small scale, but the parasites issued and became domiciled in their new locality, thus proving the practicability of his scheme. In neither of my experiments nor in Le Baron's, however, was sufficiently thorough examination made to prove that the parasites did not already exist in the localities in which they were colonized. Planchon and myself introduced Tyroglyphus phylloxerce from America into France in 1873,f and it became fully established, as subsequent correspondence and observation showed. In 1874 efforts were made to send over from England to New Zealand certain Aphid parasites to check the alarming increase of those plant pests there, and while I have no records at hand to show with what success, the later successful introduction of bumblebees to the latter country to fertilize the red clover is well-known history. In his report upon the parasites of Ooccidse in the Annual Report of the Department of Agriculture for 1880, Mr. Howard gave the subject some theoretical attention and elaborated upon the ease with which Coccid parasites could be transported from one part of the country to another during winter. He suggested the experiment of transporting Dilophogaster californica from the Pacific coast to certain of the Southeastern States, where it might be expected to prey upon certain large species of Lecanium. In 1883, after previous futile attempts by myself and Mr. Otto Lugger, and with the assistance of G. C. Bignell, Esq., of Plymouth^ England, the living cocoons of Microgaster glomeratus, a common European parasite of Pieris rapce, were successfully imported by the Department and the colonization of the species was established, not only in the District of Columbia, but in Towa, Nebraska and Missouri, as specimens were simultaneously sent to the agents of the Division in those States, .t It has become so widely distributed since then as to lead to the inference that it must have bejn previously introduced at some other points, though the spread of an in- troduced species, even when introduced at a single point, is often so rapid that it surprises us, especially of a species that is winged, as evidenced by the spread of the Horn Fly {Hcematobia serrata) over the whole eastern United States in about four years. Later, in 1891, with the aid of Mr. Fred. Enock, of London, a successful effort was made to introduce into this country from England an imporant Chalcid parasite of the Hessian Fly, Entedon epigonus, Walker, (Semiotellus nigripvs, Lind.). The details of this experi- ment will be found in my published writings, especially in my report as U. S. Entomol- ogist for 1891, and it is only necessary to state at this time that parasitized puparia of the Hessian Fly were received in large numbers and distributed to various points, and placed in the care of competent observers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Canada. The results so far have not been marked, and but one positive report as to the acclimation of the parasite has been received, viz, from Prof. S. A. Forbes, of Champaign, 111. I am of the opinion, however, that the lack of evidence from other points is due almost entirely to lack of proper examination, and I have every hope that the species will before long be found to have obtained a secure foothold at all of the several points of introduction. It is a very difficult matter to ascertain the existence of a parasite of this minute size, except when it occurs in great numbers. It requires an eye trained not only to the examination of these minute creatures, but one familiar with the allied imported species and native species. The reason for attempting the introduction of this particular species was simpiy that in England it was found to be far more abundant and far more beneficial than any of our native species have so far proved. The present year I have become interested in the matter of the importation of a predaceous Noctuid (Erastria scitula) which preys upon the Black Scale (Lecanium olece) in south Europe and helps materially to keep it in check. With the help of Prof. H. Rouzaud, of Montpellier, France, who has studied the habits of this insect with extreme care, I hope to establish it in southern California, where the climatic conditions are sufficiently close to those of south Europe, and where the Black Scale does great damage to olive orchards, and to oleander trees, and also affects less seriously the Orange and Lemon. The Black Scale has already an important enemy in California in the shape of the Dilophogaster above mentioned, but the latter is only two-brooded, and the scale insect, multiplying more rapidly, outstrips it in th« race for maturity. The Erastria, on the t Sixth Report, Ins. Mo., 1874, p. 55. % Report of the Entomologist in Rep. U. S. Dep. Agric. for 1884, p. 323. 80 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. contrary, passes through five or six generations in the course of a summer, and, as it is purely predaceous, it will, I believe, prove a most useful auxiliary against the Black Scale, especially if brought over without its parasites. So far I have spoken only of the insects which have been imported into this country, but some effort has also been made in the opposite direction. Thus we have endeavored (and with some success) to return the service done us by sending to Australia and New Zealand some of our predatory Coleoptera, some of the Pacific coast parasites of the Cod- ling Moth, and a species of the interesting genus Raphidia, which also preys upon the Codling Moth. In 1887 and 1888 the now well-known importation of Vedalia cardinally from Australia and New Zealand to California, to prey upon Icerya purchasi, was successfully carried out. The history of this striking example of the beneficial results that may, in exceptional cases, flow from intelligent effort in this direction, is now sufficiently well known to American economic entomologists ; but anticipating that we shall have foreign delegates among us, and that our proceedings will be published more widely than usual, it will, perhaps, be wise to give the salient historical facts in the case, even at the risk of some repetition of what has been already published. In doing this the indulgence of the society is craved for the prominence of my own part in the work, rendered necessary by the disposition in some quarters to distort the facts. The Fluted Scale, otherwise known as the White or Cottony-cushion Scale (Icerya purchad, Maskell) Fig. 38, is one of the largest species of its family (Coccidas), and up to 1888 had done immense injury to the orange groves and to many other trees and shrubs of Southern California. From Australia, its original ^ ^'~ BMBfllMflB home, it had been imported into New Zealand, South f~ Africa and California, the evidence pointing to its introduction into California about 1868, and, probably, upon Acacia latifolia. In my annual report as U. S. Entomologist for 1886, will be found a full characterization of the species ^^ in all its stages ; but the three characteristics which most concern the practical man, and which make it one of the most difficult species to contend with, are its ability to survive for long periods without food, to thrive upon a great variety of plants, and to move about throughout most of its life. The injuries of this insect, notwithstanding the efforts to check it, kept on increasing, and some ten years ago I felt that the work of this particular species and of others which seriously affected i he fruitgrowing interests of Southern California, justified the establish- ment of agencies there. Up to this time no special entomological effort had been made by the Government on behalf of the fruit-growers of the Pacific coast. Through agents stationed, the one at Los Angeles, the other at Alameda, a course of elaborate experiments was undertaken as to the best means of treat- ing the insects affecting the Orange there, and more particularly this Fluted or Cottony- cushion Scale. During the progress of these investigations, however, the fact impressed itself upon my mind that we had here an excellent opportunity of calling to our aid its own natural enemies, for while there were some doubts as to the origin of Icerya, the question was finally settled to my own satisfaction that it was of Australian origin, and that in its native home it was not a serious pest, but was kept subdued by natural checks. These facts were not positively ascertained without a good deal of correspondence and investigation, involving, in fact, a trip to France, as has been set forth in my published writings upon the subject. In my report as U. S. Entomologist for 1886, in an address before the State Board of Horticulture at Riverside, California, in 1887 ; in a paper before the Philosophical Society of Washington in the winter of 1888, and elsewhere, I urged, with all the force at my command, the advisability of endeavoring to introduce the natural enemies which / I ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 81 were known to keep it in check in Australia. Certain indigenous species had been dis- covered preying upon it in California, and I expressed the belief that, as they increased, the fruit-growers would get more and more relief from the Icerya ; but I also urged that there was much more chance of success from those which keep it in check in its native home, and which were not imported with it to the countries of its intro- duction. The case was exceptional, and the attempt thus urged gave every promise of a rich reward. Efforts were made to introduce some of these natural enemies through cor- respondence, especially with the late F. S. Crawford, of Adelaide, with what ultimate results the subsequent success of Vedalia forever rendered uncertain. The Hon. H. H. Markham, present governor of California, was at that time a Repre- sentative in Congress, and through him chiefly, but also through others, I urged upon Congress the desirability of sending some one to Australia to make a thorough study of the subject with a view of introducing those natural enemies. Again, in the winter of 1887-'88 appeals were made to Congress, not only of a personal nature, but through memorials from various societies in California, for an appropriation to send one or two men to Australia to collect and increase these natural enemies. Congress, however, failed to make any specific appropriation, and also failed to remove the restriction in the appropriation to the Division of Entomology which limited travelling expenses to the United States and prevented independent action of the Department of Agriculture. It happened, however, that about this time an appropriation^ was made and a commission created to represent the United States at the Melbourne Exposition, and, with the appreciative aid and sympathy of the Hon. Norman J. Oolman, Commissioner of Agri- culture, I took active steps to gain the co-operation of the Secretary of State in my pet scheme, and by an arrangement with the Department of State, accepted by the com- missioner to said Exposition, Hon. Frank McCoppin, the Department of Agriculture was finally enabled to send to Australia two agents of the Division of Entomology, one of them to be under m> instructions, and the expenses of both, within the sum of $2,000, to be paid out of the appropriation for the aforesaid Exposition. Tt was thus that Mr. Albert Koebele, in the fall of 1888, was sent to Australia for- tius special purpose. The history of Mr. Koebele's efforts has been detailed from time to time in Government publications and in the press, especially that of California It suffices to state that a number of living enemies, both parasitic and predaceous, were successfully imported, but that one of them, Vedalia cardinalis, proved so effective as to throw the others entirely into the shade and render their services really unnecessary. It has, so far, not been known to prey upon any other insect, and it breeds with surprising rapidity, occupying less than thirty days from the laying of the eggs until the adults again appear. These facts account for its exceptionally rapid work, for in point of fact, within a year and a half of its first introduction, it had practically cleared off the Fluted Scale throughout the infested region. The expressions of two well-known people may be quoted here to illustrate the general verdict. Prof. W. A. Henry, director of the Wisconsin Agriculture Experiment Station, who visited California in 1889, reported that the work of Vedalia was " the finest illustration possible of the value of the Department to give the people aid in time of distress. And the distress was very great indeed." Mr. William F. Channing, of Pasadena, son of the eminent Unitarian divine, wrote two y^ars later : We owe to the Agricultural Department the rescue of our orange culture by the importation of the Australian ladybird, Vedalia cardinalis. The white scales were incrusting our orange trees with a hideous leprosy. They spread with wonder- ful rapidity and would have made citrus growth on the whole North American continent impossible within a few years. It took the Vedalia, where introduced, only a few weeks absolutely to clean out the white scale. The deliverance was more like a miracle than anything 1 have ever seen. In the spring of 1889 I had abandoned my young Washington navel orange trees as irrecoverable. Those same trees bore from two to three boxes of oranges apiece at the end of the season (or winter and spring of 1890). The con- sequence of the deliverance is that many hundreds of thousands of orange trees (navels almost exclusively) have been set out in southern California this last spring. In other words, the victory over the scale was complete and will practically remain so. The history of the introduction of this pest, its spread for upwards of twenty years, and the discouragement which resulted, the numerous experiments which were made to overcome the insect, and its final reduction to unimportant numbers by means of an 6 (EN.) 82 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. apparently insignificant little beetle imported for the purpose from Australia will always remain one of the most interesting stories in the records of practical entomology. The Vedalia has since been successfully colonized at the Cape of Good Hope and in Egypt, and has produced the same results in each case. In Egypt the Vedalia was intro- duced to prey upon an allied species of leery a (/. cegyptiacum, Douglas). We hope soon to be able to send the same insect to India, where it has recently transpired that Icerya fegyptiacum occurs, while recent information received from Phra Suriya, royal com- missioner of Siam at Chicago, would indicate that its introduction into Siam for the same or a closely allied insect will be desirable in the near future. In fact, the success of the experiment was so striking and so important, and resulted in the saving to California of an industry of so great a money value, that it has given rise, not only in the popular mind but in the minds of a certain class of entomologists also, to the idea that remedial work against injurious insects. should be concentrated upon this one line of action, and that our best hope for their destruction lies with the parasitic and predaceous species, not to mention fungus and bacterial diseases. From an extreme of comparative incredulity the farmer and fruit-grower have gone, perhaps, to the other extreme of too great faith. The case of Icerya and Vedalia, as I have frequently pointed out, was exceptional and one which can not easily be repeated. One of the humorous phases of the Vedalia experiment is, that the wide newspaper circulation of the facts — not always most accurately set forth —has brought me communi- cations from all parts of the world asking for supplies of the renowned little Ladybird for use against injurious insects of every kind and description, the inquiries being made, of course, under a misapprehension of the facts. While this California experience thus affords one of the most striking illustrations of what may be accomplished under exceptional circumstances by the second method of utilizing beneficial insects, we can hardly expect to succeed in accomplishing much good in this direction without a full knowledge of all the ascertainable facts in the case and a due appreciation of the profounder laws of nature, and particularly of the interrelations of organisms. Year in and year out, with the conditions of life unchanged by man's actions, the relations between the plant-feeder and the predaceous and parasitic species of its own class remain substantially the same, whatever the fluctuations between them for any given year ! This is a necessary result in the economy of nature ; for the ascendency of one or the other of the opposing forces involves a corresponding fluctuation on the decreasing side, and there is a necessary relation between the plant-feeder and its enemies which, normally, must be to the slight advantage of the former and only exceptionally to the great advantage of the latter. This law is recognized by all close students of nature, and has often been illustrated and insisted upon by entomologists in particular, as the most graphic exemplifications of it occur in insect life, in which fecundity is such that the balance is regained with marvellous rapidity, e\en after approximate annihilation of any particular species. But it is doubtful whether another equally logical deduction from the prevalence of this law has been sufficiently recognized by us, and this is, that our artificial insecticide methods have little or no effect upon the multiplication of an injurious species, except for the particular occasion which calls them forth, and that occasions often arise when it were wiser to refrain from the use of such insecticides and to leave the field to the parasitic and predaceous forms. It is generally when a particular injurious insect has reached the zenith of its increase and has accomplished its greatest harm that the farmer is led to bestir himself ta suppress it, and yet it is equally true that it is just at this time that nature is about to relieve him in striking the balance by checks wrhich are violent and effective in proportion to the exceptional increase of and consequent exceptional injury done by the injurious species. Now the insecticide method of routing this last, under such circumstances, too often involves, also, the destruction of the parasitic and predaceous species, and does more harm than good. This is particularly true of those of our Coccidae and Aphididie and those of our Lepidopterous larvd measure 10cm. long, 6cm. wide, and 9cm. deep. There is no risk in prolong- ing the fumigation ; on the contrary there is but the greater certainty of its being efficacious. Five or six days will be time enough. No limit need be set to the quantity of bisulphide used ; what is not evaporated will serve for a new charge. The disagreeable odour of bisulphide of carbon is not persistent ; it is not even neces- sary to spread open the mounting sheets ; it is only necessary to expose them, unopened, to the air. I would call attention, however, to one very necessary precaution, if accidents are to be avoided. The vapor of bisulphide is very inflammable, and the chest must, therefore, be set in a safe place and not opened near a fire or any flame whatever. It would be risky, for example, to unpack the chest in the evening while holding a lamp in the hand. As the odor of bisulphide is very disagreeable and may cause discomfort to some persons, all these operations should be performed in an attic or in an apartment of which the windows may be left open as long as necessary. Preservation of Eurs and Woollens. The same process may be used in the preservation of clothing in clothing establish- ments, civil or military, where Tinea and Attagenus sometimes cause such ravages. Special arrangements may be adopted in establishing fumigating chests or rooms to avoid the settling due to weight and to facilitate the penetration of the gas. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 95 This method makes it certain that we shall not " shut the wolf up in the sheepfold.'* Articles fumigated are entirely rid of eggs, larvae, and living insects. They may be shaken out in the open air for greater security and then replaced on the shelves, with the assur- ance that they will not be found gnawed when next visited. Preservation op the Stuffing of Furniture a.nd Saddles. Tinea and Attagenus have a marked predilection for horsehair, so that these insects are sometimes found nourishing in the stuffing of our furniture, even that which is in daily use. This process has the advantage of permitting us to destroy them without having recourse to the upholsterer ; we need but to construct a fumigating chest large enough to contain a couple of armchairs or more. In the same way we may treat mattresses, eider- down quilts, or anything which is supposed to contain eggs or larvae. I have experimented with a saddle much damaged by months, and after fumigating it five days noticed no appearance of insects ; the saddle was completely penetrated by the vapor and all the moths perished. I kept it two years under observation in order to * be assured of the efficacy of the process. Disinfection in Epidemics, I am persuaded that clothing subjected to this process would be disinfected quite as well as by the processes usually employed in certain epidemics, such as typhus, cholera, smallpox, etc. It seems to me that the vapors which penetrate fabrics so well and kill insects so thoroughly would act in the same way upon the microbes which engender epidemics * In discussing this paper Mr. Atkinson stated that he had used a very similar box in fumigating objects infested with insects. Mr. Garmari called attention to the fact that at the museum of comparative zoology at Cambridge, a large upright zinc lined case was constantly used for disinfecting the skins of birds and mammals. Mr. Riley had used bisulphide of carbon successfully for his insect collections. Mr. Smith had used it successfully for ants, and found it not injurious to vegetation. Mr. Garman reported having found it effective in destroying the Melon Louse. His method of applying it was to roll the vines up in a heap, then invert a tub over them, and after placing a saucer containing a tablespoonful of the bisulphide under the tub, its edges were pressed down into the soil or the earth was drawn up when necessary. He had tried the fumes of burning sulphur and tobacco, but the former injured the plants and the latter did not kill the plant lice, many of them gradually recovering after being stupefied by it. Mr. Smith thought since the aphides often spread from particular plants or hills, the use of bisulphide in good season might make it possible to prevent the injuries of these insects. Mr. Atkinson read a paper by Dr. J. Ritsema, Bos., on '•' Aphelenchus olesistus, nov. sp., a nematoid Worm, causing Leaf-sickness on Begonia and Asplenium." He referred to a note by Mr. Atkinson read at the preceding meeting of the Association, in which an Anguillulid is described as affecting leaves of Chrysanthemum and Coleus, making no swelling or deformity, but causing brown patches on the leaves. The author having studied and described Aphelenchus olesistus in Europe, where it causes almost precisely the same trouble with Begonia and Asplenium, is inclined to think th*t the spacies pre- viously mentioned by Mr. Atkinson is identical. In the discussion Mr. Atkinson stated that while there were characters in the form studied by him which seemed to place it in the genus Tylenchus, he thought that careful comparison of types might show the two to be identical. *Not*e. — I have observed in bisulphide of cirb:>n no clearly define! power of taking out the colors of fabrics which I have subjected to its vapor. It may, therefore, be used without fear, except, perhaps, in the case of the most delicate tints. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTAEIO. METHODS OF ATTACKING PARASITES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. By Herbert Osborn, Ames, Iowa. In dealing with insect parasites of domestic animals we need to consider, first, the method of attack of these parasites, and we may conveniently separate them into the external parasites and the internal parasites. Among the former we have various species of lice, itch-mites, ticks, and can also include those forms which affect the external parts of the body by depositing eggs in sores. In the latter series we may include the dif- ferent kinds of bot flies affecting ths internal organs and certain forms of degraded Acarina which also affect certain internal organs. It is unnecessary here to detail the mode of attack of the external forms more than to mention that some pierce the skin to suck the blood, others simply feed upon external excretions, producing pustules, scabs* etc. First among the methods of treatment we should consider that of prevention, since, for perhaps the majority of the parasitic forms, a little effort in the direction of prevent tion is far more effective than costly and laborious methods later on. With a large majority of parasitic species, including all of the lice, the sheep infest- ing Hippoboscidse and all of the Sarcoptidas, infection results from the mingling of parasitized animals with those which are free from parasites. It is therefore possible by attention to animals introduced into a herd, or sometimes into a new section of country, to prevent entirely the introduction of the parasites. To accomplish this it is necessary to examine introduced animals, and if infested, or suspected of being infested, use thorough treatment upon these. In the case of introduced cattle infested with Hypo- derma it would seem possible that they might, by being carefully watched and the grubs destroyed, be prevented from introducing this pest in any new locality. Since the parasite occurs only in the bodies of cattle during the winter season, I see no reason why attention to imported cattle should not serve to totally exclude this pest from any locality which has hitherto been free from it. The bots in horses may be prevented by the well- known method of shaving off the eggs, so as to prevent the introduction of the larva? into the mouths, while for the bot fly affecting the sheep I am not aware of any more effective plan of prevention than that of applying tar to the noses of the sheep. For direct treat- ment, the methods for external parasites may be grouped under the bead of washes* powders, and fumigation. The use of washes, in the treatment of paiasites is perhaps one of the oldest methods. The modifications consist in the methods of applying or in the materials used as a wash. The method of application will depend somewhat upon circumstances, but should aim to reach all parts of the body, and particularly those parts most infested. Sponging the animal with a cloth or sponge dipped in the insecticide material and application by means of force pump in certain cases, particularly for hogs and thin-haired animals, is practicable in certain forms. A device recently presented by Dr. Francis, of Texas, provides for the pressure by means of gravity, the barrel being elevated on a derrick and connected by hose with several nozzles directed downward, and a movable one to use in spraying the under parts of the body, the liquid being collected by a drip platform in a receptacle below. The liquid, however, is elevated by a pump* and while it may lessen the number of men necessary in spraying, the same end can easily be accomplished where a force pump is at hand, if it is connected with several nozzles adjusted so as to play at proper angles on the animal. Dipping is probably the most speedy and effective method to use on a large scale, and especially for thick-haired or woolly animals, and for this purpose receptacles ranging all the way from a small tank for the treatment of a single animal at a time up to a large tank, including two or three dozen sheep at once, may be used. The ingredients for these washes have consisted mainly of tobacco, sulphur, lime, tar, kerosene, and arsenic, and each of these materials will be found to have its advocates. Special formula? for their combinations have heen published in abundance, and need not be repeated here. Aside from these published formulae there are different prepara- tions on the market, some of which are doubtless valuable, and if the item of expense is considered satisfactory, it is perhaps proper to recommend their use. Kerosene emulsion ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 97 has been used with success by Prof. Gillette on cattle and hogs and by Dr. Orcutt and Mr. Alkrich for sheep dip, but Prof. Francis pronounces it less satisfactory than some of the proprietary combinations for ticks on cattle. I have also seen some reports of poor success with it or apparent injury, especially to lambs, from its use. While I fully believe in its efficiency when properly made and applied and would attribute failures to improper preparation, the fact that such failures occur in practice is somewhat unfavorable to the general adoption of this remedy. The various powders used are tobacco, sulphur, pyrethrum, snuff, and common road dust (the latter presumedly acting by closure of the spiracles) and of the other substances, tobacco or preparations including this material may probably be considered as most generally useful. Pyrethrum if dusted in among the hairs so as to thoroughly reach the insects when first applied, is quite effective and may be used for fleas and lice, but probably would not affects the mites. Fumigation is a method which presents some advantages where it is practicable, be- cause it can be used during winter when washes are objectionable and is preferable to powders, because all of the individuals affecting an animal may be killed and thus en- tirely free it, whereas by the other method the survival of a few individuals may restock the animal. A simple plan of adopting this is to cover the animalwith a blanket, leaving the eyes and nose exposed, but having the blanket reach the floor or ground and made as ti^ht as possible at all points to prevent the escape of fumes. Puff tobacco smoke under this blanket by means of a bee-smoker. This plan first came to my notice as recom- mended by Mr. Charles Aldrich, who claims for it very effective work. I have also seen a description of a plan for fumigation of fowls which involves the same principles. Some years ago I suggested the plan of using a tight stall, with an opening at the head, a can- vas protection, so as to leave the head, eyes, and nose exposed and free ; and some experiments with this method showed that fumes of either sulphur or tobacco are very effective in destroying lice, both the Pediculidse and Mallophagidaa. The time of exposure to the fumes varied from twenty to twenty-five minutes in these experiments. The sul- phur or tobacco were burned over an alcohol flame, but I should presume a preferable plan would be to place the substance in a tin or sheet-iron tube, closed at one end, with the open end projecting into the stall, and drive the fumes off by means of heat applied to the under surface. The common little lamp-stove could be used. The stall should be made as small as possible to accommodate the animal, in order that the fumes may be as dense as possible, and on this account the simple covering with a blanket is perhaps pre ferable, as it adjusts itself to the animal, but provision should be made for the free circulation of fumes on the parts of the animal where the blanket would press. Feeding of sulphur with salt is strongly recommended by some, and Mr. Weed, of Mississippi Station, gives it a strong endorsement as a result of experiments at that station directed especially against the cattle tick (Ixodes bovis, Riley). Mr. Gillette asked how the hen louse could be destroyed. Mr. Osborn, in reply, said he thought the use of tar on the ends of the poles in the henhouse could be made to answer the purpose. Mr. Aldrich thought it not safe to recommend kerosene for destroying insects on animals, because of the injurious effect on the skins of the host. Mr. Gillette replied that he agreed that kerosene should not be used for sheep, but for hogs and cattle it was useful. Mr. Riley remarked that he was deeply interested in a change of opinion resulting from later experience and experiments regarding the usefulness of the kerosene emulsion in destroying animal parasites, and particularly in Mr. Gillette's altered experience in re- ference to its use on sheep. He thought, however, that the difficulties of making a good kerosene emulsion and of getting intelligent farmers to use it safely were unnecessarily magnified. He could not accept the doctrine that of two given remedies the poorer one was to be recommended because the better required a little more care and intelligence in making and using. Mr. Hopkins had used sulphur for stock at all times and found it not injurious. 7 (EN.) 98 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. Mr. Weed reported that sulphur and salt mixed were fed to stock in Mississippi for ticks. Some thought it ineffective. But it was tried at the station and found to be a complete remedy. It had been claimed that sulphur used during wet weather was in- jurious, but this was tried and found not to be true. Sulphur has been supposed to cause a decrease in the quantity of milk, but careful experiments at the Mississippi Station had shown this to be untrue. The sulphur and salt should be kept in use constantly. Ticks, he thought, infested by preference, animals in poor health, and the chief good done by feeding sulphur and salt was keeping up the health of stock by destroying internal parasites. Mr. Gillette inquired if the real bedbug ever occured in hen houses. A case occurred in Iowa where bugs, which appeared to be the same as that found in dwellings, were abundant. Mr. Howard remarked that Townsend, of New Mexico, had recently discovered an- other species (Cimex inodora, Duges) in henhouses. Mr. Osborn thought the character of the form occuring in henhouses might be con- sidered either varietal or specific. In the paper by Mr. Weed on " Remedies for Insects Injurious to Cotton," the author discussed the application of Paris green against the Cotton Worm by means of bags at the extremities of a long pole carried by a " darkey " on a mule going at a brisk trot between the rows. This he considered to be the most simple apparatus which he had seen for distributing dry poisons. For the Boll Worm he considered the best application to be the planting of a row of corn about every tenth row through the cotton field at such a time that it will mature early in September. THE CHEESE OR MEAT SKIPPER. (Piophila casei.) By Mary E. Murtfeldt, Kirkwood, Mo. In dealing with the insects detrimental to agriculture the entomologist encounters no obstruction in the reluctance of the farmer to have his losses made known. With the pessimism characteristic of the profession, the latter is inclined to exaggerate rather than to make light of his difficulties and losses, and therefore gives the fullest publicity to any agency from which he suffers : but in the investigation of the habits and economic rela- tions of an insect injurious to manufactured products the case is very different. The prudent manufacturer or merchant is very careful not to give to the public any fact which might arouse suspicion concerning the quality or durability of his products or wares. In the case of manufacturers such caution is especially necessary, as the tide of trade is so easily turned, and there are so many rivals in the field eager to take advantage of the smallest fact to the prejudice of a competitor. As an instance of this, one of our shoe manufacturers in St. Louis found, some years ago, that his stock was being injured by the Leather Beetle (Dermestes vulpinus, Fabr). In his desire for a remedy he very appro- priately applied to Dr. Riley, of Washington, who instituted an investigation as to the nature of the depredator and the means for eliminating it. I had the honor to assist in these studies, and I well remember the change of manner in the proprietor of the concern between the first visits to his establishment and those made later. At first every facility for observation was granted, and all questions fully and obligingly answered ; but subse- quent visits were somewhat coldly received and very little information could be elicited, and there was a general air of desiring to ignore the whole matter. This was explained some time afterward, when a partner in a rival firm chanced to mention that his business had profited considerably by the publication that So-and-So's shoes were l< wormy ; " and the latter declared that the attention which the " bug-hunters " had drawn to the matter "had damaged his trade to the extent of several thousand dollars." Such experiences inculcate caution in mercantile circles, and through this the entomologist undoubtedly loses many an interesting subject for study. Perhaps this might be amended if it was understood that names would not be published without permission. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OE ONTARIO. 99 In the case of the insect upon which I beg here to offer a few notes, no household pest is, perhaps, better known. The manufacturer, the grocer, and the housekeeper, have each a considerable share in the loss which it occasions. For ages it has been the chief enemy of the chesse maker, the best and richest of his products being most liable to its attacks. It does not, however, confine its ravages to cheese, but within comparatively recent years has became known as an equally, or rather far more, formidable destroyer of cured meats, causing the loss of thousands of dollars' worth of property annually, and necessitating the spending of other thousands in labor and mechanical contrivances to keep it in check. Although of European origin, it has spread to all parts of North America, where it probably does tenfold the damage that it does in its native country. In view of these facts, and considering the hundreds of articles that have been published upon insects of no greater economic importance, it is really surprising that the American records of this pest should be so few and so brief. Before entering upon an investigation of its habits I made a search for the literature of the subject, only to find that it had received but slight attention from our entomologists, from either a scientific or an economic standpoint The only notes relating to it that are to be found in the annals of American Economic Ento- mology are the following : In the American Entomologist (vol. n.), published in 1870, is a copy of an article by X A. Willard, giving a somewhat elaborate account of the destructiveness of the insect as a "cheese fly," with various recommendations of measures to be taken in factories and storerooms to preserve the products from its attacks. Appended to this is an editorial note giving an outline of its life history, with the statement, that so far as was then known, it was exclusively a cheese pest. In volume in. of the same periodical, published in 1880, Dr. Riley briefly discusses it as an enemy of cured meats, here asserting its identity with the cheese fly. Dr. Packard, in his Guide, gives in a few lines its principal characteristics, and refers to an observation of Prof. Putnam concerning the method by which it ,c skips." In volume iv. of Pysche I remember to have seen something on the subject, but can not at present lay my hands upon the number containing it. In the report of the Entomological Society of Ontario for 1884 is also a brief paragraph of description of it as a cheese pest. Not doubting that there were other works not in my library in which it was more fully discussed, I applied to Dr. Williston, as our leading dipterologist, who very kindly answered : I, also, have had occasion to search for the life history of Piophila casei without success. I supposed there would be no difficulty in finding a full descriptioi of its habit*, but wai surprised to find no, or very meagre, references in any literature at my command. ... If you have studied its habits you will do a service by publishing them, even though it may happen that they have already been published, which I doubt. Dr. Riley, however, informs me that the literature of the insect U sufficiently exten - sive, though scattered, and that several European writers, and especially H. F. Kessler* have within recent years given careful accounts of its development and life history. As it was my desire to bring the matter to the attention of the economic entomolo- gists at the present meeting, I did not have time to obtain transcriptions from the author- ities to which Dr. Riley refers, and so will offer here a popular synopsis of my personal observations, in which I am conscious there are some gaps and uncertainties. Those desiring a more minute and technical account can consult the works named by Dv. Riley. My attention was directed to this pest about a year ago by an employee of one of the largest packing and curing estabUshments in the West, who wrote : " We wish to know what it is, and especially at what period in its life it can best be fought. It entails an enormous loss upon all our packing-house companies." Upon my request specimens of the infested meat were kindly sent me, and Mr. D , my correspondent, gave me much valuable information concerning its work in the packing-house. The packages of ham and shoulder were received during the month of August, 1892, and consequently represented the worst work of the insect for the season. Swarms of flies escaped from the boxes as they were opened, and myriads of " skippers " and puparia in all stages of development were disclosed, clustering around the bony ends, among the tendons, and in the softer fat and oil saturated folds of the canvas wrappers. The lean meat was never in any case penetrated, although eggs and small skippers were abundant 100 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. on the surface ; nor was the solid fat much damaged. The methods of curing the3e meats had been so perfect, that even after an exposure of two or three weeks in an open shed to the August heats, upon cutting into the centre of a ham and the thickest part of shoulder they were found to be perfectly sound and sweet. In justice to the " skippers," too, I must say that their work does not induce putresence or ill odors, and although the spectacle of a ham swarming, externally, with the various forms of the insect is the reverse of appetizing, yet a large part of it is still edible, and, the outside removed, would be available for potted meats and similar preparations. But, of course, in the original shape it is absolutely unsaleable ; hence the loss. The life history of the insect, so far as I have been able to trace it, is as follows, popularly presented : It hibernates in the perfect state, hiding, like the house fly, in cracks and crevices of the buildings which it frequents, and behind furniture and machinery. The flies become active only when warm weather sets in. According to my informant they are first noticed, in the curing establishments, around the vats of "yellow wash," which is composed of glue, rye flour, and coloring matter, possibly attracted by the odor of the glue. If not rigidly excluded they follow the pieces of canvassed and yellow- washed meat to the storerooms and deposit their eggs upon the wrappers, preferably among the folds, if they can find an opening that will admit them, otherwise upon spots where the fat has penetrated and loosened the wash. It has been difficult to ascertain the exact number of eggs laid by a single fly, as they are deposited not only in more or less compact clusters of from five to fifteen, but are also scattered singly. In the observa- tion jars the average was about thirty, but it is possible that in these jars, confined upon small bits of meat and subject to much disturbance, the conditions were not normal, and the number of eggs may, in consequence, have been reduced. Those of an individnal seemed to be all deposited about the same time, in the course of an hour or less, soon after which the insect perishes. The egg is pearly-white, slender oblong, slightly curved, lmm in length, with a diameter about one-fourth the length. Hatching takes place within thirty- six hours, and, leaving a filmy pellicle behind, the minute, translucent-white larva moves with wonderful activity in the direction of the food supply. Except in increase in size, it does not change much in its characteristics. It is cylindrical, tapering gradually toward the anterior end, and is truncate posteriorly, furnished at this extremity with two horny, projecting stigmata and a pair of fleshy filaments. There is no variation in the white color except in the retracted mouth-hooks, which show a shade of dark gray. Dr. Packard, in his Guide, quotes from an observation of Prof. Putnam regarding the leaping power of the insect : When about to leap, the larva brings the under side of the abdomen toward the head while lying on it8 side, and reaching forward with its head and at the same time extending its mouth hooks, grapples by means of them with the hinder edge of the truncature, and pulling hard, suddenly withdraws them, jerking itself to a distance of four or five inches. To my knowledge the distance to which it " skips " is often much greater. I think the " skipping " a latent power in the insect as a meat pest, as there is no occasion to exercise it by the majority of the individuals. When breeding in cheese it would be necessary in many cases to escape by this means to some place in which it could transform in safety, but on the canvased packages of ham and bacon the folds of the wrapper afford the most desirable of hiding places. It completes its growth in seven to eight days, attain- ing a length of from 7 to 9mm, with a diameter at the posterior end of 1.5mm. While feed- ing, if the food supply is sufficient, it does not move about much, entire clusters of larvse often completing their growth in the same bony crevice in which the mother fly had deposited the eggs. When mature, however, it crawls, pulling itself along, apparently by the mouth hooks, into some fold of the wrapper that is comparatively dry, and from which the fly will easily be able to escape. Here it begins to contract in length and assume a yellowish hue, and the separation of the outer skin from the body can be clearly seen. The former gradually hardens and darkens into a golden brown, oblong segmented shell, 4 to 5mm in length, and which still retains the larval projections on the posterior end. Within this puparium the larva rests for a time — I have reasons for believing for thirty- six or forty-eight hours, perhaps longer — unchanged, except for a slight reduction in size. I had occasion to observe the action of one of these larvae whose case was accidentally troken. It wriggled and twisted about in the most unsatisBed manner, but seemed to ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 101 have lost its skipping power, and was constantly thrusting its head or its posterior extremity into the deserted puparia that were scattered at the bottom of the jar. Whether it was able to complete its transformations I can not now say.) Both transformations, although involving such radical, formal and functional changes, take place within a period of ten days, as nearly as I have been able to ascertain. The perfect insect is a shining black fly with bronzy tints on the thorax and slight iridescence of the wings. The latter overlap nearly to the tips when the insect is at rest. The legs are dull black, shaded at the joints to dull yellow or fuscous. In size it is about one-half that of the common house fly. There is no good figure of this insect in any American publication, that in Packard's Guide being in outline merely and not available for recognition except by the skilled entomologist. The fly is not active at night, but is able to perform its life work in the obscurity of partially darkened closets and store- rooms. To make these absolutely dark would, in my judgment, effectually exclude it. I have not been able to make it oviposit on fresh meat of any kind, nor does it seem able to breed upon that which is simply salted, but not smoked, not even when such meat is folded in wrapping papers. It will sip a little at sweets, but is not greatly attracted to them, while the odor of smoked meat speedily summons it. The average duration of life, in the perfect state, in summer, does not exceed a week, according to observations made upon it in the rearing jar, which may not, however, exactly indicate it. The entire life cycle would seem to be included within three weeks, but there is no definite succession of broods, and the insect may be found in all stages from May until October or November. When exposed to severe and protracted cold, larvre, pupae and flies are killed. The flies speedily succumb to the fumes of burning sulphur or pyrethrum powder, and the latter, if dusted upon them, produces the same stupefying effect that it does upon other Diptera. The firm in whose behalf these investigations were undertaken informs me that in order to exclude the fly they screened all windows and doors with a 24 to the inch wire mesh. They also, early in the spring, thoroughly whitewashed and fumigated smoke-houses and storerooms, using an admixture of carbolic acid in the whitewash, thus effectually sealing up or killing all hibernating individuals that might be lurking in these places. I have not been able to recommend any repellant chemical that could be safely incorporated with the wash used on the outside of the wrappers. Mr. D also informs me that sulphur fumes in the storerooms give a streaked and unattractive look to the wash, and the use of this repellant is therefore impracticable. Smoked beef also suffers to some extent from the attacks of this insect, but, as Mr. D says, " not nearly so badly as pork. If a beef ham were hanging beside that of a hog, the former would most likely be O. K., while the latter would be stung." In my correspondence with cheese manufacturers I learn that the loss of their pro- ducts is now far less than it formerly was One of our leading cream-cheese makers writes : We are always somewhat troubled with the cheese flies in summer. To keep them out of our store rooms we cover the windows with light domestic, as they will go through the ordinary wire screen, but as there will always be more or less of them in the rooms, we have the brown fly paper in water always on hand, which keeps them pretty well in check. They are worst during the hot season. We do not use any chemicals, as they would be likely to injure the quality of the cheese. The flies deposit their eggs on the outside of the cheese, and in thirty to thirty -six hours th«y begin to squirm and work their way inside, so we usually go through the rooms twice a day and look for eggs. They are easily found on the smooth sur- face, but if the bandage is wrinkled or cracked we sometimes miss them. We have not had over $5 worth destroyed in two years, and are turning out 800 cheeses per day. Another large manufacturer informs me that he depends mainly upon fine screens to keep out the fly, and also darkens his storerooms ; has each chees6 rubbed hard each morning ; uses no chemicals, but a cheese grease that contains some rosin, which gives a hard coating. Loss not more than 1 per cent., some seasons not over one-fourth of 1 per cent. These reports are encouraging as showing with what comparative ease the insect may be kept in check when once its habits are thoroughly understood. It is hoped that these few notes, not in all particulars conclusive, may prove of some assistance in popu- larizing that knowledge. Mr. Aldrich spoke of an English custom of placing cheese under the tap of a beer keg, so that the drip would encourage the development of the insect. He had been, informed that the maggots improved the quality of the cheese. 102 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. Mr. Riley said it was true that this was not only an English, but a European practice. Mr. Coquillett's paper, entitled, '■ Hydrocyanic Acid Gas as an Insecticide," was read by the Secretary. The paper consisted of an historical review of the use of this gas in California, together with an account of the methods in use at the present time and some slight consideration of its effect upon different insects. The cost of fumigating a tree varies from 5c. to $1, and even at the latter rate figures were produced to show that it is economical. ON ARSENICAL SPRAYING OF FRUIT TREES WHILE IN BLOSSOM. By J. A. Lintner, Albany, N. Y. The long-mooted question : Are honey bees poisoned by arsenical spraying 1 is still an unsettled one. There are those who claim that a great mortality among bees is the result of their visiting blossoms that have been sprayed with Paris green, while others hold that the mortality so frequently observed at this time is ascribable to other causes, and that the arsenic would not reach the nectar of blossoms, and, being an insoluble substance, could not affect the bees or be communicated to the honey. This latter view has been entertained by some of our best botanists. The pollen, however, might contain arsenic and thus become poisonous, not only to the bees visiting the blossoms, but also to the nearly-matured, chyme-fed larvre, to whom it might be conveyed. In behalf of a committee appointed by the Association of Economic Entomologists to investigate the matter, Prof. F. M. Webster, of the Agricultural Experiment Station of Ohio, chairman of the committee, has recently reported progress in the investigations undertaken, to the following effect : He had experimented with a hive of bees placed underneath a sprayed plum tree wholly inclosed with a fine netting. Within two days thereafter a large number of dead bees were taken up from the cloth with which the ground had been covered. Without much doubt, most of these had been killed in their efforts to escape from their confinement. Examination of the bodies of the dead insects before washing and after they had been washed, to remove any arsenic that had been attached to their surface from contact with the sprayed blossoms, gave to the examining chemist the presence of arsenic. In another experiment made, hives of bees were placed under sprayed trees, but without any enclosing net These also gave dead bees with arsenic upon them, but in much smaller numbers.* The experiments were not deemed conclusive by Prof. Webster, and it is intended to continue them another year. That the bodies of crushed bees that had visited blossoms sprayed with arsenic should disclose to chemical tests the presence of arsenic is not at all strange. Even an ammoniacal bath could not have removed every trace of arsenic from the surface of their bodies. Prof. A. J. Cook, the distinguished apiarist of the Michigan State Agricultural College, makes the positive assertion that honey bees are killed in large numbers through the arsenical spraying of fruit trees in blossom, but he has not proven the assertion. Experiments instituted by him, in which bees fed on sweetened water poisoned by arsenic — 1 pound to 200 gallons — were killed, are claimed by him as decisive upon the question under consideration. How entirely unwarranted the conclusion ! The experi- ment had no bearing upon the question at issue. No one could have doubted that imbib- ing strongly poisoned syrup would be fatal to honey bees. Furthermore, in his experi- ment (see Report of the Michigan Board of Agriculture for 1891) the bees were fed in his laboratory, within a small cage. Bees are known to die very soon in confinement, even without an arsenical diet. A simple method can be resorted to, by which the question could be definitely and effectually settled. It is this : Confine a hive of healthy bees to blossoms sprayed with Paris green, and when death speedily follows, have examination of their stomachs made I \* It is possible that these bees may have been caught and killed by some of the predaceous insects, which are known to lie in wait among or near blossoms, whence they suddenly seize the bees and suck out their juices, such as the bee-slayer, Phymata erosa, and several 'of the "robber flies " or Asilidae, of which Prof. A. J. Cook records six species having this habit. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 103 by experts testing for arsenic. If it is found therein, then it may be accepted as the cause of their death. Examination of stomachs of bees collected promiscuously would not be satisfactory, for the statement was made at a recent bee-keepers' convention in Albany that honey bees had been seen eagerly feeding on the liquid resting on the leaves of a potato patch soon after it has been arsenically sprayed, and it was thought to have caused the death of many of the bees. Up to the present, so far as I know, no examination such as above suggested has been made. I hope that Prof. Webster will undertake it in the progress of his experi- ments during the coming season. Prof. Cook desires that " everyone of the United States should pass a law making it a misdemeanor to spray fruit trees while in blossom." I do not know that this, although urged in some of the States, has been done in any. Such a law was passed by the Ontario Legislature in April, 1890. It provides : Sec. 1. No person in spraying or sprinkling fruit trees during the period within which such trees are in full bloom shall use, or cause to be used, any mixture containing Paris green or any other poisonous sub- stance injurious to bees. Sec. 2. Imposes a penalty, on conviction, of not less than $1 or more than $5, with or without costs of prosecution. That the above law is calculated to protect the interests of both the fruit-grower and honey-producer is the opinion of Prof. J. H. Pan ton, of the Ontario Agricultural College, as given in Bulletin lxxxi, of the College, issued in November, 1892. He remarks : Although there has been no analysis of the bodies of the dead bees for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of arsenic, still the death of the bees is so intimately associated with spraying that there seems but little reason to believe otherwise than that the bees have been poisoned by Paris green used in spraying. However, this will likely soon be settled by analysis of the bodies of bees suspected to have been poisoned, and I have no doubt arsenic will be detected. There is another important question connected with the arsenical spraying of blos- soms, viz., this : May not the arsenic blight the blossom and prevent fruit development 1 "The portion of pistil," says Prof. Panton, "upon which the pollen falls is exceedingly tender and sensitive, so much so that the application of such substances as Paris green injures it to so great an extent that the process of fertilization is affected and the development of fruit checked." No experiments known to me have been made upon the effect of arsenical spraying on fruit blossoms. That its effect would be to destroy the blossoms is quite probable. Thus, Mr. James Fletcher has suggested the spraying of the blossoms of pear trees infested with the Pear Midge (Diplosis pyrivora, Riley) as a remedy for annual attacks of the insect by depriving it of the food (within the young fruit) needed for its development. There are, then, before the economic entomologist and the fruit-grower, at the present time, these two questions relating to spraying with the arsenites during the blossoming of fruit trees : First, will the poison kill the bees, destroy the young brood and affect the honey 1 Second, will it blight the blossoms 1 It would not be a difficult task for an experimental station, and it is specially within the province of the stations, to set these questions at rest and no longer leave them subject to crude observations or individual opinions. Until this shall be done, there should be an entire cessation from arsenical spraying of fruit trees while in blossom, without the enactment of laws which now seem premature and may prove to be not needed ; and even if seeming to be needed, are still fraught with evil, from the general .disregard with which such laws are treated. It is unnecessary to say that there should be no restriction of the kind, either optional or compulsory, unless it is shown to be absolutely required. The arsenical spraying of fruit trees has already come to be regarded as almost indispensible to the successful fruit-grower, and day by day its importance is being more fully and widely realized. No longer limited to the control of Codling Moth injury, it is being rapidly extended to other insect attacks. For each week of early spring, I have no doubt but that a calendar could be made wherein each day would stand for the incipiency of the attack by some insect pest or fungous disease, to be combatted in no better way than by arsenical or copper solutions used in spraying. What opportunities may therefore be lost for arresting and defeating attack at the most favorable time, and possibly at its only vulnerable stage, if two or three weeks' armistice is accorded to your enemies, during 104 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. which time the army is recruited a hundredfold, the infant becomes a veteran, mines are run, pits are dug, tents are built, covered ways are constructed, insidious mycelium threads are permeating leaf and twig, and in many other of the arts of warfare your wily foes, with their rich inheritance of surprising means for self-protection, have planted themselves in strongholds, where an entire park of spraying pumps, with their baneful poisons, will utterly fail of reaching and destroying them. Far better a cessation of hostilities for any six weeks later in the season than for three in early spring. It has been stated and reiterated many times that the Codling Moth is the only insect against which we need to employ the arsenites in early spring, but this is far from the truth. It is conceded that we can not destroy the Apple Worm until after the fruit is set and the egg deposited thereon, but of the two hundred and eighty known species of insect depredators on the Apple (not referring to those infesting other fruits) it would be strange indeed if there were no others which are specially vulnerable before the setting of the fruit. Let me name a few of those that could be reached at this time : The well-known Apple-tree Tent caterpillar of Clisiocampoe americana, Harris, attacks the bursting buds and the young leaves. The caterpillars of the White-marked Tussock-moth (Orgyia leucostigma, Sm.-Abb.) hatch from the eggs about the middle of May and commence their destructive work. Among the cut-worms there are a number of climbing species, four of which have been identified, viz , Agrotis clandestina, Harris, A.scandens, Riley, A.messoria, Harris, and A. saucia, Hiibn., which are known to ascend apple aid other fruit trees to feed upon the blossom and leaf-buds and the tender leaves. The odd-looking caterpillar of Catocala grynea, Cramer, feeds on the foliage of the apple in May, and those of Catocala ultronia Hiibner, are often shaken from plum trees when jarring them for the curculio. The Canker Worm (Anisopteryx vemata, Peck) usually appears as the young leaves. are pushing from the bud. The White Eugonia (Eugonia subdgnaria, Hiibn.) one of the family of measuring worms, occasionally appears in injurious numbers about the 1st of May. The oblique-banded Leaf-roller of Caccecia rosaceana, Harris, spins together the young leaves for its shelter. The Lesser Apple-leaf Folder (Teras minuta, Rob.) attacks the opening foliage and folds the leaf for its retreat. The Leaf-crumpler (Phycis indiginella, Zeller) awakening from its winter's sleep and drawing some of the unfolding leaves together, resumes its feeding. The destructive Eye-spotted Bud-moth (Tmetocera ocellana, Schiff.) so injurious in Western New York, after its larval hibernation in its half-grown state, makes its formid- able attack, first on the buds and afterwards on the leaves. The Apple Bud-worm (Eccopsis malaria, Fernald) creeps at night from its retreat and, after having consumed the terminal buds, feeds upon the leaves. The Apple-tree Case-bearer (Coleophora malivorella, Riley) emerges from its peculiar pistol-shaped case in which it has passed the winter, to eat the buds as soon as they begin to swell, and afterwards to skeletonize the leaves. The Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar, Herbst) enters upon the scene at least two weeks before its first crescent cuts are made in the fruit, ready and free to devote all its energies to obtaining the supply of food needed for the development of its eggs and for the labors attending its complicated and painstaking method of oviposition. Seventeen species of insects are named above, each one of which is feeding voracious- ly during the blossoming of our fruit trees. Possibly as many more could be added to the list, all of which could best be destroyed by arsenical spraying. It is therefore respectfully submitted whether there should be the intermission of spraying as proposed, urged and sought to be made compulsory through legislation, until it shall appear beyond all controversy that the interests of the agriculturist and the fruit-grower — each 'carefully considered and perhaps weighed one against the other — really demand it. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 105 In the discussion following, Mr. Webster stated that he had as yet reached no posi- tive opinion as to the poisoning of bees by spraying. Mr. Garman had observed in one instance a bee alight on a recently sprayed tree and suck up from a leaf a drop of the liquid containing London purple. He had no doubt that thirsty bees did sometimes get in this way some of the poison, but whether it was sufficient to injure them or not was a question requiring investigation. The fifth session was held on the afternoon of the 16th August. The following officers for the ensuing year were elected : President L. O. Howard. First Vice-President . J. B. Smith. Second Vice-President F. L. Harvey. Secretary C. P. Gillette. Three papers on the insects of the season in their respective localities were read by Messrs. Webster, Smith and Osborn, and were discussed by Mr. Eiley. A paper by Mr. R. Allan Wight, of Auckland, New Zealand, was read by Mr. Osborn. It was entitled " Icgrya purchasi and Vedalia card inalis in New Zealand." The paper consisted of a condensed summary of the history of these two insects in New Zea- land and their inter-relations. This paper was discussed by Mr. Riley. Mr. Smith then read a paper by Mr. F. W. Urich, of Port of Spain, Trinidad, consisting of " Notes on Some Insect Pests of Trinidad, B. W. I." The paper was an in- teresting summary of Mr. Urich's observations on the injurious insects of that island, and referred mainly to Coccidse and their natural enemies, a leaf -cutting ant {Atta sexdens) a longicorn beetle (Steirastoma depressum) and certain Acridiidae. Especial mention of a little Cyprinodont fish was made. This fish is found commonly all through Trinidad xnd feeds upon mosquito larvae. Mr. Urich suggests its introduction into America for use in tanks and ponds. The Secretary then read a "Note on Slip records," by Mr. Cockerell. The author suggests the use of a uniform system of notes upon slips of a uniform size by all entomolo- gists and submitted samples. The question was discussed by Messrs. Hopkins, Summers and Riley. The Association then adjourned subject to the call of the Executive Committee. BOOK NOTICES. Experimental Farms : Reports for 1892. Printed by order of Parliament. Ottawa, 1893. This valuable Blue-book has been before us for some time, having been distributed in April last, but various circumstances have prevented us from noticing it, and several of the publications for which we are indebted to the courtsey of the authors. Our readers will, of course, be chiefly interested in the report of Mr. James Fletcher, the Rntomologist and Botanist of the Central Experimental Farm at Ottawa, which occupies twenty-four pages of the volume. After mentioning the chief insect attacks of the year, Mr. Fletcher gives an interesting and valuable account of the life-histories of the Hop-vine Borer ( Hydrcecia immanis, Guen.) , the Red Turnip-beetle (Entomoscelis adonidis, Fab.) the Western Blister-Beetle (CantJiaris Nuttalli, Say.), and the Birch Bucculatrix (B. Gana- densisella, Chamb.) ; in these there is much new and original matter as well as a sum- mary of the previous observations of others. The identification of the Hop insect, which is also called from its mode of attack the "Collar-worm of the Hop," is particularly in- teresting. Its injuries have been observed for more than twenty years, but it was a long time before the moth was reared from the destructive larva3 and its identity established. 106 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. The most effective remedy for this insect appears to be the encouragement of the unsavoury- skunk in the hop-yards. In the northern part of the State of New York and in Wis- consin, this animal has been found most useful from its habit of digging round the infested plants and devouring the worms. The turnip and blister-beetles referred to have been very destructive in the Northwest Territories, the latter attacking the Windsor Bean, while the Birch Bucculatrix has infested the trees in the neighborhood of Ottawa. Mr. Fletcher also describes several useful parasites which serve to keep in check the currant and willow saw-flies and other injurious insects. The remainder of his report is devoted to an account of the Potato-blight, which affects the leaves of the plant and the Potato- rot affecting the tubers, and a chapter on Lawn Grasses and Fodder plants. Catalogue of the Lepidopterous Super-family Noctuid^e Found in Boreal America. By John B. Smith, Sc.D. (Bulletin No. 44 of the United States National Museum) Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1893. This volume of four hundred and twenty-four pages will be heartily welcomed by every student of the Nottuidse of North America. It is not a mere list of species but a complete bibliographical and synonymical catalogue. The authority, date and reference, are given for each genus, and under each species are given the date, author and place of publication of the original description, followed by any other publshed references, the synonymy, habitat and where the type can be found. Any one who has attempted to keep a record of the published references to our Lepidoptera — and we have all been com- pelled to do so in some form or other — will appreciate the immense amount of labor that Prof. Smith has performed in the preparation of this work, and must feel heartily grateful that he has now relieved us of a task that few are competent to accomplish satisfactorily. The saving of time and the satisfaction of knowing that one is not now likely to overlook anything that has been published regarding a species are no small boons to the student. For a full explanation of the origin and purpose of the work we must refer the reader to Prof. Smith's somewhat lengthy preface, which will be found well deserving of careful perusal. The general index at the end of the volume makes the work complete, and we have no hesitation in saying that it is the most useful publication on the North American Noctuidge that has yet been issued from the press. We trust that the author will before long be able to lay us under still greater obligations to him by the publication of his con- templated monograph of the whole of this family of moths. Brief Guide to the Commoner Butterflies of the Northern United States and Canada. By S. H. Scudder (Henry Holt & Co., 12 mo., pp. XI + 206, 1893). It has been known for some time that Mr. Scudder has in preparation a Manual of the Butterflies of the Northern United States and Canada, similar to Gray's Manual of Plants, and all must agree that such a work is much needed. The present " Brief Guide" has, however, been produced in the meantime to meet a demand for something even less technical, by means of which boys and girls might be tempted to enter the ever charming fairy- land of science by having an easy way laid open before them. There are few]objects in nature, which so soon thrust themselves upon the notice of young people as flowers and insects and of these none have been so useful as a first stepping stone or allurement to the realms ot natural history as butterflies — " those winged creatures of beauty which add such a charm to the summer landscape." There was not, however, until now, any work which could be placed in the hands of boys or girls who had caught a common butterfly, by means of which they could identify and find out something of the life-history of their newly-found treasure. This want Mr. Scudder has filled with his Brief Guide, in which he treats chiefly of those " butterflies — less than a hundred of them — which would almost surely be met with by any industrious collector in the course of a year's or two years' work in the more populous Northern States and in Canada." Should a young collector therefore be lucky enough to capture a butter- fly not mentioned in the book, he may be sure that he has taken a rarity, which, as the author remarks, is "a discovery not always distressing to the amateur." ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 107 The introductory chapters, upon some of the points which will at once present them - selves to a beginner are excellent — concise, clearly expressed and accurate, and treat of such subjects as : — What are butterflies, their structure, habits, variations and life-histories 1 There are three keys for identification, based on the perfect insect, the caterpillar and the egg, and pages 63 to 174 are taken up with short accounts systematically arranged of the insects treated of. There is a short glossary and an appendix giving instructions for col- lecting, rearing and studying butterflies. On the whole this is a very useful little work, well prepared, convenient in size, well printed and well got up. It is, of course, arranged after the same system as Mr. Scudder's great work " The Butterflies of the Eastern United States and Canada," and many of the views there expressed are repeated here. The nomenclature is also the same, but the names more frequently used by other authors are also given. A good feature of the work is that the proper pronunciation of every name is 3hown by accents, and a popular English name is given for each species. The author's observations on dimorphism of some species, as of Colias Eurytlieme and Papilio Ajax do not seem quite to agree with those published by Mr. W. H. Edwards. It would be difficult, however, to treat such subjects fully in the space allotted to each species in this Brief Guide, which, we think, all who use it will agree, is too brief, and they would like much more of it, of the same style. J. E. 0 Fio. 39. THE LATE PROFESSOR WKSTWOOD. OBITUARY. The Late Professor Westwood. "j$We are much pleased to be abl6 to give in this issue a likeness of the very eminent entomologist, Prof. Westwood, for which we are indebted to the kindness of the publishers of the Illustrated London News. p-r-jjohn Obadiah Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., etc., was born at Sheffield, England, on the 22nd of December, 1805, and died, shortly after completing his 87th year, on the 2nd of January last. His father was a die-sinker at Sheffield, but afterwards removed to Lich- field. When nearly 16 years of age he went to London to be articled to a solicitor, and though he devoted his attention more to the study of natural history than of law, he was admitted as a solicitor and became partner in a firm. Having some private means, which he augmented by writing and drawing, he was enabled to neglect his profession and give himself up almost entirely to entomology and archaeology. 108 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. To quote Mr. McLachlan's obituary notice in The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, "it was probably by his rare artistic talent that he acquired much of his justly great reputation. His drawings of insects were masterpieces of accuracy without the slightest attempt at effect and rapidly executed ; few have equalled him in correct delineation. There certainly never has been an entomologist, who left behind him so much evidence, in practical work, of his ability to delineate insects, even to the most minute dissections. But Westwood was much more than an artist in entomology. There probably never has existed, and in the present state of the science there never can again exist, one who had so much general knowledge, both from personal investigation and a study of the works of others ; one who was less of a specialist in the modern acceptation of the term. It is true he was a specialist, but it was in the way of taking up small groups in all orders and working them out thoroughly, his artistic talent giving merit and force to those small monographs. Under a somewhat brusque manner was concealed a hearty sympathy for all real workers, and if he offended, it was commonly in the way of pointing out to would- be introducers, etc., of supposed novelties, that some one or other had already made similar observations, his vast memory rendering him very dangerous in this respect. In society there could be no more genial companion, full of anecdote, but with small apprecia- tion of humour. At home there could be no more generous host." Professor Westwood was best known on this side of the Atlantic from his admirable work, " An Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects," which was published in two volumes in 1839 and 1,840. Every entomologist, worthy of the name, has no doubt made a study of this book, which still continues to be the best text-book on the subject in the English language. His sumptuous works on exotic insects, such as his " Arcana Entomologica," " Oriental Entomology," and his edition of Drury's " Exotic Insects," are also widely known, but his numerous contributions to various Natural History periodicals — a mere list of which would fill a volume — are not so familiar to our students. He was a most industrious and prolific writer, and made investigations in almost every family of insects in all the orders. His work is always characterized by its marvellous accuracy and patient elaboration of details, both of structure and habit ; very rarely was he ever known to make a mistake. He was actively associated with the Entomological Society of London from its foun- dation in 1833, and was for many years its secretary ; subsequently he was elected Presi- dent at three periods of two years each, and was made Honorary Life President when the Society celebrated its jubilee in 1883. He was a fellow of the Linnsean Society from 1827 and an Honorary or corresponding member of Scientific Societies all over the world. In 1858 the Rev. E. W Hope, a wealthy amateur, who had been for years a warm friend and patron of Westwood, and had purchased his collections, gave them and his own to the University of Oxford, and founded a Professorship of Invertebrate Zoology, which bears his name. Westwood was appointed the first Hope Professor, and in con- sequence removed to Oxford, where he was a conspicuous figure in the University for five and thirty years. Besides his entomological work he was a distinguished Archaeologist and was widely known amongst those of kindred tastes by his investigations of the " Palseographia Sacra Pictoria," his " Lapidarium Wallise " and " Facsimiles of the Miniatures and Ornaments of Anglo-Saxon and Irish Manuscripts." He formed a remarkable collection of carved ivories and inscribed stones, as well as of insects In all respects he was a remarkable man, and accomplished by dint of steady industry and enthusiastic perseverance during a long life, an amount of valuable scientific work that has rarely, if ever, been excelled. C. J. S. B. The Late H. T. Stainton, F.R.S., etc. Another of the leaders of English Entomology has also been taken from us in the person of Mr. Henry Tibbats Stainton, who died at his residence, Mountsfield, Lewisham, near London, on the second of December, 1892, in the 71st year of his age, after an illness of several months' duration. His early education was received at home, and it was there no doubt, that he acquired his unusual knowledge of foreign languages which at that time were little taught in English Schools. After spending some time at King's College, London, he engaged in ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 109 business, and during the years devoted to commercial pursuits, he acquired the well-known habits of punctuality, order and accuracy, which distinguished him through life. He was always prompt in answering letters and most courteous as a correspondent. The writer had the pleasura of making his personal acquaintance at Mountsfield in 1864, and found him most kind and genial ; he also met him at one or two meetings of the Entomological Society of London. Being a very energetic worker, he published a large number of articles in various Natural History magazines, and was himself the editor of the ten volumes of the Entomologist's Weekly Intelligencer ; twenty volumes of the Entomologist's Annual, and joint editor from its foundation in 1864 to the end of his life (twenty-eight volnmes) of The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine. His writings are for the most part devoted to the Micro Lepidoptera, in which group he was an acknowledged authority and possessed a world-wide reputation. Amongst his better-known works may be mentioned " Insecta Britannica Lepidoptera Tineina," one volune, 1854 ; a " Miauxl of British Butterflies and Moths," two volumes, 1857-9, a model of clearness, conciseness and accuracy, and most useful to all collectors of British Lepidoptera ; " The Natural History of the Tineina," thirteen volumes, 1855-73, printed in four languages — English, French, German and Latin — in which splendid work he was assisted by Ziller, Fray and Douglas; "The Tineina of North America," one volume, 1872, being the collected writings of the late Dr. Brackenridge Olemens, edited and annotated by Mr. Stainton ; "The Tineina of Syria and Asia Minor," one volume, 1864; " The Tineina of Southern Europe," one volume, 1869. To the Tineina he devoted most of his time and attention, and of them he was a diligent collector both in Britain and on the continent of Europe, and a painstaking student. The result of his work was a complete revision of the European Micro-Lepidoptera and the bringing into order and system of the various genera and species, to which little attention had been previously given. His name will long be held in high honour by entomologists everywhere, as one who devoted a long life to scientific investigation, and enriched the literature of his favorite pursuit with admirable works of great ability and unusual excellence, in which the literary portion was characterized by a charming and attractive style. 0. J. S. B. 110 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. Q P D O W" H < CO c8 co f**» D cd x g ® S £& CD 0) a? -3 o-" 'bb'S G CD cd fa ft\2 zr. 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