60 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 



whicli they are contained is a small one, the collection is now fairly com- 

 plete and of great value in the work of the Division. There are represented the 

 seeds of nearly all the Canadian we^ds which are troublesome in crops and also of 

 those plants which it is thought may at some time become so. In addition we have a 

 good representation of those seeds of dangerous plants which are occasionally found 

 in crop seeds imported into the country through the regular channels of commerce, 

 either with other seeds, in packing used for merchandise, or even intentionally as plants 

 to be cultivated for the beauty of their flowers, or for food. These two last named 

 classes are by no means unimportant as will be amply illustrated by the fact that 

 Piirslane (Portulaca oleracea, L.) is extensively used in France as a pot herb, as well 

 Crantz) is much used in Germany for the sake of the copious mucilage on the seeds, 

 as the Dandelion {Taraxacum officinale, Weber), and False Flax {Gamelina saliva. 

 The seeds of all of these plants have been imported into this country for domestic 

 use; while the Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum, L.), the Cypress Spurge 

 (Euphorhia Cyparissias, L.) and the Cow Cockle (Saponaria Vaccaria, L.) have all 

 been grown as garden plants, the first two being commonly planted in cemeteries from 

 which they have escaped and become very troublesome weeds in some districts. The 

 last named is an abundant and troublesome weed in the grain fields of the prairie 

 provinces to which it was probably introduced, mixed with flax seeds. This collection 

 of weed seeds has been of frequent use in the Division in showing visitors the appear- 

 ance of weed seeds with which they were not familiar, and also to the ofiicials of the 

 Division in identifying the very large number of weed seeds which are sent in for 

 identification and report by seedsmen, farmers, and others. The seeds of each separate 

 species are cleaned and placed in 8 oz. screw-necked bottles, together with some of the 

 perfect and unbroken pods or seed heads as they occur in nature. Care is also taken 

 to have in each sample, seeds in various stages of ripeness, so as to show the difference 

 between plump, mature seeds and shrivelled unripe ones. Wliere seeds vary consider- 

 ably in appearance, two or more bottles are given to a species and each bottle is label- 

 led with the name of the plant represented, the locality and date where collected and 

 also the name of the collector, or the origin of the seeds. The various species are 

 arranged alphabetically by their botanical names in the various natural orders of 

 plants. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The correspondence of the Division during the four months covered by this report 

 shows that from December 1, 1905, to March 31, 1906, the number of letters, exclusive 

 of circulars, was as follows : Received 990, and despatched, 895. 



MEETINGS. 



December 14, 1905 : Richmond, Que. — The Pomological and Fruit-growing Society 

 of the Province of Quebec held their annual meeting on the above date, and the 

 Entomologist attended and delivered two addresses on ' The Injurious Insects of 1905 

 in the Province of Quebec,' and ' House Plants, their care and propagation.' 



January 5, 1906 : Lindsay, Ont. — Collegiate Institute lecture course : ' Nature 

 Study and Natural Histor3\' 



January 10 to 12. — Ottawa, the Dominion Forestry Convention. This important 

 and successful meeting was attended by the officers of the Division, and a plea made 

 for the study of forest entomology. 



January 14 to March Y. — The Entomologist and Botanist left Ottawa immediately 

 after the Forestry Convention, and took part in the work of the Seed Selection Special 

 train, which traversed all the lines of railway in Manitoba and the Northwest Pro- 

 vinces, holding one-hour meetings at all the more important wheaT-.shippiug points. 

 The lecturers treated of those subjects which it was thought would be of the greatest 

 use in helping farmers to overcom.e some of the obstacles which had prevented them 



