Biological & Medica. Serials Canada, ~ mology ee Report of the Dominion Entomologis —DEPARTWENT OF AGRICULTURE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM hee EPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST (JAMES FLETCHER, LL.D, F.RS.C., F.LS,) > | : ; : 1899 | <. OTTAWA ate oa ‘Ne GOVERNMENT PRINTING BURBAU a at wi Fa is 1900 “5 Beene ie ay wn AUTHOR’S EDITION FROM ANNUAL REPORT ON EXPERIMENTAL FARMS FOR THE YEAR 1899 CANADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST: (JAMES FLETCHER, LL.D., F.R.S.C., F.L.8.) 1899 OTTAWA GOVERNMENT PRINTING BUREAU 1900 63 VICTORIA ~ SESSIONAL PAPER No. 8a A. 1900 REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST (James Fietcuer, LL.D., F.LS., F.R.S.C.) 1899. Dr. Wm. SaunpeErs, Director of Dominion Experimental Farms, Ottawa. Sir,—I have the hanour to hand you herewith a report on some of the more important subjects which have been brought officially under my notice during the past season. There is, as in previous years, and as must always be the case, a vast amount of material accumulating in the Division which cannot be mentioned in the annual report, but which is frequently of use in answering correspondents and explain- ing to visitors the work of the Division. Since the appointment of Mr. Arthur Gibson as a new assistant, in April last, many specimens have been secured for permanent exhibition in the museum. Exhibi. tion cases in which the commonest injurious and beneficial insects can be shown have been a great desideratum here, a want which is now being filled as quickly as possible. Several new cases have been secured during the summer, but when the accumulated material has been arranged even these will not be sufficient to display all the specimens, and other cases are now being made. The experiments in growing grasses and fodder plants have been continued and, as in the past, have proved of great interest to all visiting farmers. The Awnless or Smooth Brome Grass, which since 1887 I have taken great pains to introduce and distribute through the north-western provinces, still continues to give the greatest satis- faction to all who have tried it. It is a heavy producer of excellent fodder and hay, is succulent, appears early in spring and lasts late into the autumn. It is a free-grower, thriving both on light sandy soils and in rich low bottoms. Owing to its vigour and free growth, it has been found useful for holding alluvial flats liable to flooding and also as a binder of drifting sand. Some two or three years ago a sample of seed was sent to Mr. R. J. Bouteiller, Superintendent of Sable Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia, to whom it has given much satisfaction. He reported on it last year as follows :—‘ The Awnless Brome Grass seed was planted about the 20th May, and I mowed a heavy crop in August, much of it headed out. I am much pleased with it and believe it will be a success.’ During the past summer Major F. Gourdeau, the Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries wrote as follows :—‘ Referring to the Awnless Brome Grass, of which you supplied seed to Sable Island, I beg to inform you that a letter has been received from the Superintendent of the island, in which he states that the plot of this grass is ahead of anything else, and measured on the 27th June between 3 or 4 feet and more in height, while timothy in just as good ground was a little over half of that,’ Awnless BromeGrass has also given tolerable satisfaction upon alkali patches in the west, succeeding better than all other varieties tried. 159 160 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS, 63 VICTORIA, A. 1900 Subjects requiring special attention since I last reported were the following :— Tue Hessian Fry.—A serious outbreak in Manitoba. Tue Rocky Mountain Locust.—This insect again appeared in some numbers in southern Manitoba, but was not the cause of an appreciable diminution in the crops. The exceptionally wet and late season in Manitoba during the past summer was unfavourable for its early development and spread, and the farmers, having been stirred up to an appreciation of the danger of allowing this insect to remain undisturbed, ploughed down the greater part of the stubbles this autumn, thus burying the eggs too. deeply for the young to emerge next spring. Tue Destructive Pea ApHis.—One of the most notable outbreaks of the year was by a plant-louse which has been given the above name but which before this year was unknown. Roor Maaecots.—Some experiments against these destructive enemies of the gardener were tried last season with many different substances, but so far without very satisfactory results. Mixtures containing some form of carbolic acid were most useful. Tue Dramonp-Back Mota (Plutella cruciferarum, Zell.).—Late in the autumn there was in eastern Ontario a widespread and severe attack upon cabbage of various kinds, rape, and turnips, by this insect, which has been well known for many years as an occasional pest of these plants, and was fully treated of, and figured, in my report for 1890. In Farm Insects, by John Curtis, 1860, the same insect is described and well figured as the Turnip Diamond-back Moth. Ture ASPARAGUS BEETLES.—Two new enemies of the gardener have appeared in Canada for the first time this year, the two Asparagus Beetles. These are treated of at. some length later on. an Trent CATERPILLARS.—Orchard and shade trees were again this. {e year seriously injured throughout the greater part of Ontario and Quebec by the caterpillars of the two common species of Tent Cater- 4S pillars. Nothing new can be added as to remedies ; these consist of the collection of eggs in winter, the destruction of the nests and clusters of young caterpillars in spring, and last, but most important, the spraying of trees with poisonous mixtures as soon as possible after the hatching of the eggs. The last operation, when performed care- fully, is a never-failing remedy. BarxK-Licr.—The San José Scale and several other allied species. of scale-insects have naturally been the subject of much correspond- ence. Thorough experiments are now being carried out by specialists ele in all parts of North America with the hope of discovering a practical ne ae yore remedy. Several materials have given good results which with ordin- So sel amas ary insects might be considered all-sufficient remedies, but with the San José Scale it seems inadvisable to recommend under the existing laws which have been passed by the Federal Government and those of Ontario and British Columbia that fruit growers themselves, should be allowed to treat their trees with any of the materials which, up to the present, have been claimed to be ‘sure remedies,’ such as pure kerosene, the same mechanically mixed with water, and crude petroleum. Tue Apricor Scan (Lecaniwm armeniacum, Craw).—Another scale insect from California, which in some way has been introduced into the Eastern States, and is spreading there to some extent, has been found in two or three orchards at Sher- brooke, Que. REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 161 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 8a THe Raspserry Wes-worm.—A local but interesting attack by a new enemy to cultivated raspberries was reported from St. John, N.B., last year, and has been worked up during the past season. THe CransBerry Looper (Caterva catenaria, Cram.).—A new attack of some sever- ity upon strawberries was by the common ‘Cranberry Worm,’ which was reported by Mr. George Bonner, of Point Aconi, Cape Breton, N.S. Tue Pea Morn (Semasia nigricana, Steph.) is still much complained of, particu- larly in the Maritime Provinces, as shown by the following letter :— ‘Cuirron (King’s Co.), N.B., December 19.—I have not made any recorded obser- vations, but think this insect was not quite so destructive last season as usual. It has, however, come to be such a matter of course with us, that we take its ravages quite philosophically and pick the caterpillars out of our peas for the table ; when too bad, we throw the whole mess to the pigsor cows. ‘This insect has been injurious here for a period beyond my recollection, some 50 years.’—J. W. WETMORE. Tue Carrot Rust-riy (Psila rose, Fab.) continues to be a troublesome pest of carrots in the province of New Brunswick. Mr. J. E. Wetmore, of Clifton, N.B., writes :—‘ Of late years we have about abandoned the culture of the tender varieties on account of its depredations. It does not trouble the hardier varieties here apparently, for we can get full crops of the white carrots when the orange ones are a complete failure in the same field.’ In Prince Edward Island, Father Burke reports widespread injury by plant-lice upon carrots. THE Spruce GALL-Louse (Chermes abietis, Linn.)—A cause of considerable inquiry and anxiety among those interested in the manufacture of paper during the past year or two has been the Spruce Gall-louse. This insect is prevalent through a large part of Ontario, attacking the Black and Norway Spruces. In the Rocky Mountains, galls probably made by a different species were noticed in abundance on White Spruces at Banff, Alberta, and, on Vancouver Island, trees of the Menzies Spruce (Picea sitchensis, Carr.) in certain places in the forests, were much disfigured by another species of Chermes, probably C. sibirica, Cholodk., which forms large galls, sometimes two inches in length by nearly one in diameter. These were not found at all on the Douglas Spruce. THe Biack VioLteT Apuis.—An infestation of greenhouses not previously com- plained of in Canada by the above insect occurred in Toronto, and is treated of later in this report. THE GREENHOUSE LE4aF-TYER is also a new pest treated of hereafter. Tue Carpet BeetLe or ‘Burrato Morn’ (Anthrenus scrophularie, Linn.).—This troublesome pest of the housekeeper seems to be spreading and becoming more destruc- tive year by year. During last spring a few specimens were taken out of doors at Ottawa on the flowers of Currants and Spirwas. Beetles were also sent from Bewdley (Northumberland Co, Ont.) which had been found by Mr. T. W. Ramm, in the folds of a cloth left hanging in an apple tree during winter. Correspondence.—From November 30, 1898, to November 30, 1899, the number of letters received by the Division was 2,495, and of letters sent 2,320. Meetings attended.—Meetings of farmers, dairymen and fruit growers have been attended at the following places :—January 10 and 11,at Kingston ; 27, at St. Catharines, February 3, at Hemmingford, Que. ; 10, at North Gower, Ont. ; March 10,at Merivale, Ont., 8a—11 162 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 63 VICTORIA, A. 1900 17, at Montreal ; April 3, at Napanee, Ont. ; 4, Brampton ; 5, Oakville ; 6, Hamilton ; 7 St. Catharines ; and three series of meetings in Manitoba, the North-west Territories and British Columbia are reported on at the end of this report. Acknowledgments.—As in previous years, 1 am under great obligations to many correspondents, to practical farmers, who have much aided the work of the Division by making observations and sending in prompt reports on the occurrence of injurious insects ada weeds, and to scientific experts in Canada and abroad. I must particularly mention in this connection Prof. John Macoun, of Ottawa, for assistance on many occasions, and also Dr. L. O. Howard, United States Entomologist, of Washington, D.C., and Dr. J. B. Smith, of New Brunswick, N.J., for frequent assistance in the identifi- cation of insects and for the use of electrotypes and magic lantern slides. In conclusion I have much pleasure in expressing my appreciation of the enlarged opportunities for doing good work in the Division entrusted to my care, which have been granted me during ‘the past year. Mr. Arthur Gibson, of Toronto, was appointed as an extra assistant on April 1 last, and has shown great assiduity and care in all matters entrusted to him. Mr. J. A. Guignard, B.A., the Assistant Entomologist and Botanist, continues to help me in all ipranclies of ‘the. ek of the Division, al as heretofore Has done much to bring the Division of Entomology and Botany to such degree of efficiency as it has attained. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, JAMES FLETCHER, Entonvloyist and Botanist. REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 163 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 8a CHREHAL CROPS. Complaints of injury to the wheat crop by insects during 1899 were few, with the exception of a new and severe outbreak of the Hessian Fly in Manitoba, a rather serious occurrence of the same insect in Western Ontario, and a slight one in Prince Edward Island. In the November Crop Report (Ontario Bureau of Industries) it is stated :—‘ There has been a notable absence of insect pests. There are few complaints of insect pests except that Hessian Fly, Jointworm and Wireworm have done some damage.’ ‘ Alber- ton, P.E,I., October 31.—Seldom has Prince Edward Island garnered a more satisfactory all round harvest than this year. Hay is bursting the mows, the granaries are filled with golden grain, and although in some sections potatoes are not an average crop, on the whole, we rejoice in an excellent yixld of roots. —Rervp. A. E. Burke. ‘Pleasant Grove, P.E.I.—The wheat crop on the whole is a good one; some fields were damaged by what we call ‘black neck,’ said by some to be the rust. Attacks by the Hessian Fly were not common, a few plants being injured, but we have had a con- siderable quantity of Wheat Midge on the Island this year.—E. Wvyart. Barley was stightly injured by Hessian Fly in Manitoba, and oats and corn in Ontario to some extent by grasshoppers. The two most serious outbreaks of the season upon cereals were by Hessian Fly in Manitoba and in Western Ontario, and by a new enemy of the pea, the Destructive Pea Aphis, which did great damage to field peas from the Maritime Provinces to Western Ontario in Canada, and extended right down to the Southern States in the Union. That old enemy, the Pea Weevil, was also more than usually destructive and abundant during the season of 1899. THE HESSIAN FLY (Cecidomyia destructor, Say). Complaints of injury by the Hessian Fly du- ring the past season were numerous to fall wheat in Ontario and to spring wheat in Manitoba. Wheat was injured in many parts of Manitoba, but chiefly in the Red River valley. The most western occurrence reported to me (with specimens) was from Moose Jaw, in the North- west Territories. At the request of some of my - . correspondents for public advice as to the best Fig. 2.—The Hessian Fly—enlarged and means of preventing future loss, articles were natural size. prepared for publication in the Farmer’s Ad- vocate (September 15) and the North-west Farmer (September 20), both excellent agri- cultural journals, widely circulated and read by farmers, in which the chief points in the life history of the insect were given and suggestions made as to the best known remedies. The following extracts from some of the large correspondence on the matter will show the extent and nature of the outbreak. The first reports and specimens from Manitoba were received from Mr. Hugh McKellar, Chief Clerk of the Provincial Department of Agriculture, ‘Delmer (Norfolk Co.), Ont., August 8.—In view of the immense damage done by the Hessian Fly to the wheat crop in this and in many other localities throughout the 8a—114 164 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 63 VICTORIA, A. 1900 province, farmers are very much interested in the matter and would like to know some- thing of the habits of this insect—whether it is likely to assert itself in next year’s crop, whether the discontinuance of wheat growing for a season would be necessary to exter- minate it, or whether such omission would be of any value in eliminating the pest, &c., &c. Any information you could give us would be very gratefully received, especially at this juncture—the eve of another seeding.’ ‘Delmer, September 13.—In South Oxford the fly was very injurious, destroying fully one-half of the fall wheat remaining, after an unusually severe ‘ winter killing ’— there was scarely a wheat field that was not injured more or less; the earlier sown suffered most. In North Oxford damage was much less, in West Brant, also much less, ditto in West Norfolk, in East Elgin middling severe, quite severe in East Middlesex ; and again, in North and West Middlesex not so severe. —Cuas. BRADBURN. ‘Winnipeg Man., August 26.—Herewith I am sending you specimens of an insect that has done considerable damage on the farm of Mr. James Little, Stonewall. The speci- mens were forwarded by Mr. Ira Stratton, of Stonewall, who says that about one- quarter of Mr. Littles wheat has been cut down by these insects. Would you kindly let us have any information at your command regarding this pest, and what measures should be adopted to prevent its recurrence next year ?!’—Hucu McKe tar, Chief Clerk, Dept. Agriculture. ‘Macdonald, Man., August 26.—I notice since starting to cut my wheat that ~ quite a lot of the straw is broken just above the second joint, although the heads seem to be well filled ; of course the sap is not altogether stopped as the straw is not broken completely off. I find on examining it that there is a single maggot or worm ina brown shell, between the leaf and stem just above the joint, that has caused the injury. Can you tell me what it is and if it is likely to be worse another year? There is from 1 to 7 or 8 percent of the straw affected with it. Henry Kirkwoop. ‘Portage la Prairie. Man., August 28.—Inclosed find wheat joints which I have cut from my field. The wheat is bent down just above the joint. I find by opening the straw that there is an insect on the upper side of the joint. The grain in the head appears to be all right, but the straw and head are not as large as the balance that is standing. My heavy wheat does not appear to have been affected. Would you kindly let me know through the Wor-west Farmer what it is, as I presume there are other fields throughout the province affected the same way ?’—Cuas. CUTHBERT. ‘Winnipeg, August 29.—At several points throughout the province I have noticed this year in the wheat fields that a greater or less proportion of the straws appear to break about the first joint from the ground, and, where this is very bad, it gives almost the appearance of their having been broken down by hail, except that most of the straws seem to lean in one direction as though they had gone down under pressure of high winds from one quarter. I am told by some parties that a little worm about + of an inch long is found in the straw, at the first joint. The appearance of the head is entirely different from what we call ‘‘dead heads” as the grain is maturing in the heads, some of them still being comparatively green, although I think in every case the grain will be shrivelled, and the heads seem to be shorter and smaller than the average heads in the field. I saw two fields of this out at Melita a little while ago, and yesterday at Otterburn saw a great deal of it, and I understand from the farmers at Emerson, that it is very prevalent throughout that district. I was also speaking to a man from Plum Coulee, who told me he had to set his binder much lower than usual in order to avoid cutting off the heads that were broken down, and I am inclined to think that this trouble, whatever it is, is very prevalent throughout southern Manitoba.’ “Winnipeg, Oct. 11.—I fancy the damage. done by the Hessian Fly has been pretty serious in some localities, but, as people were not acquainted with the insect or were not looking for it, not many noticed it ; perhaps, too, they attributed the shortage to a wrong cause. J understand that its attacks were very bad in the Stonewall, Carman and Niverville districts.”-+G.;H. Greic, of The Farmer's Advocate. ‘Winnipeg, Oct. 3.—In response to your request for information on the Hessian Fly in this province, by Mr. McKellar’s instructions, L made ,an excursion, to Stonewall on Friday and Saturday last. There is no. doubt -whatever thatthe fly is.all through I ge ey LS eam a REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 165 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 8a the wheat-growing country around Stonewall and Balmoral—every farm I inspected had it. I found puparia in every wheat and barley field I entered, and in every stack of unthreshed wheat looked at. I was able to examine the screenings from one thresh- ing place (on the farm of Mr. J. Little) and here there were puparia inabundance. The first place visited was the farm of Mr. J. McEwen, where there was a piece of breaking very bad with the fly. Mr. McEwen estimates the damage at one-third of the crop, and I am sure the estimate is a careful one. The next place visited was Mr. Jas. Little's. It was from this farm that the specimens were sent to you last month. The damage here was quite as great as on the last place, but in this case the land bore a crop of wheat last year. It was on this farm that I examined the screenings from the thresher. Mr. Martin Shepley estimates the damage done to his summer-fallow at one-fourth or perhaps as much as one-third. I have mentioned these three farms because they are the only cases in which T was able to see the farmers and discuss the question with them. As to barley I could secure no estimate of the damage done. No barley had been threshed, and there is not the same interest in the barley crop as in wheat. I did not find the puparia so numerous in barley fields as in wheat fields. The puparia were almost invariably above the second joint, usually singly, though some- times in twos and threes. I collected a number of specimens of which I send you a few in case you wish to breed the parasites. ‘Summer-fallow and breaking suffered quite as badly and as generally as land cropped last year. Faliow and breaking are naturally the earliest sown, as they are soonest in condition for seeding. The weather during seeding was very cold and back- ward, and continued so up to the 10th June, after which the most perfect conditions for growth prevailed. I may also quote the statement of Mr. J. Little that the wheat which was earliest cut was less broken down than that cut later. In reply to a further question, he said he did not know whether it was less damaged, but it was certainly less broken down. Mr. J. McEwen stated that greener portions of a field were less broken down than riper ones. From this I would point out that the amount of damage was estimated generally from the state of the crop before threshing, that green or under- ripe grain does not break off so readily, and that a crop cut a shade green would not show the full amount of damage done.’—Metvin Bartiert, Dept. Agriculture. ‘Buffalo Lake, Moose Jaw, Assa., Aug. 30.—When I wrote you some three or four weeks ago with regard to the wheat pest, | had not observed any indications of it. Since then it has become quite evident. I learn from a neighbour adjoining me that he had it last year. At present there are quite a number of heads through my crop and a very considerable number in my near neighbour’s. It seems especially bad on the outside of the field ; where he was cutting wheat 2 or 3 days ago, the outside 10 or 15 feet was very materially damaged. It seemed to attack the maturer heads, not troubling the greener grain much.’—G. 8S. TuxForp. ‘Emerson, Man., Sept. 1.—I am enclosing to you some samples of wheat straws injured by the insect referred to you some days ago by Mr. Geo. Greig of the Farmer's Advocate, Winnipeg. You will find them located immediately above. the joint first from the ground. Kindly examine and let us know the name, and likelihood of recurrence another year, remedy if any, and any information you deem of use. This pest is more or less found all over the province, and is estimated to have done as much damage in some places as to reduce the yield 20 per cent. W. W. Fraser. ‘Winnipeg, Sept. 1.—We enclose sample of straw from Winkler Station, where it has drawn attention. Isit the Hessian Fly ?’—Ricuarp Waveu, The Nor- West Farmer. ‘Winnipeg, Sept. 1.—Enclosed find a few stems of wheat straw cut at ground and fallen in crop so as to be missed by the binder. In each straw is an insect, the cause of fall. About one in a hundred of the stems was so affected. What is it and how can it be treated ?’ ‘Holland, Man., Octcber 4.—In every field I have looked (that is in Manitoba), I have found traces of the Hessian Fly. I know of no other insect doing the farmers any injury this season.’—F. D. BiaKety, of The Nor- West Farmer. ‘Balmoral, Man.—I am sending you under separate cover an insect in pieces of wheat straw. It is found at the joint nearest the ground. Just above this joint 166 EX PERIMENTAL FARMS. 63 VICTORIA, A. 1900 it eats its way through the stalk and escapes. The straw bends or breaks at this place, leaving the straw as if fowls had pulled it down. One man told me his wheat would not be more than half a crop owing to the work of this insect. Would you kind- ly let me know what it is? It was not noticed until cutting commenced ’.—R. W. Neitt, M.D. ‘Pilot Mound, Man.—A considerable quantity of the wheat is breaking down bad'y at the second joint. I was attributing the cause to the straw being weak, owing to rust and showery weather making it softer than usual. I have examined some of the broken straws and found one containing a chrysalis, which I enclose. I hope the west- ern wheat fields are not going to be troubled with weevil or any kindred pest. The wheat crop in this district is practically all in stook. Several were thinking that it is always better to begin on the green side as a very severe wind storm seemed to have broken the straw down.’—D. A. STEWART. ‘Portage la Prairie, Man.—As to the extent of the damage by the Hessian Fly, it is very uncertain, some districts were more seriously affected than others. We had several light hailstorms here and there, and many farmers thought they were slightly damaged, but I now think that the damage was caused by the Hessian Fly. I find that the yield is not up to the expectations of the farmers, more especially in the older districts, and I am convinced that it was the Hessian Fly that reduced the yield. But we have been blessed with the most uniform good crop I have ever seen in the province, and hence the slight damage done is not seriously felt. The weather has been, and is yet, simply grand. I found in gathering these specimens I send, that they were more vlentiful in late grain than in earlier, also the last heads to come out were the most affected.’ CHARLES BRAITHWAITE. As stated above, last season is the first in which the Hessian Fly is known to have done harm to crops in Manitoba, and many farmers did not recognize the insect until the matter was brought before them by discussion in the daily journals and agricultural press. With a view to gathering as much information as possible about the occurrence and extent of injury, a series of questions was submitted by the Marmer’s Advocate to its readers, and answers were received from many of them. Some of these answers were published in the issue of December 5, from which it would appear that the loss, according to locality, was from 5 to 25 per cent of the crop, and that the attack was general, irrespective of the nature and condition of the soil, or the time of seeding. Nevertheless farmers in different localities held strong opinions that there were decided differences, some stating that early sown grain was exempt from attack, while others thought the opposite. Mr. W. R. Graham, Superintendent.of the Stony Mountain Penitentiary farm, Manitoba, stated to me on October 4, 1899, that the Hessian Fly did not attack his early sown wheat at all, and he thought this was general through- out his neighbourhood, that in 1899 early sown wheat was much less attacked than that which was sown late and held back by the late season. In answer to the questions in the Farmer’s Advocate, Mr. R. W. Greig, of Otter- burn, reports that late-growing grain suffered most, although, in some cases, that which was sown very early was injured more than some of that which was put in late. Mr. H. O. Ayearst, St. Paul’s municipality, reports wheat on new land as ‘badly damaged, at least 25 per cent of the crop ; no injury on old land, new land only being injured.’ On the other hand, Mr. 8. R. Henderson, of Kildonan, reports it to have been ‘ worst on old land that had been summer-fallowed, with surface cultivation in the spring, and sown early.’ Mr. Robert Fisher, of Springfield, says: ‘I could see no difference on old land or new, fallow or stubble, fall or spring ploughing, or in early or late sowing, though none of our sowing was very early. My own crop was seriously injured by the fly, 8 to 18 per cent of the whole crop being destroyed.’ The extent of injury was doubtless due to the condition of the wheat plant at the time the females were laying their eggs. The injury by the maggots of the summer brood is, as a rule, at the lowest joints of the stems, and, as upon hatching the young maggots work their way down to the base of the leaf upon which the eggs were laid, it would indicate that the plants which showed injury were those of which the stems were just shooting up at the time the eggs were laid. At the same time, it must be remem- REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 167 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 8a bered that there is on spring wheat in spring an early attack at the roots similar to that on fall wheat in autumn, by which very large numbers of wheat plants are destroyed without making stems at all. This attack is, as a rule, not noticed by farmers, because the plants which are left living, stool out more and fill up the gaps. In a field which [ had under constant observation during the summer of 1890, many plants were entirely killed by the spring attack, and others bore only a single weakly stem, most of the shoots having been destroyed ; but, from the stooling of the uninjured plants, the general appearance of the field was that of a fair crop, and noneof the straws could be found containing puparia, showing that all the eggs were laid before the plants began to shoot. Without close observation this attack would have been overlooked and would not, in all likelihood, have been noticed by farmers. Nevertheless the puparia of the insects which had done the harm, were still in the fields to emerge later and carry on the injury. This same state of affairs may have been the casein Manitoba last year, and much injury then done which was unnoticed. Although not detected, the Hessian Fly must certainly have been present in Manitoba in considerable numbers last year for eggs to have been laid over such a wide area. I have no doubt from an examination of specimens collected in various parts of Manitoba last autumn, that in that province there is only one brood of the Hessian Fly. This insect confines itself in a remarkable degree to the wheat plant, and, although barley and rye are occasionally attacked, this is exceptional ; the very rare occurrence of pup in timothy, which has been recorded, must be regarded as quite accidental. No fall grain of any kind is grown in Manitoba, and puparia formed in the straws last summer still (December 30, 1899) contain living larvee in good condition. Prof. F. M. Webster, the author of most valuable studies on wheat pests, has main- tained for many years that the Hessian Fly would be found to be single-brooded when a point sufficiently far north or south of its metropolis, or centre of distribution, was reached, the extremes either of cold or heat preventing the production of food in suit- able condition for the second brood, the summer brood instead of emerging in autumn hibernating as flax seeds in the north and in the south remaining in a quiescent con- dition (zstivating) as flax-seeds during the hot dry period of the protracted southern summer. This theory of the insect’s power to adapt itself to varying conditions was explicitly set forth by Prof. Webster in Ohio Bulletin No. 51, 1893, and as late as March last the same author writes:—‘As you know, I have always questioned the occurrence of a second brood of Hessian Fly so far north as North Dakota, but I have never had an opportunity to substantiate my position. [ had hoped that you might settle this Hessian Fly problem, and put the question to rest once for all with respect to the number of broods. The insect certainly occurs in areas where there is no fall wheat, but an abundance of spriug wheat, and it does not seem to me possible that it could survive in such localities if it were double-brooded, as there is nothing on which a fall brood could winter over, except the spring wheat stubble.’ The importance of exact knowledge as to the number of broods is seen to be very great when we come to a consideration of remedies. The severity of the attack during the past season and the interest which has been created in the subject, through the agricultural journals, added to the fact that the weather has been most propitious this year for autumn work, have induced farmers to make themselves acquainted with the natural history of the Hessian Fly, and to adopt the methods which experience has shown are the best: namely, to burn over the stubble when possible before ploughing, and, at any rate, to plough down deeply all stubble this autumn or before the season for the flies to appear next spring. As Mr. Greig has stated in the Yarmer’s Advocate for October 20 :—‘ Whether or not the stubble is burned off, the land should be carefully ploughed. Even with no Hessian Fly, careful ploughing is really one of the great essentials to a successful crop. The work cannot be too well done. Not only does good ploughing leave the land in better shape and kill more weeds, but it greatly reduces the amount of harrowing and after work necessary to get the land into the best condition for the seed ; and no doubt grain that comes away vigorously and early, and makes rapid growth, has more chances of escaping this or any other pest.’ 168 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 63 VICTORIA, A. 1900 The following article was published in the Varmers’ Advocate for September 15, 1899, and similar “articles ware prepared for the Vor- West Farmer and other Manitoban papers :— THE HESSIAN FLY. During the past season rather extensive injury has been wrought by that old-time enemy of the wheat-grower, the Hessian Fly. From Western Ontario comes intelli- gence of the worst attack upon fall wheat, and the question is asked by some farmers there, whether it would not be well to discontinue altogether for a season the cultivation — a fall wheat. The most serious injury and the attack of by far the =a dthe Hessian Fly is reported from the Province of Manitoba, by Mr. George H. Greig, the Manitoba editor of the Farmer’s Advocate. Inquiries and specimens have been received from almost all parts of ‘ the province, and from as far west as Moose Jaw in the Territories. Correspondents estimate the loss at between 5 and 20 per cent. This, of course, is all in spring wheat, as in the west no grain is sown in the autumn. The life history of the Hessian Fly is well known. The effects of the injurious work of the maggots on fall wheat can be recognized in the spring of the year by one or more dead shoots or whole plants in wheat fields. Upon examining these plants the characteristic pupa-cases, which resemble closely small elongated flax seeds, may be found in the crowns of the injured plants. Sometimes three or Fr; ps four specimens will occur beneath the leaf-sheaths of a single shoot. ig. 3.—Hessian Fly: The fi f hist d Be Ne fh ‘netand lav thee injured wheat-stem; Lhe flies from this brood emerge in the spring and lay their eggs three pupariaenlarged. upon the leaves of the shooting grain, and later, as at the present time in Manitoba, the same flax-seed-like pupa-cases ‘described above and shown at Fig. 3 may be found above (as a rule, but occasionally higher), the first or second joints of the stems of barley, rye and wheat, where they lie between the base of the leaf-sheath and the stem, somewhat sunk in the tissues, so as to give the appearance of being actually inside the stem. During their growth the maggots have lived at the expense of the wheat plant, sucking the sap, so that the stems are weakened and frequently fall down, bending over just above the point of attack. This is well shown at Fig. 3a, and by it the presence of this enemy will probably be recognized by many Manitoba farmers who may have over- looked it in their crop. In Manitoba, it is most probably the case that there is only one brood of the Hessian Fly in the year, the winter being passed in the ‘flax-seed’ condition, for the most part in the stubble, but also to some extent in the straw which was harvested. Further south than Manitoba there are two distinct broods. The perfect insect, a tiny blackish gnat, not expanding more than a quarter of an inch from tip to tip of its wings, appears in May and June and lays its eggs, which pro- duce the summer stem-attacking brood. In Manitoba the flies from this brood do not emerge until the following spring, but in Ontario they appear in August and until about the middle of September, and the females lay their minute scarlet eggs upon the inside crease of the leaves of early-sown fall wheat. The young maggots, upon hatching, work their way down to the axils of the leaves, where the injury to the plant is done. Most of these maggots become full grown before winter sets in, and assume the ‘flax-seed’ condition. Remedies—1. Late sowing.— With regard to fall wheat, the postponement of seed- ing until after the third week in September delays the appearance of the young plants above the ground until all the egg-laying flies of the second brood are dead. In cases where fall wheat has been sown in August and is already well up, it will be well this year, in such localities as the Hessian Fly is known to have been present, to feed off the young grain with sheep. In this way many of the eggs, it is claimed, are eaten with the leaves of the wheat. Care must be taken that the fields are not cropped too closely or too late in the season. 2. Burning refuse.—Many of the ‘flax-seeds’ of the summer brood are carried with the straw, and at threshing are dislodged and thrown down beneath the machine, REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST 169 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 8a among the rubbish, or are left in the straw. All screenings and dust should therefore be destroyed carefully, and all straw should be either used during the winter or burnt before spring. 3. Fertilizers.—When it is known that a young crop of fall wheat has been injured by the Hessian Fly, it is a good plan to apply, the following spring, a light dressing of some quick-acting special fertilizer in order to invigorate the plants. 4. Treatment of stubble-—As the Hessian Fly is undoubtedly restricted in Mani- toba to the summer straw-attacking brood, the remedy is simple, and, if persisted in, I cannot think that the Hessian Fly need ever become a serious menace to western wheat-growers. The insects passing the winter for the most part in the stubble and not appearing until the following spring, when there are growing wheat plants for the females to lay their eggs upon, if the stubble be burnt over or plowed down in autumn and the straw fed to stock or burnt at any time before the flies emerge in the spring, this dire enemy of the wheat-grower should be easily controlled. It was to be expected, as stated in my last annual report (Lap. Farm Report, 1898, p- 174), that ‘at no very distant date we might have trouble from the Hessian Fly in our western wheat fields, for Prof. Lugger has recorded that in the Red River valley, in Minnesota, where the conditions are similar to those of a large part of Manitoba, a large area of that state was infested in 1896, the damage in some places amounting to more than 25 per cent, and that on an average the farmers lost from 5 to 10 per cent of their entire wheat crop.—J. FLETCHER. . One of the chief reasons why the Hessian Fly has not been very injurious in Minnesota since 1896 is, Prof. Lugger thinks, the abund- ance of parasites which appeared in 1897.