REPORT OF TEE ElfTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST 177 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Adarnson, E., grain inspector, Toronto. Martin Bros., Mount Forest, Ont. 



Allan, The J. H., Seed Co., Picton, Ont. Matthews, W. D., (t Co., Toronta 



Calkwill, J. A., London, Ont. McFee, Alex. &, Co., Montreal. 



Bruce, J. A., & Co., Hamilton, Ont. Montreal Board of Trade. 



Carruthers, Jas., & Co., Toronto. Niles, W. P., Wellington, Ont. 



Coryell, The J. L., Seed Co., Oshawa, Ont. Pearce, Wm., London. 



Crain «k Baird, Toronto, Ont. Rennie, Wm., Toronto. 



DeLaporte, A. V. & Co., Toronto. Ross, W. (M.P.), Port Perry, Ont. 



Ewing, W., &, Co., Montreal, Q. Simmers, J. A., Toronto. 



Hamilton, A. M., & Co., London, Ont. Smith, W. L., Toronto. 



Hay Bros., Listowel, Ont. Steele, Briggs Co., Toronto. 



Hodson, F. W., Ottawa, Ont. Thomson, Wm., Mitchell, Ont. 



Hopkins, H. T., Picton. • Wilcox, H. H., Oshawa. 



Lick, Elmer, Oshawa. Wright, A. A., (M.P.), Renfrew, Ont. 



My thanks are particularly duo to Mr. R. F. Stupart of Toronto, for a liberal 

 supply of skeleton maps of the province of Ontario, which were of great use in collecting 

 data as to the injurious presence of the Pea Weevil in the province ; also to Prof. C. C. 

 James, Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Ontario, for much valuable advice and assis- 

 tance. 



The extent of the injury. — Judging from the loss during the past ten years, and the 

 present state of affairs, the loss attributable to the work of the Pea Weevil cannot fall 

 far short of $1,000,000 a year. 



The necessity of immediate action. — Every correspondent speaks emphatically of the 

 necessity of some steps being taken at once to preserve this remunerative industr3^ All 

 agree that the injury is very great and that fresh districts are becoming infested 

 every year. Messrs. Jas. Carruthers & Co., extensive operators of Toronto, Montreal 

 and Winnipeg, write : 'We estimate the injury to the crop of 1902, as compared with 

 the previous years, is 50 per cent more, both as to the quantity raised and the value. 

 Districts that the bug did not appear in three years ago, are gradually getting bad, and, 

 if it continues, we don't think there will be a county in the province that will not be 

 afiected. We are very much pleased to learn that steps are being taken to try and 

 eradicate this pest.' 



Nearly every one heard from writes in the same strain. The value of Canadian 

 peas and the danger of losing the trade are indicated by the following : 



* Toronto, Oct. 25. — Canada formerly had the reputation in European markets of 

 producing the best peas in the world, but we find now, since the ci'op has become .so 

 badly affected by the weevil, that they will only buy the very choicest samples we can 

 ship. One of our largest buyers writes us that they are getting large shipments from 

 Calcutta, and the quality is very fine, being free from bugs, and better than any we are 

 shipping from Canada. They also say they are buying them at a price equal to three 

 cents per bushel less than we are asking for our No. 2 grade on the present crop '. — 

 Jas. Carruthers k Co. 



' Toronto, October 25. — The difficulties ai^ising from handling weevil-eaten peas have 

 become so great, that this season we are having some peas grown in Germany, a sample 

 of which has just come to hand ; and, while they have had a wet season, which has 

 more or less injured the colour, yet they are entirely free from the weevil. It is more 

 expensive to obtain peas from such sources than when grown at home ; nevertheless, we 

 must have the best samples obtainable, even if at a higher cost. Our experience in 

 this matter will tend to encourage larger orders with our foreign growers, although we 

 would prefer growing them at home if we could be satisfied that the existing trouble 

 would not continue.' — The Steele Briggs Seed Co. 



' Picton, October 25. — The question of controlling the Pea Weevil is of the greatest 

 importance to farmers throughout Ontario, and deserves careful thought and united 

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