66 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1S07 



In 1SS9 the Mediterranean Flour Motli (Ephesiia Iciihniellaj Zell.) first appeared 

 in. Canada, the life history was worked out and the advantage of freezing the insects 

 by opening the mills to the winter cold was pointed out among other remedies. This 

 oppoi'tunity was made use of for publishing aiccounts of the other granary pests. In 

 the same year Fuller's Rose Beetle {Aramigus fallen, Horn.) was first discovered as a 

 troublesome greenhouse pest in Canada. 



In 1890 the present Experimental Plots for Grasses and Fodder-plants were laid 

 out and all varieties of which the seeds were obtainable by collection, by correspondence, 

 or by purchase, have been tested carefully as to their hardiness, crop-producing power, 

 nutritive value and palatabilty to stock. Many hundreds of different fodder plants 

 have been experimented with, and much valuable information has been given to the 

 country through these experiments. The plots themselves are a constant source of 

 interest to all visitors, and we are in a position from the results of our experience to 

 give advice as to the best mixtures for hay, pasture and all other purposes for which 

 jirasses are grown. 



In 1S92 the Hop-vine Borer (Goriyna Immanis, Gn.) did much harm in the hop 

 fields of Prince Edward county, Ontario. The habits of the insect were worked out 

 and published the same year, as well as those of the Red Turnip Beetle (Entomoscelis 

 adonidis, Fab), which every year docs some harm to cruciferous crops in the Prairie 

 Provinces. The Birch Skeletonizer {Buccidatrix Canadensisella, Chamb.) was a 

 conspicuous enemy of the birches all through Ontario for two or three years from 1892, 

 and injured the trees considerably by destroying their foliage. About this time the 

 imported Larch Saw-fly (Nernadns erichsonii, Hartig.), whiich had appeared as a des- 

 tructive forest insect in Canada in 1882, practically disappeared, from the fact that 

 it had destroyed all the tamaracs of large size. In 1902 it again showed up, but in 

 very small numbers, and has been noted every year since that date. In 1893 a collec- 

 tion of twenty cases of insects was sent from the Entomological Division to the World's 

 Columbian Exhibition at Chicago, and attracted much attention. In the same year 

 the first notable outbreak of the Black Vine-weevil as a crop pest in Canada occurred 

 in British Columbia. This beetle (Oiiorlnjnchns sidcatus. Fab.) seems to be a mari- 

 time species, as it has since that time been found a rather troublesome enemy of straw- 

 berries on our Pacific coast, and also in Nova Scotia. . Kecently the Sleepy Weevil 

 (Otiorhynchus ovatus, L.) has added its injuries of the same plant to those of 

 the above, attacking the roots in the same way. The Cattle Horn-fly, which showed 

 itself first in Canada in 1892, was very detrimental to stock in Ontario in 1893. 



In 1894 another change was made in the work of the Division by which the work 

 on Fungous Diseases v/as transferred, in a large measure, to the Florticultural Division. 

 As many experiments had been carried on by the Botanist in treating the destructive 

 disease known as Potato Eot, this for a time was left with the Botanist, who demon- 

 strated conclusively in exhibition plots at the Central Experimental Farm, that this 

 disease could he practically prevented by spraying with the Bordeaux mixture, now in 

 such general use for this purpose. This year saw also an outbreak of the Army-worm 

 in northern Ontario. Severe attacks by some fruit insects also called 'for attention. 

 The San Jcse Scale was this year detected in British Columbia, but the occurrences 

 were entirely wiped out by the destruction of the infested trees. The Cigar Case- 

 bearer of the Apple (Coleopliora fletcherella, Fernald) was studied and the species 

 described. The Pear-tree Psylla (Psylla pyricola, Foer.ster) was destructive in the 

 Hamilton district of Ontario, and the Peach Bark-borer .(P^''^<^oirihi(s liminaris, 

 Harr.) in the Niagara district. 



In 1894 the Apiary, which has been ably managed by Mr. John Fixter since it 

 was instituted, was established, and from that time has been of much interest to bee- 

 keepers, many of whom visit the Central Farm to consult Mr. Fixter. 



Outbreaks of special note in 1895 were by the Cabbage and Turnip Aphis (A. 

 Irassicce, Bouche), the Carrot Maggot (Psila rosce. Fab.), which every year is destruc- 

 tive in the maritime provinces, and sometimes extends its work as far west as Ottawa, 

 and the Joint-worm (Isosoma hordei, Harr.) iir western Ontario. The Cottony Grass- 



