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1
2
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32 X
1
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S
6
L
SE
PI
'-^.Z^ -V.
1833
m f,lll)| PBIS OF |,\,s|ifj yn
•*: v^ I I ) i: x^ ( . ,,.
0¥
Br.
JAMES FLETC
ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST
BKKOHB THK
SELE(-T STAXDIXG ( OMmitte
E
o.v
AGKK ILTLHE A\D (OLOXIZATfOX
1899
PmNTED BY ORDER OF PAJiLlAAfE.
MENT
iiACELLENT MAJESTY
1899
'
Th<
at 10.45
Dr.
the oomi
Mr.
in under
the re^u
pe8t of 11
of the w^
attention
At 1
than the
and ornui
inseot, an
as well u
from the
forest tre
hare no
than it aj
inseots as
One ^
ance of tfa
which the
to them th
not paid t
the whole
appalling
just menii(
Caterpillai
has been k
tenth of ou
know Home
moth, but 1
in any mat
knowing tl
others saffe
my pocket,
but It is DOl
loss.
In one
as a n^oth.
1693
THE fill PESTS Of mn LIFE
Committee Room No. 48,
House op Commowb,
TueHday, 6th Juno, 1899.
tb. regularly recurring Lt, oT .Vj^vm ^„d l" °' T™ »'««»''V "> "tend lo
l«»t of importance whict bu lo JJrZoS "?„„' '" "-"PPy 'o ..y there I, „„ new
^feiStior ^— '^-^^ -'-^^^ ^-^^^^^'^^^/z:^::^^z
thanri:rS;S.Ute/:/e;?r^^^^^^^^ the public .i„a
andorn«m.,.taI trees and alM> of fruU tms i, Sf Ji W
insect and eveiythinK that can be knowioK»tJ*^'^''«^*^^^ • '* '" " '^«"-'*""«''»
as well us the reme«ne8 to be usi awinSj^t ''*m/^'''?*^7.^^^
from the insect beln^ found ov^laTeaJoa; aid nf.iii'ni'" ?'®l"'' ^^ ««' «' ""
forest trees, still the place where mos" ?f the harm is^rnrji"-'^ '^'*®" .'^'^J^ «"««k
hare no hesitation in saying that the damaLre do^« hl^K '^ *'"'* orchard,* and I
ban it should be and y^ouldbe.ifllZTw^^^^ '« '""^^ °>ore
.nsects as they do other lines of buLrs'trcrl^j't^r"^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ '"J"--'
THE TENT OATEBPILLAB.
not pa,d to it. The /ubioct is taught in scho^JM^nHnlii *.*'"'' '^'•* a"ention is
the whole there is great ignoranfe of tMn^ «1k f *'*•'* '° «°'"'» ®^t«nt. but on
appalling in rega.^ fo this^errcommon insec^^^^^^^^ .?« ignorance iS
just mentioned. Now I have hid three let?e™thi«mnr- ^'^*«''P!"«''. wfnch I have
Caterpillar in all of which it is inaccu'aSrnamod^^^^^^
has been known for over a hundred years •andT?h!nl?u*'' " "."° ^''^^c* which
tenth of our crops every year from infurTus inScoL ? 1 ' L*"*'*^ "^^ '°*« '^^ least one-
know Homethini aboutVow todiTt nSrbi^wee^'iVatJrnS '""" '••" P«^P'« «ho"Id
moth, but they do not and they have to pat forft Now^i J'' ^ T'^'V ''»« o"* »
m any man if he has nothing \o lose Vit^bui when hi Ll^ °°'«"'?^ ignorance
knowing the commonest crop pests *o L to inQrirrA^n^*^ '"?••■ ^**» *"«>"» "ot
others saffar nl-o ♦!.{« .„„ iJ. "-/-."* r*? 'nqaiM about them intelhV«nH„ „»,i
l^t .t .. not .0 witb n,„y ,n reg.,^ to •nf.^'.f.l^whlJb'TnSS.rc.^^Ti'iSi
\i
^ DR. JAMES FLETCIIEII.
meiii.t but if the BDecimen hud not come I ooold not have conceived what was meant,
rpollir«- he «Td "iit it "out the tree, down." Now it Joo« ^t out the tree,
dowrbit it eatH the foliage off them, and that is probably what he ">«•"».?
anothe, lelter the Tent CHte?pillar i» npoken of oa a worm, n another aa 7 ?«• bjt^
;«y inaco mute descriplionH. but quite^imilar to othera given not «« 7 «f ^^ene but
of manvother inHOCla. I embrace with pleaaure every year Ihia oppoitun.ty to come
up boToTe the clmitteo on agricuUurS to apeak a few t«mo y wonU jbou t^eae
«„an«t .^o-ta to mon who ttfo jrointf oat among their constituenla in all parte 01
Cannda^anTwho^an remind Ihe^m ^hon their cJops are attacked by inHedB to who-
thovcin apply for help, and also becauBe it iaacommitteo whose proceedings oppear
in^Unew?paporH anSarereadby many, so that it seems to me a proper time to
iDeak a wTr5 of warning about the posts which cause loss at this season. If I spoke
o?nothi.rnew a^a 1" iShink it would be well worth the time of the committee to
XearHomSthrg about the late.t remedies for many of our common crop enemies.
BAN J08B BOALl— TRBATMBNT.
There are one or two problems which demand dieoussion nt the present time,
and one of thl ?a the most important subject with regard to injurious 'nnec « wh,ch
C ever vet been discussed by 'the public in Canada, t^fiat ,s the treatment o^ the San
JosVscafo Now this is a matter of importance, becaUHC, in the Ui ited States,
enormoSsiossos occur every year from the^ttacks of this insect, notwithstanding all
SI has been do° e to control it. It has also occurred in a few places ,n Canada, in
Ihfexfreme south we«t of Ontario and in the Niagara district, where ,t has done most
harm and wheie the largest amount of money has been spent in controlling it. It
haslcomra matter of^importance because the Ontario government h»« «PO"t f
large amount of money and put forth special etforts to stop the spread of thia pest
But these efforts have been misunderstood by the fruit growers, for whom they were
?«t forth and oven to-day. after much money ha. been wisely spent in exterm.nut.ng
thispeot leUers appear in the papers from fruit growers nUiting that the«e efforts
are misffuided and that more harm is being done than good Now m the Toronto
S?o6roSe of oS? leading newspapers, a letter has appeared, anonymous of couije^
neoDle who write the.o letters never sign their names. This one calls himself "Pro
Co Publko "for the public good ; I hope the gentleman who wrote this
wUl Bon"o day feel so c^ear £ to what may be for the public Kjod tha
he will only write such letters as ho is not ashamed to sign. The lettei
Ts rlaonab^ Tnough in some particulars, but it has so many inaccurnciea m
U that U will do much harm. Now as this letter has been widely circulated
and hi noryet been contradicted or criticised, and because as I say much of
ft is mfsonabirthough it has so many unfortunate mistakes, 1 take this opportunity
tolswer ft publicly The writer condemns the action of the Ontario government
S the way tC rea ed orchards infested by the San Jos<5 Scale, and I might here
LJfttewhaf that action was. The government sent out inspectors to all such portions
of tL pi^vint as tLy^hought%e^ liable to be affected by this most injurious
fnsec? Sid iTay BtressJn its p"ornicious nature: no other insect wh.ch has ever been
sSed has done so much harm as this small scale insect which, as I treated of it
fuUy lit yeari shall not say much about now. except that it is very inconspicuous
ShuseSy overlooked, is very fatal to the trees it occurs upon, spreads with great
faniditv and is more difficult to control than any other insect pest we have yet had
ISKPiith ThT Ontario government recognized early the injury which this insect
had donln the United States and might do in Canada and the Minister of Agn-
culture sen? a specialist to the States to study it. He tlien, after due consultation,
put"n fSrcean act with the idea of coniroiling !t. Bat thi.. after a year s e^perieDce
WM thouKEtnot to be sufficient, and this year the act was amended so that the
rn^pectoJf have more power to cLrry out its provisions. Now the Iftter referred to
Sesthat the scale iSsect is prevalent o^er mcha\f^Tg^ ^rea mCw^^^^^
cannot DOBsibly succeed in era5icating it. But such I believe is not the case. This
plagSeU confined in Canada to certain restricted sections of the province of
IVUhCT PSSTS-HEMEDtAL THKArMKXT.
was meant,
lit tho trees
means. In
li Hlug. both
of th«He but
lity to come
about theHO
All purtD of
i(», to whom
ingH appear
iper time to
. If I spoke
ommittee to
> enemies.
resent time,
iseots which
nt of tho San
liteil StatoH,
^standing all
n Canada, in
as done most
oiling it. It
has spent a
of this pest,
im they were
xterminuting
those efforts
the Toronto
iHs of course;
himself " Pro
» wrote this
J good that
The letter
uccurncies in
ily circulated
say much of
3 opportunity
0 government
I might here
such portions
lost injurious
has ever been
; treated of it
inconspicuous
luds with great
1 have yet had
ich this insect
lister of Agri-
) coneultHtion,
p'tj »xperieDC6i
id 60 that the
ter referred to
Einada that we
he case. This
e province of
1899
are condemned and deslrovod and o.im..„„ . • '*""" '^ '" ^'"'J^ nbundani. tiee«
.0 that he may not huvormoe tf) r- r^Ha^loHr '^'m " ,^« /'•« «^"«'' o'tho tree.
Hpenking to you on this matter aJd V Link • r^....i, f '''" ''?""'■ '«''' >'"»«• ""'
not conclemn the OnUirio government for wh^^^ ''^«"''' ^»'""'< "nd
be looked upon as a bonus bocauso IiIn U 1 ,1 . ''"'"'• ^'•" ^on^Ponsulion should
had doHtroyo.1 every on^of the 71 „„ i ''""*«*"•""" " '""^^ ""»•- *<'l»'«KCvernmont
hard luck fut only^S;? 1 u,u eiro ¥.'« o"?'"-"^'' '"" ^"'"'^ would say .1 w^
secured excolloni^inHpectorr w o h" ",' 111 Vhl'"""' f^T'^""''' '""'« fortunately
visited all purtHof ihe%rovincr o w^ch it w-t^^^ thoroughly. They have
«n the United States had l.-o,, nom '*"''''" ''""'"* ''"'" *"''«"'«d nurHeri«s
locatL'ilir^^^^^^^^^^^^ Ibe scale occurs has been
through the country is inaccurate Ku Jhouth a hIm '""''" '^"' '* »»«"Hpread all
do not know that the insect would not Thnvl^? T ' " ?.'/ 'V''^ '" "°^ «"'"<-t«d. ^e
the past a. to the places whTro it c^uld exist as In •• • ^•" ^"^" ""^^^ •"''•'"•*«'' '«
wise to be on the sifo side, and take no risks i. Tu^J"^''T'''^ ''^' ' ^'""•«^"'-« '^ i»
control it in the most efte<;tlve minne, ^"^ ''' '"'''"'''"*? «"'' ««"»''t« «o
of eradicating this oiomy ; I . scfmo^,^in' owor- T"^ '" '^l *^"'^ «"'-^"'" W
our letter cl?,m that thiy'shou dl allowed Ttre^t it r""''' '-^T *Il*' .^"'«' ^^^
fruit^^infrh^coXr iTordToteatll;'"'^ '''•"'^•^^«--- ^''^ -'^'•-T
destroyed ? I nay most om^phaticar'' N^' Th 1'' '■""" '"l^"^ ^''^ '"^^•'"*? ^h*""
to 6ght against. "^Tho very Vest men w« l?nv„ 7 t *" exceedingly difHcult'^inseot
ten years to find out th^C romSiy tj i^T ^'^Porimenting for eight or
entomologists in the United States to l«^ ,.i„- "^^ °.'"' "' ^^« «' ^^^ '««ding
destroy this insect, therVai-J freil,u i^sZ ''"'^ ''i*'^. "'"*' «'''« »« thorougbl?
therefore wc musl^ako wl at Srsav wi?^ Zr ''''*''^^^ ''^"^ ^'"'^ have failed;
which should be given any boncTt o?a doub? n ?;« ' 't '"''"'"'>' *« "^^ "" ^''^ec
country should not hang on ho oLneo of wh«?h "m^'" ^'?. l"'«^P«"ly of the whole
farmers i„ the country haTeskilUndwilH^^no". ^'|« °''d["»ry fruit , ,wers and
trees properly an^l tUough ly If it wanro/r '*''* '''! ' ^ ^«^ l"»«ir
letter, then the government would otlk^h;^^^^' ''"'*• "'i'' *''«''"«' '" ^h''
But it is not an ordinary nest It dLi^.^ ./?*'//''*'''"''"* "^^''^ to control It.
Minister of Agricultur?oFo ta o hi aCted"; 5''"^ ^"^ ^ «''"«'^«' ^''"^ ^he
done up to the present has Ln tho bTstKh^t^'i.^^^^^^^ ''"'^ ^'"'t he has
stances. Now it is claiLd that t rnl u ^ \^^^ ''""''^ ^e done under the circum-
would be sufficient to desnoy tto inZs beclsn' """'" ' "^"^ ^^»^ ^''is treatment
efforts of the s,,oci«listfl 7lhrUn"tS Statns hnT" ""f *"? has attended tho
discuss that whin more thorouL^h inloTtii.inn'h™ k^ '"^ "!"* '^^""'^ he time to
not yet come when we can wi h safirv IK?k- ^*'®." .'""^''- ^ •*»>' ^he time has
culture of Ontario is not oX de«trLfth«'? '""'".''^'t- ^'^^ **'"'«^«'- ^^ ^^rl.
into every treatment yordovised T« wHinl . '^,' •""' Hpecialist« examining
taking evWy precautioV Hrhas peSte ^1 h1" Z^^t ™"".'"' «T»""y. «»d i!
proposed. Ho has n full plant for fKSS^ihL^; "'""'"'"^.'V^" «» the vomedies
allow men who are growing frutinOn1aoVh« flT' '""^' ""''°"S'» he does not
ity of the whole country l^y^un5i,takin^thL«t '• ^ ^TV^ *° ''"^ ^he prosper-
that work carried on Vsnecia ists S is TJfrV"!^*' ^^^^-J^^'^^^ ho i having
find u sure remedy to relL L at't^t;^rV:J!^*^V''^-«''1 "-™«"1 he ca?
:nBieaa 01 destruction. This is a matt«r tlTnt > rKs^T ^^f.i.- remedy may be used
«nd very di«tinotly n,^nTec!u8e he risi doLh« .T® "''^"^.^ "P?"'' very definitely
that the act shall LrWedanStSL^r^^^^^
li
[h
. I
III
DU. JAAfA'H F LETCH KH.
PIRNICIOITS TIAOillNO.
the letter referred to snyH:-" So that the alternative in thiB-Hhull wo have or-
ohartlB with the hchIo. » oompurativelv harmieHg post, .»• aball wo have no orclmrd« in
tne couatrvT IhOHcale iHaoomnnrAtivnlv hui-mi..Mu «»r..i. ..»>. i •■
the couttry? The Hcale i» a comparatively harmloHH affair, nor i.eorly so pernicioiw iia
«hn„-ii«».^...k« !„., , waH^in an orchanl the other doy which hud ju.t boon cut
the yellowHor the roHo leaf.
down by order of the in»pectui . The owner told mo it h.[d boon VnfMt^"wit'h the wa"©
sinco It W08 planted out, eight years ago, and yet you could not And healthier and
more vigorouH trees anywhere. Thoy wore the flnoHt looking treoH I evor saw and
yet that magnificent orchard was cut down booaune the Hcalo waa found on about
one in everv eight of the ti-oc». If the orchai-d had been allowe<l to atand, it would
probably huve lived almost to ita natural age without the fruit being injured in the
leaat. if proper apraya had been judiciously used. In no other part of the continent
do they resort to these drastic measures fer destroying the scale, so far as I have
learned. In California they have had it for nearly thirty years and they regard it
with comparative indifference. -i j j »/ "s"'" »•'
•• And here, again if the scale could bo got rid of by the measures adopted by the
?,°?L""®v' ^•"on'd'oon have it again, as long as the scale is not being des-
troyed in New York State, which is just across the river from us. The orcha^s of
that sute are not much more than half a mile from our orchards on this side of the
river. The scale is as bad there as it is bore, and thoy are not such fools as to cut
down their orchards on account of the acaie. So tlhat, as long as we have any
orchards on this aide of the river, the scale will be carried from the other o.de by the
birds which are continually crossing. '
" ^"^•.*'"** att«rapt to .io the impossible is coeting the province a good deal of
money, besides almost ruining this part of the country. In many a ewe the accu-
mulations of a lifetime have been put into a fruit farm, perhaps by men who are in-
capable of any other kind ot farming, and then just as ihoir orchards are beginninir
to yield u full crop they are ruthlessly destroyed in the fruitless attempt to get rid
of a post which would be incapable of much mischief if properly .spraved As a
consequence, our [ruit growers will huvo nosoui-ceof income, for the farrasaro. many
ot them, too sraoll for general ^rming, even if their owners .jonid adjust themselves
10 tne now role.
..«» " u^7- '*'*'*? .'* ""'^ ^^^ rational and fair thing to do. Let the operation of this
lict, which IS making such havoc in this part of the province, be at onco suKpendod
and let a fair compensation be given to those fruit-growers whose property has been
dostroyed, and when the House meets again lot it at once repeal the Act. The con-
deranation of the Act is well nigh unanimous throughout this section of the country
and jiist as fast as the scale travels this denunciation of cutting down the orchards
will travel with it. Just as soon as any fruil-raisor learns .that his own orchards are
condemned he at once joins m th« chorus of doimnciaiion, no matter how ardently
he has Hupported the Act up to that time. As long as the Act only affects other
people It 18 all right, but as soon as it strikes home it is all wrong. VVhatovor is
done should bo done quickly, as all our best orchards are fast being destroyed. It
)lLTJ?*^"®f.^^^^""^""'* ^^® Kovornment will have to arrest this wholesale
destruction of the fruit industry. Why not do so at onco before the mischief be-
comes irreparable ? '
It is not an attempt to do the impossible. A sufHcent amount of success, a
very large anriount of success, has attended the efforts of the Ontario government,
and 1 think that in the meantime ihese efforts should be contirined on exactly the
same "nes that have been adopted. The Minister is watching the mutter carJfuUy
himself and through his specialists, and directly a successful remedy can be found
this will bo adopted instead of the total destruction of the trees.
Catbrpillabs.
I will now speak of the caterpillars which are destroying so many trees. The
reason they have done so much damage to cultivated trees is because generally
people hitherto have not understood that this insect can be destroyed if attended to
I.yS£CT PKSTS-HKMIiDLiL THKA TMUXT. ^ ^^ ^
appear on tbo i?oorde.tr;vinr l.«'^^l?n^IIv"J""' Tr*" •^"*'" '''•'>' »>•»«»• "^
weather in theHprinK hatohoH^ h?youni/c. or*^ni Ur. ? .""f^ ""P*""^' ^Lo warm
of two othurH of our moHt deslrSS h^«of '^ . ""f l> *''" •""« «'"'« ^^o young
tb« Canker worm. TCaroh!Sdmfn/?f «'«''! Ky«-I>otlod Bu.l-motf,, an!
theleavoH and foliago of the tiee. do nn^Il*^ "'?"'■•" .^^f" •^".V" »' "pring but
in April and Mjy. «ml co.iequ^nV the cS^^^^^^ I." t'^.""''^ ^««''""-
have formed, fhat mcann tKal tbo caternU ar? «rn . «. 'i ''"^"^'^ '**°''" ^''" '•«'«»
degree that foliage and plant life are and oon. . '''^*>"' '*^"''**«*' ^« ^ho same
followed bv colder weather Slve the efS^t of .llnlt"^^?; "•'^•'' *••'" ^^^^ '" -J"'"*
tree, to betatcbed out while the foiagSTXw bilk Thi? '"J"""'"' T"'"" ^'^^•■»*
it WU8 Haid tblH year that there wouTd bo no „;f«;.,M '* •o'nolin>e«deceptive, and
wakened up to the fact tl.at thoTriere a ^rtt Tan'r' °''""^""''!'>' ' ^*'«" ^''-J'
stand, and wasted time writioa tolerm tho'^m«.nT- '/?'"*, 'TP'*' '^'^"'^ ""dor-
fruit growers and orchaMiltf U, li LtiW fTl"*^ ?^''- ^l ^"•* "°^ »««'? our
when they .hould be attending to tSanDnZon of !k'"^'°° "i> P''**'''*"" '••*« ^his,
does not matter much to the fruit irToZPr b^If .h- ^ ^^"^ rom^x^B for the pest. It
how to apply the .omedies that are^inj; .t be e^^^^^^^^^ . ^.'j'^ '".^ '""'• '"'" «•
constant care and prompt timely action The f»ulV ' ^'""'^ f^rmxng requires
remitting attention all through tfiiZrini^foH^inirni *? °'^'!'' "^^ ^■^*> '^'^h °°-
no one had to take any stew at aV^n . nlJ ?' ""•^^•- The old days when
P«88ed by. and during JL tensor fifJlMZ't'h.f'"!!" 'T' ^'"« '^^"^'^/•'J ^'«^«
found nocosHary as a rule to do s?meE tlL^""" 'f *^'^ P""*** «' ^'^ ^ec"
««ects which "attack almon eJerv crop we^rJi^Tn'^.K^^'^T
the forests were destroyed, the injuousLo^U hS^"n 1 *'m'*'1 **"^'' '»«''°''«
food to prevent them coming into t^e oSA « h ^^''7"^'^ P'*nt« efficient
forests disappeared the iimccfs have inor^I-n^f **"* ^,'"'*.""'- ^"^ "'"^e the
food in large areas, and con.cauentU%h^I^^^^^ '^'•*''" ''"''*''» ««itable
uninjured crops A ffient Srnf ^ • ? ^"^*^«" increased difficulty in growing
of "irieulture'^and w*e now hlvo Silr'"/^ '^^ 'l'" ^"^'^^'^ to'^this^rrnSf
which attack crops. It hi bein ^Jon^ut^Lx'^'^T ^°''. "***'' '"J""0"« '""•cts
etations and agricultural in^tituTons to ?-- «f ^l?"'*"' '" "". "'^ ^'P^'i-^enUl
.praying calendars, a means of tolTr'oflUcrforfn^iTLn^ ,^^"' "'•« ««"«<»
the chief injurious insects each year Jnd the beet ind^n T""' "l'*^ '^?""*""« '** '«"°
each, with a note as to the timcffyear to anpfy them Thii" •"""*"' '"T*^'** ''°'
spraying calendar, which wo issued; ;°n?iV/ for on, J^'^ '" V^'P^ »f. ^'^r last
course every year a very large deraan or it m- Z ^""««PO"dont8 ; there is of
to make ar. arrangement with tl.Hw /L >/ir /''"'".T® '^^''' fortunate enough
to all their five thouTand Tubscr bers amMn ?K f""""''^ ^l ''^''^ ^« ««"» ^«1>'«»
hands of most of the fru^lt growore V L^ c^^^^^^^^^ have got copies into the
providing thorn with moans of Sfini thp^S • -^ QuUe early ,n the season, thus
trouble and cause losa Of cours^of^^^^^ '''**»'« ^« give them
densed list, but fruit irVoweJs flp« ..^ i • ' JT*'"''*/*'' °ot occur on this con-
encelbrrolabloinfSrmSinroanrd?.. '-^ '•'^'^^ ^*^*""« ''* « «ourco of refer-
Experimental Fa m Al we a K thlt th!Jt^^^^^ •?-'"'"'°"' '"r'^«' »^ ^''^ Central
anco of the injury and send spccimci^so th^t l""!:''' ^TPV'^*'"^*'^^
Owing to the ignorancHf iS Hfo to wSLiTt t"" *«" ^hat it is caus^*^ by.
are sometimes v?ry inaccurutZd ha Vto^nierstand'^V^^^^^^^^ description's
oK-:rrb5^-hi^rthri^i«3^^^
areViven SrjiSre^nVcrercSom'aYdrnl'r"'^ P°^> '"r- «" the.e caiendi;;
! »
• DR. JAMSa FLKTCIIMR.
the «niiUBl I portB ami ImlltUlni went out from the ftiim we try to make known
promptly tho beat romedieM lliat have been discovered for tiieae poHli«. There are, of
coui-Bo, with regard to every inieot a great many remodioe which have been tried
and Which have been exploited in tho ogrioultHrpI and dally prew <if tho country,
bat unfortunately many of tbut<e romcdien which aro frequently locommonded are
not of very much uae. It Ih wi»e, therefore, for ihoeo who follow tho buHlnetH of
farming or fruit growing to follow very closely those reports und bullotini which
teach them tho bent remedy to use under oerUtin oircumstancoH. 1 have put
together a few notes mo as to refer briefly to some of the worst onemios which are
likely to occuv at this time of the year, because many people are locking for infor-
mation regarding them.
Tub Rockt Moontain Loc(7ht--Rkmeoii«.
La».tyear there was conHiderablo Interest in the rojippearnnce of what was
•uppOHcd to bo tho Rocky Mountain LoouhI In southern Manitoba. Anyone who
can remember the damage those insects did in lb«8. 1870, 1872 and 1874 will know
what a cuise to that whole country the invahion of these locusts wan, how every-
thing that was green wan strippod and tho great suffering among the settlers which
followed from the vlHitation. Therefore it wns not surpriHJng that last year when in
Bouthern Manitoba there was an outbreak of what woe supposed to be, and no doubt
was, the Rocky Mountain Locust, there was a great deal of anxiety on the part of
the farmers and of the Manitoba government. I wos puHsing through Manitoba
during the summer, and was requested by Mr. KiBher, Minister of Agriculture, and
Mr. (ireenwaj-, Premier of Manitoba, to visit tho district and see if this wos, aa
fftated in the newspaper press, the real Rocky Mountain Locust or whether it was
only one of the less dangerous native species, and if so what could bo done to remedy
the evil. It was thought that because this insect was small and very similar to tho
ordinary grasshopper it was not the real Rocky Mountain Locuht. Sufficient of its
life history and habits were known by tho settlers there to know that it was a
matter of a great deal of importance to bo able to ascertain the e.xact identity of
this insect, because it is well known that the Rocky Mountain Locust has a far
greater power for evil than any other of the native insects. Of course it was only a
matter of a moment after once securing a i^pecimen to find out that it was the
real Rocky Mountain Locust and to warn tho farmers that, unless octivo stops were
promptly taken, thov would this year have a great deal of trouble from the large
number that would bo pio.«ent in tho wheat and oat tlolds.
The season last year was exceedingly dry, so that tnuch of the grain which was
sown quite early did not germinate until Into in June, therefore on every field there
was a double crop ; a few grains that had been placed to a sufficient depth in the
soil germinated early, but tho large proportion, probably 60 or 75 per cent of the
grain wos not sufficiently covered with soil to obtain moisture enough to germinate
and was only just coming up at the end of June when the others were far advanced.
There had been no rain from the autumn before until Juno of last year, consequently
there was u great deal of anxiety as to how the crop would turn out, because it was
thoaght that tho first crop would bo so small and that the later crop would be late and
Erobably injured by frost or destioyed by the grasshoppers. A largo area of this,
owever, on account of the reonperative propet ties of the climate and soil being so
great, did come forward, and on account of the absence of early fi-osts in autumn a
good ciop was reaped in localities where it was feared in the spring there would be
no crop at all. I do not fear such bad results from the visit of the Rocky Mountain
Locust now that so many farmers have learned what to do under the circumstances.
It 18 known that where the eggs are laid in large quantities iniarv must boexneoted
in the folJowing year, and as the flarmei-a were warned to be on the lookout they
were able to ascertain the localities where the eggs were laid. We know that the
9ggA are laid chiefly in tho stubble fields and not on the open prairie, consequently
even In such a large extent of country as we have in southern Manitoba the remedy is
practicable. Tho eggs, us I have said, are laid in the stubble, consequently if the
tXSt'Cr I'ESTS-ltKMKMM. TffEATMk'Xr.
1893
9
andbytlu^wa," oVa/X/po«Hn^^ ».y the very hot .uj
i?yifr. Wilhon:
Q. And that JH the best remedy Ihoy have found ?
A, I Oh.
Q. How would burning the Htubblo do?
weed .eodH. It is not Thndiff v^«l«^ 'requcn ly burn over the Htubb/o to destroy
on thiH Hide of tho line but it Ih no-mhln h„» -»™ ' / c^ ''*''*' ""' ''''«" »"«<^
general outbreak a"!:'' of- tl.r^n.o^ fSa7d 1^ tfo, ^"1 ' '"", ^ 7 '''' 'f' »
ofgrasHhoppeiH in tho H.I.Ih d. rin». .hn m«Ifh «r ? i^^^^^^ " "'■^'"»"* "' »»i« number
many egK; were laid durin.r j^ ,? i • ^ '^*^"'^' '""'• '' '""' ""^iced that not
locustH hatch. If this in nntio^A ih«^ « ii -rt . """' '"'®'^ *'*'' youiiir
poeeiblo, and/if ione while thnL«ir!r!Jl'^ ™'^'"'"^ plm.«hin« uh srfon a^
«oona» po«aibir aftT Ih^y 'LTch'Trom theV;/'"'*' ''^"'^ '*''' ^"""^' '"'""'♦--
Another remedy which was u«ed bv Mr Scott n«ni. n«u....!„«
ruK;tlE:;;ixr •;: TeLtfxi ^^ =st^t^e'rbunTn:.''r:a^
Btraw after dark he man^oS to km hn ^^''^7;K'° "' "'^^^ ^-^ ^'"''^^ ^^e rows of
specially infwled anrfXcMHicu L " of .1° ''^ '"'""'"• • ^'- ^'""'^ ^"''^ ^»«
of the ^porimontal Farl^ I hn!« ^o^K- ''°*''^"'* contained in the Iu8t report
WuiAT Stem Maqoot.
whi»^;g"it7Jr«f'oSr; « jrw.n," <" "•"■'°i>« i-'je.ra .«bjeoto„
.hwi» .... -^en a.va„e^:::r?H, cL; ^r'lLvrt'hlrutfsu
Various
The
; y
10
DR. JAMES FLETCHER.
word " functus " BeemB to be a sort of an explanation for everything, and when
nothing is known about some growth the first thing you hear said about it is that it
is a fungus or fungoas disease. There is no word more commonly used among badly
informed people as an explanation of something they know nothing about ; it is
something they know nothing about; it ih something like the word evolution.
When a dabbler in science does not understand something he generally says it is to
be explained by evolution } and it is so with the word fungus. Farmers say
"It is a fungous disease, and we must trust to Piovidenco to remove it"
The " Dead Heads " or "White Heads " in Miiuitoba wheat are due however to a large
extent to the Wheat Stem Maggot, one of the well known peHtn of Eastern Canada
and one concerning which 1 will only say that, though itH injuries may sometimes be
rather severe, it disappears periodically and Ih not likely to be injurious to any great
extent in the ftiture. The perfect fly is abundant on the prairies in Manitoba
where the maggots doubtless feed on the stems of various kinds of wild grass. It
is only recently that it has taken to the habit of eating thn whoat stemrt. This is
undoubtedly due to the climatic conditionb wh ch develop the wheat plant to a
suitable condition at the time the flies lay their eggs; though the injury in places
the year before last was five per cent, the pest disappeared in most sections last
Beason, and I do not think it is going to be a serious cuurtc of injury in the future.
By Mr. Bogera :
Q. Is that the same maggot that attacks timothy ?
A. No, sir, it is a different thing, but has occasionally the same appearance.
The insect which attacks timothy is a true plant bug which sucks the sap from the
stem by a puncture, and the puncture is made where the bof't fleshy part of the stem
is, where there is most sap. The sap is sucked out and the top of the stem dies.
In Ontario it is particularly noticeable also in June grass; we find it mostly in
pastures which have been left down too long. It is the same in timothy, because
when left too long in grass the insects increase and more injury is done. The
weather has nothing to do with this injury ; we have had wet weather and the
injury has gone on just the same. It is the juicy soft part of the stem which is
attractive to the plant bug.
By Mr. Semple:
Q. Did you find White Heads as common in strong, well cultivated fields as in
poorer ones ?
A. In Manitoba you mean, yes. It was just the sume ; there was no difference.
It was local, but the vigour of the crop dil not affect it. One particular crop I saw
near Bounthwaite was a very beautiful and vigorous crop of wheat, which had
many of these White Heads, and across the road in another crop there were none. I
could not learn that there had been any difference in treatment except that the land
was not broken for a year after the other, but that was not enough to account for
this. Probably the condition of the wheat, that is when the head came out of the
sheath, was a little different in the two crops when the females were laying their
eggs.
Cutworms.
Among the constantly recurring field pests are the Cutworms, now doing
such harm, I have a little contrivance here that I would like to exhibit, because it
is one that any one can make, which protects the plants after they are planted out,
especially tomatoes or cabbages. You can buy them in Ottawa of an enterprisinff
firm for St a thousand.
By Mr. Wilson:
Q. What are they made of?
A. Ordinary stiff paper. Of course the maker would advertise that it is a
special papei-. perhaps a waterproof paper, but ordinary stiff paper would answer
md whea
', is that it
ong badlv
t)Out ; it 18
evolutioo.
lys it is to
rmers say
movo it.
to a large
a Gunada,
letimoa be
any great
Manitoba
grass. It
. This is
>lant to a
in places
itions laut
lie future.
pearance.
from the
rthe Btem
tern dies,
nostly in
, becauHe
>ne. The
' and the
which is
Ids as in
ifference.
I op I saw
hich had
enone. I
t the land
30unt ioi"
It of the
ng their
>w doing
eoauso it
nted out,
arprising
i it is a
i answer
INSECT PESTS-REMEDIAL TREATMENT.
139
u
Cm'hrdLide •' Th'e p.llier'Lrnr' '''h^ VT^''^ ^' '^' ""'^'^ -•>•«»> ^^^ '"to it
the «lit in thTother foPm^^e a T. a"« ""'^ 'S" '°"S"" '" °"« ^""^ '^ P"* l^'0»gl
smooth surfaces, and tysTrcfrtafn fa «tnnT '*"°'^' «»* wormn cannot climb Sp
praetically the same remedv ?« P. 'n-n fT ^. ""*^^''®- P^^ "«« ^'^ » 'a'g« extent
more expLsive Td moTel^TffiouU o?tn "I^^^^^ ^^^''' ^^^^ "«« tinfbut it is
never be without ?hem? ° '^°''' ^^'^^ '^^^"^ "'« «° «*^«aP ^h"' one need
a' §°i^ ^"^ ''''° ^^®^ "'^°^® '*•« ground ?
the ma W 1 i' thit'tt: a?e\?:el'nrfor'ir '." ''°'^- \ ^'« ^dve.tisement
frost. ^ ® excellent for protecting young tobacco plants against
Q. They are about three inches wide?
the sle'^rerdy ra°c?i; a/'i'S^b':' manv " ' ^"'^ ^°.°'.*"'^ «'">?'« "^^-r -^ is
loosely round the ^teras of tmn«nUf«/ T 7 growers of pieces of paper wrapped
ground. We have uL ?h«I« S ? ^ ^'''''^u '? *« *^ '«*^® '^^ '"^h or two above the
One ye^r an experiment wJ trKf Zt " XrV^'^ ''"^^^''^^^ satisfaction
fourths of thcHC were Dunered and .JITI f'^OO ^^^bages on one field. Three-
whole of the othe^sThfch were in^^^^^^ .'''"'. a single failure, while the
ordinary piece of pLer Te hZ? ?«^^^ and the only protection was an
paper bit ordinarrpt answe, s «nffll« ^i"^ *^''"'°' °^ improved tarred and oiled
worms. ^ ^^ ''"*''®" sufficiently to prevent enormous loss from out-
By Mr. Feathentm ;
Q. Bid you ever try salt? '
mended ISS've.-yruchusld'^ "itTalSht T '^ Vr^^^V' ^^'^ ^'^^ ^'^^om.
is a b6a plant, but it rnracticl Iv .fifi ^^^'^.^'^^t to cabbage, because cabbage
thing verVlaiely^^irnSutriU^^^ ''''^'''^'' ^'"^ ^« «"°thfr
Root Maqgots.— How to check.
the lTSafiorLlTery%:^^^^^^^ '^'^^ 'f '"^^ ^^'^ '^"d garden are
onions, early^Tbbages and Slfflolrr T ■"'^'t q«"°tities of tu.nips, radishes,
gardener to have to plant the whoroJh.Vn ''iT **' *" '''' """«""• t*>'°g 'o*" »
am now trying .omc exper Si.nt^wkf rai ircH ^'^^^^^^^^^^ \ 'f"^''^'' '''''' "«^'"- ^
do not think there is o e fZt ic T^t i ♦ ^'u^ ¥' •* ^^°'® ''«"' untreated and I
are being car "eTorwhiJt varvTn the^-^^^^^^^^ Experiments
state whft the result" 7 hesIiJe Tm v«t A? remedies, but I am not prepared to
are spoken highly of and mn«h wri,?!7. ' • ^""^ romedies have been tried which
have bceo found wJn tin ^ K a romSt i ^ '" "«wspapers and other publications and
sufficiently and fX teSed IIZH" ^'""k '"?"^ ""d putted before it is known
grow larg; areas unir cirtai! cJonJ" m, wSL«^?k''°"'-, ^^^'^ '"'^'"'^"^ g^'d«"«rs
if, as is sometimes the case k cnT'nTnJf^ *5°^ '**'^ T ** '*^'"«''y' Particularly
much harm is done by grv.ng the wi onTrem«l° V"? ?' .?"'.«"'*'« «"^ '^^'^^^
cropandtheuseofhisfand bes^dlthE S?i ^- *'"* of all, the man loses his
injurious insects, and ove.y one who s«t k^ i^^^^^^ h«8 confidence in all remedies for
whole cau^e in di^credUed JuZrlt iSv maiJ K^ ^ ^"'"'"mi' '' * ^"''"^''^ J ^^'^^ ^^^
anxious to give out remedfes befo?e hivL« t^ im '^?"!' T*l"®'°'*'' ^ '^"» "^^ very
because far too much oTthirbad work ?fh«?„^. tested and it is quite time to do so,
credit * ^""^ "^^'^ " ^^^°S (ione to-day simply for a little cheap
havetl'e 3tht* lltfllSrtSc:^^^^^^^^
called the " Goff Tarred-Daner 0^^ -^ Tn M '° '^H .*° **>« committee. It is
le
DR. JAMES FLETdHER.
which has a strong odour, aronnd the young plants at the time of planting. As
you seo, these are hexagonal piooes of ordinary tarred building paper, three inches
in diameter, with a slit from one angle to the sentre, where there is a star-shaped
perforation to allow the placing of the card around the stem of the young cabbage.
The reason it is ntar-shaped is to allow the little points to stick up and fit back
closely ai,'ainst the stem. If this appliance is placed around the cabbages when
planted, no eggs are laid by the fly from which the maggots come, and consequently
the young plant is protected until it is strong, or it is too late for the flies to lay
their eggs. I do not think those are made in Canada now, but it is such a simple
matter, and a punch for cutting them out is so easily made, that I suppose any man
of ingenuity could make them. Wo had very good results last year in the nse of
these cards, and we are using them in large number this season. I received a large
box of them as a present to the department from Prof. Slingerland of Cornell
University.
Behedt for Cutworms.
Before I leave this subject I wish to speak again of a remedy for cutworms,
which do so much harm every year by catting off young cabbages as soon as they
are set out. In the last report of this committee or the report of the year before, I
mentioned a mixture of bran and Paris green for the destruction of cutworms. I
have tried it again this year and can only describe ^ts effects as remarkable. It
seems strange that a caterpillar which feeds on gi-een vegetable matter will pass by
the green leaves and eat poisoned bran, but such proves to be the case. By sprink-
ling between the rows to bo protected a^ixtureofwheat bran dampened sufficiently
with water or sugar and water to make the Paris green adhere to it, and enough
Paris green dusted into the mixture to give it a green tinge, we find that the
cutworms will oat the poisoned mixture and that from the time the poison is set out
the plants are left uninjured. During the last month 1 have tested this remedy
thoroughly and with the greatest possible success on all kinds of vegetables, and I
do not think that half a dozen have been eaten since the bait was put out. Before
that fifty nd sixty plants a night were eaten in rows of pease, beets, carrots, onions,
&c. The bran has been eaten and the caterpillars are dead.
By Mr. Rogers :
Q. Is it any better than the paper band ?
A. It is for plants grown in a difft^rent way, that is in rows as carrots, onions,
beets, beans, &c. It may also be used in corn fields bv putting a very small quan-
tity on the hills.
Q. Is it any good for caterpillars ?
A. Yes, cutworms are caterpillars— -the caterpillars of a class of nightrflying
moths.
By Mr. Wilson :
Q. You take the wheat brun and put on enough Paris green to give a green
colour ?
A. Yes, after dampening the bran a little, if this heavy poison is put into per-
fectly dry bran, it sifts through it to the bottom, when it is stirred for mixing.
Q. You do not give the specific quantities ?
A. No, it is a remedy that does not require particular directions as to quantities,
if there were an excess of Paris green the caterpillars would eat it just the same, and
it would be diffloult to injure the plants, because it is only put on the ground near
them.
By Mr. McMillan :
Q. Would that have any effect on the insect that cuts off corn, sometimes right
at the ground ?
1 899
I^^SEVT l^ESTS-RBMEDIAL TREATMENT. ,«
IS
this .tmeiy llVr^efii^Se/rxf/,^^^^^^^ - ^ '-^" ^--JMr. Pettet.
used formerly to ««e tintt ^Woh";; ^ ?ftier Zfu^e'ZL^' 'T'^T' ^''^^
safely owing to tbe space they required. e^pe"8«ve and were hard to store
Bjf Mr. WUion:
Q. How long have you been using this remedy ?
A. Hour years. •'
THB PBA MOTH— HOW TO PREVENT.
buti^ve5;^^„^tui^hrug^^^^^^^^ «« amle,
here, I haVe a few words tf say. I referTthe Z In If ""^.^^"^bec. as far up a^
maggot, which attacks the green nease in tht n^ :. rM,^''® P«* "»°l»» o"* pea
like that of the Codling mofh or apX wSrm afd Hn«« * '«"'« c^terpillar somewLt
not very pleasant wbe^n you /nS^a^ fe^o? these in a d^rh'nf>^''V°^J'"''™' ^' «
sometimes and in some places they are so abundanffh-^ of cooked pease; and
and don't take much troible to pick them out of fh« J ^PfP'® ««' "««d 1° them
almost every dish you will Ld rferboi ef sweBrn.^'^'''' '°^^'"« *'^«»- 1°
generally called, noi such discoveries Lve a tendTScv to de^^^^^ ^ '^"'^ T
good many people, when they see them thev do norw^n? » °^ ^''^ appetite of a
profess not to .Sind them and^eat their deKcfescontrtSSlv^S P'"'" = ^^'^^'^^
It IS not mentioned, however in anv renoiA nn in;„..T!^ •^* ^°" *^ "<* "^^ insect
except our own, although it diSs co^nXrLble Lri™ ?n v '"T^'. "' ^«'" ^« ^ ^now,
the south of us. The life h story of the ins«Pf hL K ^^^ !?'> ^"'^ ^^^^ «<'*tes to
found that the moth which lays^hoeg's Vrmwh?^^ ""\*"^ ^« have
appear till the end of Juno or be-innlns of rS v Tn ^ .^^^rP'^'^s hatch does not
can, in the case of garden peasrfSrtaSfeui at anv raT^ '""'^'^''^ ^^^^^" '°''°'^ ^'
varieties with good results because tLZthtLfi' ''^u '*'^'®*''^ °^ ^ho earliest
until these peasf are readTfor S tLrefore «li^oVfr ^^' "^^^ ?°«« •^<^' ^PP^^^^-
there are se^veral good oZ. Xh'cao be g;own succe s^^^
be ^rown and matured long before any Sy "s done t Li- -^"^ ''"''P' "*"
varieties of this class, such as the followini Alask^ Am«H?In "^^^^^ ""J,' '^^^'^''^
Surprise, Gradus, Notfs Excelsior, McLean's LUtleGiTJJ^^ Wonder Gregory's
the Alaska, because they say it is i very liUle nea aS n'.f "°' "l^®
reason, however, it is well worth ffrowfn^ Th!L °ot worth growing for that
laetyear, and this yea^'iyTli^K fbe HprasTaHy^'^TL^^^ ^^T'' '^°'^«
of good quality, and were ready and ripe for II tTh?^ £v« ^^ 7«r'eties are all
yea, and add to that another fortnighy^ifyet! '^^^::^^::^ fJ^V^
By Mr. Wilson: ^
5. What do you mean by being ripe?
it wa7a veTeat^ULlZXYt':rextVi°fn'?'-'\^ P««««- ^^^ 7^^-
these pease ?eady before Ve"' sTmac'^ot^'^an Zfu^^^ '^'i y*'**'^ '^"^ ^^^^ ^avi all
if the/are put if. early in thirpaTf Canada at an?..«T ^^ wT' '^''' ''' ^^ ««""«.
down towards the sea we find the season a mtl^Uf!^ ^' ^*'®" ^® ««' ^"""ther
there to avoid loss frortheTnsectTs theeam^^^^^^^^
varieties of early pease and get them in m ITZ « ^ W^ *'^°^'® *ho very best
can be put in as s£,n Lyou^can ^eTon t^^ ^ ""' .P«*««' «« a" know,
out sufficiently deep to p/t Jhe see^d n Th« o„t^' 'T ?u ^^o g-ound is thawed
this insect, un^til soLeth'^ng ofiTa di ?• ^od ?s J sow^ ^i''^'" """'^^ ?'«««"* for-
get them in as early as polsiblo. ' ' """^ *'"''^ varieties of pease and
By Mr. McMillan. •
thA 2k ^^ ^*°' *^® S?^' ''®^"'*« ^'■<^'" fie'd pease recently by sowinfl- lnf« Wo k ^
pf:nffif ' '"'"• ''"^ ^''^'^^^ -^y P^-tifuIly buf la{t"ero1,'?t was'^no?:'
i''a
14
DR. JAMES FLETOHEB.
A. That, Mr. MoMillan, I believe arose from the reason that the moth appears
at a certain time and there is only one period in the year when the insects are ready
to lay their e^ga. The females Jay their eggs on the pods that are young and in a
suitable condition for th^s young caterpillarH to eat their way in and get at the
forming seeds; so by sowing either early or late the podtt are not rnady at the time
the moths are laying the eggs and consequently the crop does not suflfdr from the
lavages of the insect. Much useful information on this subject has been collected
by Mr. Wetmore, of Clifton, N.B., and again this year at my request he is going to
try spraying his pease in the tsame way we do apple trees for the Codling moth. It
is posnible that this may be a good remedy for garden use but might be found rather
difficult for the pba crop growing in the field because the vines cover the ground so
thickly. But the rest 't of his experiments will be valuable, because if wo can get
a good remedy for a gurden crop it is worth having and ultimately we may be able
to apply it to field crops.
THB CARROT BUST FLY— TO PREVENT.
Another insect somewhat new as a crop pest is the Carrot Rust Fly. This
insect, which I am sorry to pay is increasing in Canada and giving a great deal of
trouble, is a small black fly. It lays its ej;g near the surface of the ground by the
side of the young carrots, particularly after the carrots have been thinned out, that
is when by handling the plants a certain amount of the odour of the plant is given
out. The eggs are laid at that time and the young maggots burrow down, they
puncture the root and serious injury is done by their boring into the roots in every
direction, thoroughly ruining them for table U(>e, and certainly not improving them
for stock, but probably not injuring them to the same extern as those intended for
table Qse. The only remedy that has given salisfaotion with us for getting rid of
that insect is late sowing. The carrot is a plant from which good roots rriay be
obtained if sown very much later than is the usual practice. I found when in
London, some years ago, that quite late in the year a very nice lot of tender young
carrots were being sold in Covent Garden market, and learnt from one of the
growers that they nowed them right up to the month of July and those which were
sown late wore better for the market than those of the earlier sowings. With field
crops we bow them as early as possible in order to get the largest amount of crop
for feed, but when sown for the table they can be sown late and if they get a Mttle
rain they make good growth and for table use are much better than those sown
earlier in the season.
Experiments have been tried with some success in sowing along the rows
different substances odourized with carbolic acid and other materials that have a
strong odour, so as to hide the natural odour. of the carrot.
THE TURNIP APHIS — HOW TO DESTROY IT.
Another insect that did a good deal of harm last season throughout all Canada
was the Turnip Aphis. This is one of the plant-lice or green flies which attacks the
turnip, and unfortunately they were very widespread, and the statement went forth,
and was generally accepted by farmers, that nothing could be done to prevent loss
from its attacks. Now that is not true ; a great deal can be done. When we had a
visitation some years ago we found that it wab best to let our men who were thinning
out the turnips know that they had to look out for the Turnip Aphis. When the
men are thinning out the turnips they can easily distinguish the firMt colonies of the
insects, and, whenever a calony is found, if the plant is hoed out and buried by hoe-
ing a little earth over it with the hoe which he haa in his hand, the colonies may be
prevented from spreading. After hoeing earth over the uprooted plants it should
be firmly pressed down with the foot. When the lice are too numerous for this
treatment they should be sprayed with a solution of whale oil soap in the proportion
of one pound in eight gallons of water. We have found that whale oil soap is one of
the best remedies for all plant-lice, and in that proportion it is useful for nearly all
1 8QQ
INSECT PESTS-REMEDIAL TREA TMEXT. ^
attacked pla*i,tB with a knapsack BpfayertheilanltS a ewSed 'Sir '""t
Bprajer w a most convcaient impieraent for fprav nir ra^xturi« An tS^ ''"*P'**=''
The worat ezhinple attack by the Tarnio Plft..HonJnf r"^^""« «" »'• 'ow crops.
Manitoba, where whole acre7of turS L^ Ilt^^^^^^ ^T '"*" ''*' *' ^^°'-d«''.
but steps have been taken to warn the^Sers in iZS;,n^u''"-/K "°°?"*' ""'^^'^^
the appearance of this pest should it occSr again ''" ^'*"'*°''" '° '°'*'^ *>"' ^«'-
-By i/r. Featherston :
Q. Had they dry weather during the time the attack was on ?
A. Yen, it was very dry weather.
By Mr. Moore:
Q. I think yon have not mentioned the insects that prey on the onion
do yo";.' n?tr°"' " ''^ ''°°' ''''^''' ^°" >"«- ^fa« Sne^hat 'desH^S'the bulb.
them^cufoff." '^" '°'°" P'""* *''' ^'■°''" °P *° ^•^'^^ ^'^ ^«"'- -<>»>«« high you find
A. And the bulb all rotten or cut off ?
Q. Cut off?
ihat.^-Tle BJSt Maggo't TaTar m^rt ^^^ t„eTtr^'"^V« ''f ^^^ ^-
is a good remedy for the Root Maggots of Sns a„i ofhor r Un,! ^T t ? desiderata
said, carbolic is very objectionabfrto them and I am f.£ t * ^' ^ ^*^® ^'^^'^'^^
which there is oarb^olic'acid to dVemirWhich isr^? °| ;"',Tu°JeT^^^^ "h"
crude carbo c acid mixed with water hft» «r5ir«n ♦kJ k,: V -^ ™^t.uj*e of soap and
Maggot. The well knol matrial' Whitf Z"'e^^^^^^^^ T""^' '^^ ^''^
insects on white and red currants and Zleben^es hrliS -^ ^"'•'•";"t-worra-
This is a remedy I expected nothing from but XI-tin/.T ^'?. .«°°,^ '■®«°''»-
such good result^s that? now feel I fanTcommend tiuse lt7s'dul?lVJ '' \^'^
the drills as soon as the young plants appear. "**^** '''^-^ *'°"g
THE GBAY FBUIT W0RM~8PBATINO MIXTURE FOB.
Throughout the province of Ontario last year a irood deal of hftrm «,„c a
apple and pear orchards by certain, caterpillars knoln as tSl GreenXu WoTr
These are the caterpillarH ca led " Grav Pinions " and ih«il k„ il u 1 . . V™"-
not only eating the foliage but of atSng the" Vung anWrm?ng fruif Th « ?'
the time of year thnt they do most harm We have nr^/.ifSi/p Su ^'^'l *
year, and I hope they will not occur again Durbg the last twenfvv«J!:*"" l*"^" i^'!
two or three visitations of these Insefts. buVthels^n diVanS^^^ \^
Green Fruit Worms were very troublesome in theTiaiirrS' i • .^"*' rV ^^^
this locality. In addition to a^ttackinrfru?t trees o^^frcies'aUacS 2' .'''° *S
s^r i^v^rc.? ;?„f-f,r-'^ ^« - abundrt\hrnt.?x^ Sinrh^
In British Columbia I found that fruit erowers RnffAroH «,.,„k f 41.
pillar of a small moth, which has done asoirZl\afhtll.iT\''''^^^^''''^''-
k
hi:
le
DR. JAAfjfSS FLETCHER
III
By Mr. Wilson
Q. Is it the oaterpillur of the Codling Moth ?
A. No, but it answers to it in everything but size. The spray which we rooom-
mend is one pound of Paris green and one ponnd of fresh lime to 100 galioos of
water. This should bo applied early in the season after the blossoms have fallen
and the young fruit has formed. The eggs are laid pn the Hide of the fruit, and when
the young caterpillars hatch they crawl over tho forming apple till they reach the
eye and remain inside the calyx or cup at the end of the fruit. Spraying should be
done early, before the calyx closes and the weight of the young apple turns down
the calyx end. The young caterpillar remains for some time in the calyx before it
f>enetrate3 the fruit. This is the time the poison takes effect before it penetrates the
ruit, when it cannot be reached.
Q. This miner you speak of is in the spring?
A. Yes, but the caterpillars are found all through the bummer and autuma in
the fruit which they destroy by burrowing in every direction.
Q. What do you use for the Tent Caterpillars you spoke of?
A. A spray of Paris green in the proportion of one pound to 160 or 200 gallons
of wator is the best remedy.
Q. It should U) applied early ?
A. Yes, very early, because the caterpillar is then small and much easier kilted.
When they are large they require much more poiso^i and it might be necessary to
increase tho strength of tho mixture to one pound of Paris gieen to 100 gallons
of water, with lime in the same quantity as the Paris green. If lime is mixed with
arsenical mixtures no injury is done to the foliage and it is just as poisonous to the
caterpillars.
By Mr. McMillan :
Q. Could nothing be done to keep the caterpillars from getting up the trees ?
A. Yes ; when they have eaten the foliage off the trees where the eggs were
laid and the food supply becomes reduced, they wander ; they drop from the
trees and crawl long distances. I measured a fortnight ago, where I found one
on. a fence ; it was 300 yards from the nearest tree and it had crawled over grass
to get to the fence. They crawl in search of food and they frequently crawl long
dii^tances along fences and i aiiway tracks. That is how trains are stopped by them
sometimes. 1 onco saw a train stopped by ^eeds in the North-west. The tracks
were not excessively weedy, but tbore had been a thunderstorm and the weeds were
knocked over the track, so that the wheels had nothing to grip on. So if half a
dozen caterpillars get on the railway track every few inches or so, I can understand
how the wheels might spin round without being able to bite. Most people think
when they read about trains being stopped by caterpillars that they are piled up on
the track so that the train can't get through them.
By Mr. Wilson :
Q. It was reported in this case that they were six inches deep?
A. I beliave that that was an exa;frgeration. I do not think that you could get
them six inches deep, and if you did pile them up they would not stay. It reads
better to say they were six inches deep than one inch, but I doubt if they wero even
one inch deep. My weeds when the train was stopped were more than two feet
high, according to the report ; but it was not so; they had simply blown down
across the tracks.
By Mr. McMillan :
Q. What would you do on the trunk of a tree to prevent them getting up ?
A. There are many mechanical contrivances which are good or the banding of
the tree either with a band of sr e easily yielding material, such as cotton batting
or some adhesive substance to caxh them. The oands of cotton should be tied on
IXSECT PESTS-HEMEhlAL TJtEAT.UEXT.
1833
17
CHBtor oil and rosin or even Shps HnCr nn . 7 '" "!' "^"i^ "''^''"^ «'' ^'^nds of
When the cnterpillarH comj tT S o.e thev don'? S"" '""V"?^'' ""'""^ '^^ ^"«^-
castor oil and riHin ban boon ,m 0^0.^5 and hnVnl, ?^ '^^'■^*'""- ^^'^ '"''^'"''o o^
and sticky, and at tho samotrmo it keeps tn^inSv TK' «»«««««f"!. being thick
has been used by Dr. Snriniror of Rnrlin.,^ v acidity u long time. This mixture
motbsof thecaJkerwotm w.icha S "?'' ""'T^ ag.insMho female
8imp!o8t remedy which e^o^v one ornMlLnh ""'"?" ^" '''^; «-«'^- ^ ^'^'"k *!'«
APPLE WORM,— WHEN TO SPRAY EOR.
By Mr. Cargill ;
wor,?? ^°" '° "°^ ^"^ ^''''* *••"« «f y««'- y-*" would spray to prevent the apple
orfo^;ttl"in°Zrr;!''^ntrio''°In'trri^ ^'^-'^ ^^ repeated three
as we have only brood o" lie CoSiing Mo 7 Wel/o^rnZh^^ ^'^ '""''^ ''''''
the Niagara peninsula appu'-entlv th,.«n VrTm.f °^ Jo'o^to thoy have two and in
have only one brood aff hard J ever" ZTlT' ^''^'J ^^'""^ ^^ ™«y ««7. we
occasionally three. ^ '^"'^ ^'^''' *"^ ^®«<^ ^^ Toronto two broods and
A ThTre rilld'^h'^^ ^'° '^ 'P'"'"« ^"^^^ ^^^ t''^^^ first bloom?
protel; tlel^ro te'l^^rls^^^^^^ ^^^^ '^ '"^ ^'^^ ^-" P-«^ to
find it to their advaotafflfn ,L^ „ f I -^ ^'®. '° blossom. Most fruit growers
ize the fruit ' Inlprtfo^ H^^^^^^^^ «« th«y help tf poTlin-
thera on at the proEer times whhnrnnn^ ''T ^'^^.Proper materials and to put
ing out the life h st'iry JinsTits aXn^r'-""''^"^- ^^'' '"" ""'^ ^'^ ^°"« ^y fi^!
that knowledge. Moft of he most tin .S^^"^ •^''"''' materials in accordance with
well known and the best mateSs frnlT'"*'- '"''u*' '^'^^^ "°^ t^^''' 'ife-histories
of Canada have ourZrZfem^^^^^ '^r/'' "^^'^ '^"«^»- ^*r™«^«
persons are writing regSSy fo?7DLmltiSn Chir'""^^-n-' "'l^ ^^^'^^^^ '^'' "^""7
extent possible and on all occasions. ' """ willingly give to the fullest
PASTURE GRASSES,— SEEDINO MIXTDRES.
are ^tZ:Z'ti:iZTTo:tl^^^^^ S^-«-. -h'^l^
are good and some of whTh kre nol m ^^^^^
with different mixturesTo find out rhieh^n,n.-*"^ ^ ^'■^'^^ many experiments
pasture afterwards. "'' '^^"''^ S'^*^ '^'ff ^''^PS of hay and then good
Farm''";rx?ui::%?d"\h\"ffir"th":t'Pwr'l' "^"'\^'.^ ^'^^^-t-' Experimental
institution shows at ieustthafw« K„. '^1,^*''®. «»^r'«tened it after our own
large area last year when k tave tSrhesf r«'T ^"Z*' . I' ^"« ^''' "««d by us on a
but it has been used T my cfr,4nondenf/?- ? ^^"^^ ^^^"'■""* "'^^ures,
most favourably «pon'it.7is a mTxtn'^t. t^T'l'Z'^'l.^^^-^ have reported
eight pounds. Withlhe ffra^rment S^'^K P"""" ' ^'^ ^°P' ^"^^ P^""^ ; clovers,
three dovers Alfalfa, A^fke and TO te Dutoh Inn"'' '°''" ^^ P^.""'^^ ''''^ ^^ t»»«
ruZ^^ord-fc^^^^^^
port.n^o?graes.e^drpSrX--;^
u
DR. JAMES FLETCHER.
a
?
a !l
H tbo number ot poiinda ot oacn r
is of Timothy, four pounds of Meadow Pescuo, two pounds Orchard
Kentucky Blue GrasH, one pound Rod Top. Red Top is perhaps not
the land i;* low. In that case I j^ciioiully put it in. If the land in
a green fodder or hay of any mixture wo have tried. It can be cut ior two years as
hay and after that gives excellent pasture, as good as any we have tried.
By Mr. Feaiherston :
Q. Is that twenty-two pounds to the acre?
A. YoH.
Q. What was the number of pounds of each?
A. Six pounds
Grass, one pound "
necoseary unless the ....
high you may put in two pounds of Kentucky Blue Grass instead of one pound of
each, but if the land is low in spots I always put in the red top grass. It is a very
valuable soft and rich grass in such places.
Q. How many pounds of clover ?
A. Eight pounds of clovt^r, two pounds of Alfalfa, two pounds of White Dutch, or
oidiimry While, as it is familiarly called, an done pound each of the common Eed
and Mammoth Red.
TO RECLAIM SAND DRIFTS.
(
Some rather interesting experiments with regard to grasses have been carried
on lately that I would also like to mont'on. Along the Ottawa River and also along
the St. Lawrence are various areas of sand land whoro the pine timber has been cut
down and the wind has had an opportunity of drifting the wand soil, and at one
place in particular, near Lachute, there is an area tivo miles long by one-half to a
mile wide that is simply a detert. There is not a blade of grass growing on this
sand, and with every wind it shifts from place to place. Not only is this tract
useletis, but it is spreading over the neighbouring good land, and it is a very serious
matter for the farmers living near this tract. Btforts are now being made to see if
something cannot be done to hold it down. It is only about forty years since this
tract began to appear. As the pine was cut down and the land cultivated, the land
got poorer and poorer and the wind got in and now these shifting sands have taken
the place of arable lands. I believe it in not a hopeless experiment to recover that
land again, because the farmers are all actively interested and some results of a hope-
ful nature are being obtained from the experiments which are now being tried by the
M-inistor's order as well as by the Department of Agriculture of Quebec, in planting
spruce trees. Many farmers there have planted as many as four or five hundred
trees in the last spring. Some of the trees were not in the best condition or in the
best position, but the farmers are leaining every day and are doing a good deal. It
is intended to plant the Awnless Brome grass, a free growing vigorous variety of
fodder grass of excellent quality, among these trees, which will, I hope, in time
recover this desert. We are working from the outside to the centre so as to
gradually encroach on the sandy area and prevent it from spreading. Within the
memory of people living in the district, as for instance, Dr. T. Christie, M.P., who
has shown great interest in having the experiments instituted, this now useless tract
of sand was covered with crops, and only the fact that the sand has accumulated in
some places and moves so quickly .when the wind blows prevents it being done now.
Trees are being planted, grass is being grown, the farmers are working in unison,
and I hope before long at any rate that some appreciable effects may be seen.
Flooded Lands.
Experiments are also being made with the object of making use of some alluvial
flats on the Ottawa River that are flooded in spring. Vigorous grasses have
been planted and better results than formerlyhave been obtained in getting back into
nseful grass some flats where the native grasses had been broken up, the whole of
the sarface soil was washed away and nothing was left bat the sub-soil. By planting
Q.
IXSKCTS PESTS- -REMEDIAL THEATMEXT.
baiik8 iliero to stop
1839
By Mr. Wilson :
.1... ^' ^T °"^ ""'J" ^"'^ ""^<' "' f'""" K'l«'»iJ at Iho .and
that Hand from moving?
wa« u;'oL'l,VIl'i!,ii"h''i''?'° '■"'•')■» »l»'«'i™ tli«™ »n9 con.iaoroil .„ high that it
are spruccH and firs which wo all know require «X 1 deal oflC Th^^^^^^^^^
Q. I think U might bo very well to plant some trees there ?
very\JtoX^lZ\u^''^^^^^ that is, I have never been
of ZrJ ml K !l *''"' ""'* °®''*''" examined them closely, but I think thev aio
By Mr. Feather ston :
ropo?.- .p ,haV/''"""°° °''"'"'' "' ^'""iP^K » •"«<»»; I 'IW »■>• !»«■ of any
province wore /own fhere ft „.™7cC of M,°'m "k-'i," '""^'■J'°^'J '*"'
oiiiir'i-fnK i^tritn^i ?B:lr""f '^^^ -^ --^ ™
the fact that there were more «««,«« «i.^.ii '^'^''o'" "^ .-^is idea was shown in
condition than thoro wereof thoTweel rJl by farmers in the faded
ined bv the farmers iraLeenZfoTL'^ '''''^ ?^^^" ""^ '^'^'^'^ "^^^o exam-
shown'by the la^go nSmbm of vi^Uors ^o ?he 'Twl' h '^ '^tl'^'^'^ f 7''"^' ^''^
During the three^days this 'exSrbition ''wl'' ' Tfate' wo|\^ '^'^art ""t^'P'^V
voT Tatroff'^'iS fhat iferf /^^«' '^"^ -f-mationirr;^ w^aTLf
they woSLve broaghVsam; es o^ weedsTom'' L?r''''' T *' '^'^^^ ^'^ ^^^^^
out what they were ""'"P'es oi weeds from their own farms in order to find
90
DR. JAMES FLETCflER.
m
no knowlciigo boforo. Tlio worst woods wore liun^ in a oonspiououH place across
the front i)f the buildini^, and every weed that is known as a post and injurious to
the crops was ropiesonti'd. •
Mr. Hiaithwaito spent three or four days befoio the exhibition in collecting
BpocinnMis for inspoftion. Hcv. VV. A. liurmun also did npociai work of value for
tile dopiirlment, and the intormaiioti which was pjivon wiis very lai'j^ely sought after
and taken advantage of, and (ho Minister of Agriculture for Manitoba, i believe, has
made arrangements for a repetition of tlio oxiiibition this year. A full report of
tbi» effort will bo imblisbcd by the Hon. Mr. Giccnway.
By Mr. Featherston :
Q. What about tho Froncli wood, some people object to that name?
A. I do not wondof. As I told thorn in Manitoba a fow years ago I do not see
why this weed should not bo called tho Knglihh, I risli, Scotch oi- (lerman weed as
well as French. The tirst year I lectured on weeds for tho M.initoba Government
was just :iftor tho piesont governinont camo into power ; it was naid, now, there is a
French Ciinadian Premier bote, we have tho government botanist going up theio to
Manitoba and tolling tliem that tho Slink Wood is not to be called P'rench weed any
more, but lie has orders to call it by a now name. Of course, this was nonsense,
but if there is anything in a namo Stink Wood is jus^ tho name for this plant as any
one can prove for himsflf by rubbing some in his hands and smelling it. VVhy it
should be called " French weed " I do not know, and I do not wonder that any people
object to have their national name applied to a plant which is nimply a curso to the
province, besides it is just as likely to have originally come from England or Germany
as from Franco.
Q. Some of those people are very sensitive?
A. They aro. It takes a vorj' little thing sometimes to make people think some-
thing might bo done another way and this is one of thorn. But this time these
objections bavo reason on their side. French weed does not describe the plant
accurately and slink weed does.
Having read the preceding transcript of ray evidence, I find it correct.
JAMES FLKTCHER,
Entomologiit and Botanist to the
Dominion Experimental Farms.
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