172 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD VII., A. 1903 



Collections. — The work of arranging the collections in the Division of Entomology 

 and Botany and putting them in such condition that they can be easily consulted by 

 visitors, has progressed satisfactorily. Large numbers of specimens of both insects and 

 plants have been received, and the collections are becoming a valuable source of reference. 

 IMr. J. A. Guignard, who has charge of the herbarium, has added many mounted plants 

 from all parts of the Dominion, which have been received from correspondents, sent in 

 for identification, or collected by the various officers of the Division. Mr. Arthur 

 Gibson has continued the arrangement of the cabinets of insects, and has added many 

 interesting specimens illustrative of the life histories and habits of crop pests and other 

 insects. 



During the season, as heretofore, many students in all parts of the Dominion have 

 sent in specimens of insects and plants for identification. Many large collections have 

 been received for this purpose, from which much valuable knowledge, as to the distribu- 

 tion of our native insects and plants, and as to the occurrence of the weeds of cultivated 

 lands, has been gathered. Records have been taken of these, and in addition many desir- 

 able specimens have been acquired for the museum. So many collectors have generously 

 presented specimens for our cabinets that it would be impossible here on account of 

 limited space to give a list of these, but mention must be made of the following : 



A representative collection of British Columbian Geometridse from the Rev. G. W. 

 Taylor, of Wellington, B. C. 



Collections in all orders of insects, and many consignments of the eggs of rare 

 mountain apecies, from Mr. J. W. Cockle, of Kaslo, B. C. 



Rare British Columbian plants, from Mr. J. R. Anderson, Victoria, B. C 



Acknowledgments. — As in the past I have been during the season of 1902 under 

 great obligations to my many correspondents, including several members of the Select 

 Standing Committee of the House of Commons on Agi'iculture, who have notified me 

 of outbreaks of injurious insects and have assisted in carrying out experiments for con- 

 tarolling the same. It is not possible to report upon a great deal of this work at the end 

 of each year, but careful records are always preserved, and, when occasion demands for 

 the treatment of any subject in the annual report, great care is taken to give proper 

 credit for such assistance where it is due. The value of exact observations is constantly 

 being illustrated in the scientific study of insects, and this even many years after the 

 observations were made. In devising remedies for injurious insects, the success or fail- 

 ure of these will in all cases depend on the accuracy of our knowledge concerning the 

 habits of the insects to be fought against. 



In conclusion, I take pleasure in again testifying to the assiduity and excellent 

 work constantly done by my assistants, Mr. J. A. Guignard, B. A., and Mr. Arthur 

 Gibson, to which such success as has attended the development of the Division is largely 

 due. 



I have the honour to be, sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



JAMES FLETCHER, 

 Entomologist and Botanist. 



