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Original eopiaa in printad papar eovara ara fllmad beginning with tha front covar and anding on tha iaat paga with a printad or illuatratad impraa- aion, or tha back covar whan appropriate. All othar original eopiaa ara fllmad beginning on the firat page with a printed or illuatrated imprea- aion. and anding on the Iaat page with o printed or illuatratad impraaalon. The Iaat recorded frame on each mierofiehe ahail contain the aymbol — ^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"). or the aymbol V (meening "END"), whichever appliea. IMapa. platee. charta. etc., mey be filmed at different reduction ratioa. Thoae too large to be entirely included in one expoeure are filmed beginning in the upper left hend comer, left to right and top to bottom, aa many framea aa required. The following diagrama illuatrate the method: L'axamplaire film* fut reproduit grice i la gAnAroaitA da: Bibliothique Agriculture Canada Lea imegea auivantea ont 4t« reproduitea avac la plua grand aoin. eompta tenu de le condition at de la nettet* de i'exemplaira film«, at an eonformiti avac lea condltiona du contrat de fllmege. Lee axemplairea originaux dont la eouvarture an papier eet imprimie aont fllmia an commanpant par le premier plat at en terminent soit par la demiAre paga qui comporte une amprainte d'Impreaaion ou d'illuatration. aoit par la second plat, aeion le caa. Toua lea autraa axemplairea originaux aont filmte on commandant par la premlAre paga qui comporte une amprainte dimpreaaion ou d'illuatration at an terminent per la demlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un dee symbolae suivanta appareitra sur la demi4re imege de cheque microfiche, selon le caa: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE ". le aymboie ▼ aignifia "PIN". Lee cartee. planchea. tablaoux. etc.. pauvent «tra film4e i dee taux de rMuction dlff«rents. Loraque le document eat trop grand pour 4tre reproduit en un s«il cllch4. 11 eat filmA i partir de I'angie aup4riaur gauche, de gauche k droite. et de haut en baa, tn pranent le nombre d'Imegea n4ceaaaire. Lea diagrammea suivanta llluatrent le mithode. 1 2 3 32 X 1 2 3 4 5 6 Minister's Report 1895 If !• '1' ■1] REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS IN MANITOBA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA AS ENTOMOLOGIST AND ROTa vrc?. ^ COLUMBIA, rST AND BOTANIST. (Mb. Ja8. Fletcher,) q,„ T , ,. L Ottawa, Ist September, 1895. Territo,.,™, »„d British ColJSt trSc'cZf '' mrelt"; "]' "o'*"" was pnmar y to inveati.'ute th« om. .rrL«. i ?? • ^"« object of my m rn on tbe(iodlin^.5othandSan?^^^^^^^^ r^a d TthV; ^'''''^ Columbia of by th. ofBcers of the Department of^ksriciLre^'n^Ui^^ 'l^"' "'"•'"«J occur in that province ; but as it is owfnm!^ k > '/'«« Columbia that it did not States of .he American Un on h fmmuS Sf R in Vp i'"'r''"^ '° '^' P««ifio ofgreat Hcien.ific interest, and one c3.^J/Ul;^^^^^^^ ^""^ ? P'-oblem a scientific expert were deemed advisable ^ obsorvuiion and report of idenUHcatt"w*l?f tt'':tat"em2„^!lh;rr"'^ Yt ^««" ^«««'^'-l «^ Ottawa for Vaney. TheW was, tVeltTom\tfdiS bias fo wrthTr'tr^' *" ^'^^ ^'^«"«^- in British Columbian orchard^. Owini to the Vvf.Tm . ' ^^^ ."\'^^^ «tili existed this pe«t. as shown by .ts injurYeT?? tt United St^l^ HP"fi''T'^"'. '^'"'''''^' ^^ much required, so that^Briti.hColumbia ?ru^^ Iro^^^^^^ &iti '^i^^x:^ - -«"'^' -^ «^' ^««^ - trtt\t:tr;;t p^u: subj/^tro«;^lrsti^:tro'n'.^ 'Th7Cn?s^sZ^L^::^?,,-?«l*^^«^'' 0^ these posal, and much inquiry from thoL thSt tol^^^hn^ p the time at my dis- either by their presence or by injurTes cSLed '"'*^ "*« 001 been reported from British Leaving Ottawa on June 22nd, 1 reached NeoiKon at 7 40 n m .i. remained two da^s at this point examining the Lrin cronl'nf tt w ^" "^^^^ '^'*^- ^ pany and oollectfng specimens of inseotea^nd plants ^ ""^ ^*^ ^'''"'- ^1 !1 1 The hay crop was an excellent one, owing to the favourable season, and all gaixlen produce waa oxceptionnlly abundant and of good quality. The only injurious insect of which the presence waa particularly noticeable was what is known as the " Silver-lop of Hay " ; this was chiefly in meadows which hud not beep broken up for many years. Leaving Nopigon on 25th Juno, I arrived at Winnipeg the following afternoon. The next day was spent with Mr. II. MoKeilar, the. Deputy Miniater of Agriculture, and I was pleased to be able to accept un invitation to uccompuny that gentleman the next day down the Northern Pacific Itailway as far as WawnnoHa, wore I had an opportunity of being present and delivering an address at a Farmers' Institute meeting. The subject of burning inlerust at the time was noxious weeds. Mr. McKellar, who is a clear and forcible speaker, laid before the meeting what was the •xact state of the provincial laws bearing upon this subject, the duties of weed inspectors and path masters, and also what was being done by the Manitoba Gov- ernment to prevent the spread of the Russian Thistle and other weeds. On invita- tion of the chairman, I delivered an address on the different classes of weeds, their injuries and the best means of fighting them. The usefulness of this address was much increased by my being able to t^how specimens of many kind of weeds treated of, a large number of thene having been brought in by fasmers anxious to know their names and characters. Too much cannot be said of the energetic policy now being carried out by the provincial Department of Agriculture of Manitoba with regard to the subject of noxious weeds ; it is probably to-day of more importance than any other agi '.cultural question which the Manitoba farmer has to consider. This was evidenced by the close attention paid to Mr. McKellar's address at Wawanesa. On the return journey, we had the good fortune of travelling with Mr, J. F. Eiley, the roadmaster of the Northern Pacific liailway, who has taken a keen and practical interest in this matter, as is shown by the remarkably clean condition of the track. If the farmers of Manitoba would do the work of fighting weeds only half as well US this railway, it would be a great advantage to the province. Mr. Vandorslice, the division superintendent, is also displaying much interest in this subject. He gave us eve/y facility possible in making cur investigation and asked us to let him know of anything further that could bo done. Before leaving Wawaaesa, we had an opportunity of seeing some of the grand farming country in the neighbourhood of that town. Karly on the morning of the 29th of June we were met by Mr. R. Parks, the weed inspector of that district, with a team of fast horses and driven for three hours to various localities where weeds had been observed. In this drive of about 17 miles weVere able to see that the farm? in this district were exceptionally clean of weeds, a fact which was an evidence not only of the wisdom of the farmers, but also of Mi*. Parks's energy. One spot of particular interest was the exact locality on the Northern Pacific Railway where the so-called " Russian Thistle " had been detected last year. Several young seedlings were found on the railway bank, but the patch was being carefully watched by the I'ailway authorities. It had already once been hoed over, and this operation was to be repeated every week as long as any plants appeared. One of the most important results of this journey was theoetection in alarming abundance of the Tumbling Mustaid {Sisymbrium Dinapisfrum) in Manitoba, in the district lying between Morris and Myrtle. Immediately on our return, a bulletin on the subject was prepared and issued by the Honouiable Minister of Agriculture for Manitoba. Monday, the Ist of July, was spent collecting specimens and examining farms in the direction of Silver Heights. Many weeds were observed, those aggressively abundant being without exception introduced species, chiefl}' belonging to the Cress family, and from Europe. The following day I left for Brandon. July 3rd was spent at the Er^perimcntai Farm, examining the crops and collecting. Finding that it was necessary for me to return to Brandon to attend a joint meeting of the Central Farmers' Institute, and Provincial Teachers' Association, to be held at that place on the 9lh, 10th and 11th of July, I proceeded to Indian Head on the 3rd. The 4th, 5th and 6th were spent with Mr. Maokay in examining the Bxperimi occurretii Industrie this diwtr orient ale) troduced extent. neglecting been in tl bo partly in the dii belongs tc a nature Mustard s oixlinary 1 only in sn and specin some of th I retu mental Fa farms in tl I went wit cipal counc three days convention province. Hall, and a the 11th. people, and of the Insti convention Beautii Head, Moot stocks, Pori Owing to tl Rocky Mou stantly chai train. The rolling hills sometimes i acres in ext mass of bios (Oastilleia) i masses of Sp White and 1 phicum), or n prairie clove of crimson o Astragali an. the tops of tl slough were patches of th been broken standing higl the snow-whi (Salicomia) < great beauty of which the Minister's Report 1895 was Expoiimental Farm and diivinff thmn^h ♦»,«. ^ ♦ • ^ occurrence of noxious weeds rnd innectf ^ A nleusZ* ' ^"^"^ obso'-vaiions on the InduHtnal School near Fort Qu'aSio ontho Th tV"'* ''^' P* ^ *« ^'^^ 1"'^'*'' th HdiHtrict were the Tumblin/Kard^m ihl TT ^ ' " n?««t,noticeable weeds in orieritale), two moHt a/^gressiie member, o^ hi P ?"''«.«-^r ^l»«tard (AVysimum trodaced into thi« di.tHct an'i Tmvo beer ai^oworn '"""^^^'"'^ ''"^^^ ^««» i°- extent. Every effort was made trdr-iw L . n • 'l"'^'"^. ^'^ " '"°«' alarming neglecting these plant.. Un It beSnowlod 'ed Th ,^^ ''«"'«'•« '^ '^^ d«nger o? been .n the past ^reat negligence Tn the nTrf if i„ ^^'.^""^ '«"'^°° there has bo partly due to the fact thaVthe Tumblim' {fir. f '? ,*''" '"'?""*• ^his may in the diHtnct under the namrot' xTim lfn5?rl i ^""^ been generally spoken of belongs to a member of the iraranthFaS S' ^" "PP«"'ition which really a nature as the Tumblintr MuS .n?hr *'•'''' ••\"«^ "e^'Ij of so pernicioui Mustard spoken of «. sTm^Sy T Snl^jVe^S SZ\ ""^'^ I'k"""."^' '^' Tumbling oi-dinary Tumble Wood of tL\\Zt ^luf' i «"l?P«««d that it was merely thi only in small numbers. Iwll convention was most succcH.sful und w fs KLreKnini i f"'"'^';^ Institute. This province. I delivered two addrosser on«^^' T '*"*'"*^?^ by the best farmers of the Hall, and at.-.ther at a lur.re out «fTA. 1 r **'t '^:!'''"'"- ""^ ^be 10th in the City the 11th. This la?ter Sing wt u e^^^^^^^ Experimental Farm oJ people, and, besides my own rddT^sVoSieL^^^^^^^^^ by seven or eight hundred of tL Institute and the lion. cS rdTfton A t ^ ' V"'" T.^' ^^ '^' President convention closed on the lltl aTl con i^ ,^^^^ ^'"^'■"' ^^'^ Manitoba. The Beautiful flower wardens w«.«rlrT. ™^ JO"''ney westward. Head, Moose Jaran^^ieg n^ man? colm^^' '^f route, particularly at Indian stocks. Portulaca. sweet pea^B.maHSsa^^^ annuals such as petunias, Owing to (he late and copious rui?.sthon,fe' '^^'?'"'«*^'".^ f^'^ g'-eat luxuriance Bocky Mountains presented o. eTntinuourc™si nf T^^^'^^^ ^^"'"'°^« '^ 'be stantly chunging panorama DaHSP"t«d Cups masses of Spider Plant (CleomeZfnriMi.^ ""''^ ''"'^ "*" '''"y banks rose purple White and Yellow Ever^^nTp'Z^^^^^^^ ^""^^f ^""'^ '^'''^ ^P'^esVf phicum), or sturdy spikes of BSn^Star rS/rl? ^^^ J^*'"' ((^^^^^^ PhiladeU prairie clovers pJ^alsfeml JScSm aJip^ S,r"w?^ '^'"^"^ ^'^««« tbe slender of crimson or white flowers bertS.JnlH ''''"?*''""'> threw up iheir bright heads Astragali and tufts of t^e pinn ower sSkes n/^'^'''' ^'."'"P^ °^ P"'T'« "^ yellow the tops of the prairie /.rasses V^LT ?I Hedy&arum horeale, standing up above Hlough^ereban^d:'of i; Jt VeSw ^R?Hil';e?^^^^ '' «^ ^'^"^du^ standing higb^p-b:,^t:^:^i?;^^^^^ ^^^S^^f ^ ^'^^^P^^ the snow-white deposit was frequently ^cirded w^h a H^J If hiri'^'^'H "^^^'l^ of Which the pale grefn ^n,;'^':^stl'i:^;^^^^^^ bad taken on a ruddy parpHsh tinge. Around gopher and badger holes the attractive terracottnre(i flowers of the Badgur Plant (ifalvastrum coccineum) were frequently seen, and also ibo Ichh showy but pretty Gaura coccinea, of which the flowers vary from crimson to white in diflerent nutches. In places, grand darkeved Qaillardias stood up in every direction, acroHS tho prairie, vying with the golden- eyed Chrysopsis, wild Hunflowern, Arnicas anil early Golden Kods in turning the plains into a veritable Field of the Cloth of Gold. Naturally, in travelling so great a dietiince the vegetatiou seen was not always of the same description, ami the natura of the soil could be easily detected by the diflFerent kinds of plants growing on it. Leaving Brandon on the morning of the 12th, my next stopping point was Calgary, where collections were made of insects and plants. On Monday, the 15th, I made a most interesting expedition to Olds, about 60 miles north of Calgary, where the forests of the north come down «nd touch the greiit prairies. Here, through the kindness of Mr.T. N. Willing, 1 was able to see come of the farms and make valuable collections of plants and insects. I was particularly struck with the abundance and luxuriance in this dihtrict of many kinds of grasses and especially of thd Western Brome Grass (^Brotnus Pumpellianus'), an excellent grass, both for hay and pasture, and closely allied to the now celebrated Awnless Brome Grass, intro- duced from Europe, which has given so much satisfaction wherever tried in Canada. I returned to Calgary on the night of the 16th, It, rained hard all day on the 17th, HO that outdoor observations were impossible. The 18th was spent at Banff", where, thanks to the kindness of Col. lierchmer and Mr. Harper, of the North-west Mounted Police, I was driven to the chief points of interest. Many rare plants were oollected here and despatched to Ottawa. The following day, the 19th, was spent at Luggan, a most proliflc locality for tho natur- alist, whore several species of alpiue plants and insects were collected. One moun* tain, St. Brien, over 9,000 feet in height, but of ver^ easy ascent, gave a good oppor- tunity for examining the difi'erent plants characteristic of varying altitudes. I left Laggan on the morning of the 20th and reached Glacier at 1.40 p.m. on the same day. The afternoon was spent in visiting tho great glacier, where most interesting observations were made on the flora of the sides and moraine of the glacier and of the woods and mountain sides adjacent. Some of the more remarkable plants which may be mentioned, aie Eubus Pedatus, an alpine raspberry of which the graceful procumbent vines form thick beds running over the moss covered rocks and pros- trate tree trunks lying in the damp ravines. The most striking plant, however, is the beautiful white-flowered Rhododendron {Bhododendron albiflorum), a largo bush which grows abundantly on the wooded mountain sides, and at the time of my visit, had all its branches heavily laden with a prolusion of the delicate greenish-white bell-shaped flowers over half an inch in diameter. At the foot of the glacier were large beds of Veratrum viride, the plant from the root of which the White Hellebore of commerce is made. The large handsome oval and strongly ribbed leaves which are borne on stems from two to five feet high surmounted by & panicle of green flowers give it almost a tropical aspect, a great contrast to most of the surrounding vegetation. Mention must also be made of the beautiful "Selkirk Lily," as it has been styled (Erythronium grandiflorum), which bears large, golden yellow, lily, shaped flowers, one or two at the top of a single stem six to ten inches high thrown up from between two handsome green leaves. This plant is by no means confined to the Selkirk Mountains but ocours right through to the coast range. Living roots were also obtained of the rOhO-coloured variety of the Birch-leaved Spiieea. Two conspicuous and beautiful flowering plants were in profusion growing among the gravel close to the glacier. These were Mimulus Lewistii, with large, crimson Ji ,._ -. -5--K !- !qi-t*1- "r>H t*«" WTJflrt Inotforl Will/xiir.ViarK f K^ntlnhiuf!* Iniitnl*' UUVVUi'S uVcr nu jltvU itl iengtis, oliU tnv »t 5UU-ivtfv« T» I!. ^^..!, ■....- ■^.^j.^.vu.j.a. ._, ! «m). All of the above are well worthy of cultivation as garden plants. On the 21st, I reached Sicamous on Great Shuswap Lake and remained there over night ready to take the early morning train to the Okanagan Valley. Starting the next morning by the Shuswap and Okanagan railway, which runs along Mara Lake and the picturesque Spallamcheen Eiver, we entered the fertile Okanagan district. with the wheat, b seen noui meet Mr Earl, of I wore on ; mo with localitioA riot, ihoy thetermj was aff'or by tho s Palmer ai 6 p.m. 1 list, and I on Dog L country a soil is ox( can be rai and chorr carried as hills and (Aglopyru saw slight condensatu through b Bull this* j of the ban sides of th zontal ben plants of i I and a iarg flowered p the ponies are so dry Around 01 seen by th< of food, Le our garden slopes of tl {Pinus pon trees bein^ veined witf British Col foliage of I abundant a JDouglaaii. All thr goats and di water fowl i and vouche< eggs in the account for avoid tho ra On the and saw exc ^Unister's Report 1895 district wl who Heen mt littil.of iiylton.amomlK'rof the I'rovinciil \i.,u,,\r.e u »• i." th«in..mi,.„u ,.., r». ^ _ r . ^" "?° '"/""ny othoF wuy«. About 11(1011 wo renched Those ^ontlemen lint, tind latei on Dog Luko country arou aoil JB oxcolle can be raised, ^^nlo^o.^ {oKnU^i::;::u:'^^^ andchonioHofiho finest qnalitv wore .ea, ,.n,t 1 k? i- ^'K plnms, apples carried as we naHsod The I iinr.h .;,!! f. ' ?• ^"-"^^ ^'""P "^ '>»y was beinff billH ami runL S up or to thr--' ''•'''' '^^'^^ «ove.-H all the rolling (.l'' «"d the (Finns ponderosa). AloL DoT Lake a .ITrtTi f "'?\^P««!"^«"« of the Bull Pine trees being surrounded with mv^-ill .f' -^"^'^ night presented itself of these veined with black TZaJ, 1 yiT^' • ^l «PCCimons of a beautiful white butterfly British CoFun b?a ' ald'^fn L^JIun^ f ^«?'"«'- «^' ^^ich in the interior of foliage of P.„„;; J, V^/b^fta^^^^^^^^^ South feeds on the ^bundant and nfLch more injiVa^;pa\tlr to-th^C^^^^^ goats^i'dteTLi'^^qiS Big.horn. Rocky Mountain water fowl abound. Iv^mLMe^LiV^U^.'^^ «°d other and vouched for by manyrhe,8 thaHn^hl J^?^''*^ -m "^ "^^'^« ^y ^'' »'««•» mr^H in thp p«... i.;I,""Z o^^e'Mhat in this valley wild ereese frequently \&r, f^eir ac^unt for hire;; ptiSTocI i^'n th7r'1>'^". "P> '""^ t3ps oftree-;; ?o and Zi f/eeS l:;:^^^^-^^;:^:^ '''"^ '^^ - ''^-'- - *^« --^ 6 I returned to Pentioton on the evening of 24th July, where T Bgain met Mr. Palmer. Leaving by «teuraer iho noxt moining, we wore joined a few miloH after wo Bturted by Mr. fcarl, who brought with him some ripe pouches of fuir quality which had boon grown ill the neighbourhood. We reached Kelwona or Okunagan MisHioii about mid-day and at once drove out to (lUiBachan, tho exteuHivo fruit, farm of IliH E.xcellency tho Governor General, over which we were kindly nhown by Mr. Morrison, iho manager. We visited the large and well kept orchards and small fruii plantation!* ; the raspberries wore fully ripe, in great profusion and of excellent quality. The hop phintalions were oxaminod and specimens taken of a peculiar disease which altufks the roots. This uilrnent shows itself in tho shape of large, swollen galls on tho roots and a weaUoiiiug of tho vine, No insect or fungus could be detected ;is tho cause, and the matter is still under investigation. It was found to occur more or loss in all the hop grounds of tho district, lied Clover and orchard grass wore noticed growing well on tho Guihuclmn estate. Part of tho afternoon was sponl in visiting the fruit farms of Messrs. Creighton Bro., Rose Bros., Pridham, Orozier and some others; special examination was made for traces of tho San Josd Scale, but none were found. In the evening a public meeting was hold in tho town of Kolowna. This was well attended by the leading fruit growers of the district. Addresses were delivered by Mr. Palmer, Mr. Karl and myself. Many questions were asked with rcganl to insects, weeds and fodder grasses. The l^'ye-spottod Bud Moth was complained of and its habits were explained and the best remeily was given. Tho only insect rjoticed by me to bo abundant was a gray aphis on tho young growth of plums. Particular mention was made of one weed, tho Prickly Lottuco (Lactuca Scariola), which had been iniroduceu into the valloy and was now u conspicuous object on some farms. Tho following morning wo left Kolowna and drove to Vernbn, 36 miles, by the Dry Valley and Long Lake road. This gave mo a good opportunity of seeing some more farms of the district, those of Messrs. Postill, showing what good results could be obtained by progressive farmers. The thriving town of Vernon was reached at 4 o'clock, and we accepted an invitation from Mr. Edward Kelly, tho chief manager of Lonl Abordeen's estates in British Columbia, to visit tho Coldstream lianch a few miles from the town. This ranch consists of about 10,000 acres, much of it of excellent land suitable for any kind of agriculture. The experiments in fruit grow- ing have been most successful, j)lums, pears, apples and all kinds of small fruits growing with great luxuriance. The hop grounds wore undoubtedly in tho best condition of any of those seen by nio in British Columbia. There are also on tho ranch oxcollont ranges for both cattle and horses ; and, at the time of our visit, a magnificent crop of barley, wheat and oats was being harvested. We remained at Vernon three days, during which time many of the farms and gardens in the district were visited, all of which showed the great fertility' and fruit the suitability of this region as a prosperous agricultural centre. On tho 29th of^July, a visit was paid to tho " B. X. Ranch Frank Barnaid, M ment of Mr. Isaac great fertility belonging to Mr. .P., who has a largo orchard in gpod condition under the manaffe- E. Haun. * As a general report on this fertile region it may be said that all crops are remarkably exempt from tho attacks of injurious insects and fungous diseases, and the fruit growers and farmers appear to be very progressive, as is shown by the ready way in which they have adopted the now methods of farming and protecting their crops against tho well known agricultural posts. Leaving Vernon on the afternoon of the 29th., we reached Lytton the next morning and spent tho day most profitably at Mr. T. G. Earl's home on the west bank of the Fiaser River. Mr Earl is one of the most successful fruit growers in rsr.iioa vy^riamoics, ttuivu sn uUa i.\j 1113 iuL-g u.ipurtunui; uiiu tiiucy paiionb cxpcrimeniB. Ho has over 2,000 trees in his orchard, including many varieties of apples, pears plums, prunes, cherries and some Russian apricots, which were ripe at the time of our visit. All of these are grown under irrigation, and Mr. Earl attributes much of his sucoess in growing fruit trees to a heavy crop of clover which he grows in his orchard Earl ha« Onl cpent in the meet Associat Honour i ture, Col of tho lo: useful inf I had the Joint of i 08^ Scal( these pesi upon inja on agrioD afternoon suggostioi exhibition Thev the visito time, wan afforded o| were obje( back of th ment, whi( benches an at difforen feet and 1,( appearance of fruit grc up to the p On thi toria the m ture with t to Nanaimc address on orchards an saved me m sive fruit oi thriving ni others. Mo dale. A rei many acres couver Jslai hundrofis of left and hani and have for toria. Whei brought dow site insects a which has be BO injurious \ ueioro it enabled to vif trees. On Satui Carew-Gibson fi^iisier's Report 1895 of A»«oci«tionH of BritiHh Columbia. At (|. „ coVinJ .v? ' 'L'"""'*"" ""^ Hop Grower? Honour tho hieuteimnt Governor ami ,."^1,1 k^'., ''''['' ""'" r>'«'«i'l«d over by IHh of the 0 (hn« fnnt groworH of the proviruo I U. ?' T^' ^' T 4" ^f either of upon .njurioue insoctH and the bent nZ, 1 ornrevontr^f'''"-'^."^'^''^'''" J "«« on agricultural graHsos, a subject of S i,/ZKrn^°'r 'A'^?' '''''• the other, afternoon of the second .ay. at the renuoHi of T / ' , "'])''"*' ♦'"'••mbia. On the HUggCHtion of Mr. SuunderJ^^" wl o a «»«»>andry np to the present have been entirely n^MectS' '" «ntish Columbia which toria^LtmTLtbr^S:^^^^^ Jort Agassiz „nd reached Vic- ture with the Deputy Minister and M Pa ImeJ O. ti I^«l'«'tment of Agricul- to Nanaimo, where /remained umil tl e monfL of K^s '?"'"' V^.°^ '^^ 6th I went address on the morning of the 7ih iS fhf qm ^'''' ^ Public orchards and farms around Victoria hnhiLt.-„,''' "^"^ T"' '» ^i«'ting the saved me much time by .Iriving m7lo /^hieflt. "f'\"^ ^'- ^^^raberton, who «.ve fruit orchards were visiteLrMonnt To mfeTwoW '" ff * "'« «^" «^ten. thnving nursery of Mr. G. Knight, the farms 'of Mr T/*" >"''.J?/-tablished and others. Most interesting investigat ons werrma l^ !; lE^^^'ri ^^'^^ ^^veral dale. A remarkable sight was 8ef n on MrTolmil .l?^''- i""^^ ^*^'°"«'«. Clover- many acres were almost defoliated by the black™„d IkmI" ' f"^ ^.^ ^^'^ ff''°^«« f^'" couver Island oak-looper (Ellopia lomniarUiT Uno^ „ *'"^«'"P'"«''8 of the Van. hundro-ls of these caterpillars woufruZ fVom sTh ^^'"^ * ^""^^ «^ « tree left and hang in the air on nilken threads 'iheininH»nr«;r-'"."^ ""^ '°*^«« «« ^«'« and have for many years recurred at Xr't T„* J? '■*' f/ ^^'^ "'»«ot are very irreat torla. When the^ reach tri'^ulminaSfftoj^? of ^h^^^ «''r« aroun^dTc brought down to their normal degree TSrCrnh.f"'^''"'^ ^^"^ "'*« «»ddenlv site insects and by a disease due to a f-.n?,?/ . ^ l"^"" °'" three species of para-, which has been uled Boonomically ^UhSeS hf^^ « P^'-E so injurious to crops in the Westerrst-Sr^ ^^*'* '" controlling theChinoh-buff. enabK;SEf,;;;r;o?'S;!^ I was also trees. -^ "^ x^eyruz, who has a nice collection of ornamental ra.«2 r^K*"''''f^'ii'® ^^^^' I accompanied Mr. Anderson Oar^w-Gibson, to Shawnigan Lake about thirty ^5 and his assistant. Mr. E distant from Victoria. The dsy ^M B'^ent in oolleoting plants and inneots. Here again the white butterfly (JV. Menapia) which hud l)oen umerved in Hitrh lur^o numbers around tho Bull ninoH in the Oknnngun Vulley, whh goen in oountloHH nun^boi-H flying around the JXmj^las lira. The trees hud been perceptibly injured l>v tbu caterpillaiH which had irana- formed into the butlerfliua now Heen, but of which there wore Htill Homo feeding on the foliage, or letting themselveM down from tho topH of the tall treoH by moans of silkon tnreadH; in some inMtunourt those ihro^rt muht have boon of the lomarkable length of 100 feet or more. The ^reon and white olii-yHalidri wore found on tlie undorgi-owth, furnn, Hhrubs, etc., in large numborH. Many catorpillurei a Iho doubt- less pupated in tho trees without deHcendin^. I was pleaAcd t(» dutoct here Hpeoi- mens of aparanitio Ichneumon fly (Theronia fuloescens), which was by fur the more numerous of three para^iteH I had olmerved du]>rodating on this in8oct in the upper country, and of which 1 had bred many Hpecimens irom the pi^pa) of the butterfly. Many rare fornH and other plants wore Hocurod at this intorestinif locality. In a small swamp numerous Hpccimons wore found of the rare Oentiana septrutn, and the svfwt svvnied orvh'ul Hflhenaria leuco.1 stachys, vnWf^d lonilly "wild hyacinth." In the woods tall bushes of tho beautiful Hcarlot-berry " wine borry," Varcinium parvi- folium, covered with fruit, pro«ented a Htriking appearance. No Iohm noticeable were heavily loaded bushes of tho Salal berry (Gaultheria shallon) and the Oregon grape (Berberia aquijolium). The beauty and charm of the deep luxuriant woods on Vuncouvor Island cannot bo described in words; they must be ^een to be appreciated. Towering above are gigantic conifers, cedars, tirs, spruces, pines and hemlocks raiding thoir heads 200 and 300 feet in the air, with trunks many of thorn from G to 8 feet in diameter, and in exceptional specimens of cedar, more than double that size. Beneath these giants smaller trees and bushes flourish. Of tho smaller trees, perhaps the most remarkable is the graceful and useful western flowerini,' dogwood {Cornua JVa hbI ii- : ' ^^^^H '^ ■,'? ^h : I -si In •; . I^Hh I ) ^^^^n 1 '^^^^n 1 Hi ^1 ' HI VH 1 9H!f " ' '' ^^^Ib t '' l^H |r. -. ^^^^En -U^ i 1 4t_ 10 bank. The whole of this country was found to be badly infested with weeds of many kinds, ihe Canada thistle, wild mustard and tall rag-weed being particularly conspicuous on most of the land passed. However, just before reaching the city 8gr.?a, some market gardens were seen in an excellent condition of cleanness show- •ug what good results could be obtained with hard work and attention. ' On the morning of the 22nd, I left Winnipeg for Cartwright in Southern Manitoba in company with the Rev. W. A. Burman and Mr. P. 7. Collins of Minneapolis, the editor of the " North-west Agriculturist " of that city. Both of these gentlemen are keenly interested in the question of noxious weeds, and together we made many useful notes on the occurrence of the species observed. Cartwright was reached the same evening, and Mr. Burman and I drove out to the Hermitage, the residence of Mr E. Firmstone Heath, about 6 miles to the north of Cartwright.' Of the observations made at this point, the most important was the detecting of the Perennial Sow thistle, close to the railway track at Cartwright. Before leaving I drew the attention of some of the leading peo^ile to this weed, and advised them to lose no time in eradicating the whole patch. We returned to Winnipeg on the evening of the 23rd, and left for home the following morning. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, JAMES FLBTCHBB. The Honourable The Minister of Agriculture, Ottawa.