178 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD VII., A. 1903 



intelligent action. Aside from the importance of the pea crop as a commercial con- 

 modity for export, both as fancy or garden varieties, and for food purposes, it is one of the 

 most valuable crops the farmer can raise for feeding on the farm, particularly in finish- 

 ing and fattening his pigs, as no other grain will equally accomplish this purpose, and 

 pork and bacon are among the most valuable products of the farm.' — J. H. Allan & Co. 



' Toronto, October 25. — The trade in peas has been most profitable to farmers, and 

 before this pest became serious, Canada enjoyed the reputation of growing the best peas 

 available for the European demand, largely for human food. It is, therefore, highly 

 important that some concerted action should be taken at once and information given 

 throu'J'h your department, looking to the interests of the trade by stamping it out 

 effectually, if possible. The bug appears to have spread insidiously year by year and now 

 extends into almost every district in the province '. — W. D. Matthews & Co. 



'Toronto, October 27. — Our reports show that the Pea Weevil is gradually extend- 

 ing northward. A few years ago none were to be found in the neighborhood of Stayner, 

 but last year a few were discovered, and this year they have increased. The writer this 

 year found them in peas around Thornbury, and everything points to the fact that they 

 are spreading over the province. Unless something is done, our whole pea crop will be 

 destroyed. This has been one of the most profitable crops to the farmers in the past 

 when our peas were sound ; but heavy losses have been made by exporters on peas which 

 looked comparatively free from bugs when shipped, but on their arrival at the other side 

 of the ocean tlie bugs had emerged and almost swarmed in the bags when these were 

 opened.' — A. V. DeLaporte & Co. 



* Picton, October 21. — As far as we know, the seedsmen in the United States bug 

 their peas, but the farmers do not. I do not think there are enough peas imported from 

 the States to make much difference in this question. As to districts free from weevil, 

 we grew peas in Simcoe county last year, and there were no bugs, and there are very 

 few from Peterborough north.' — Cleveland Seed Co. 



That some districts are, so far, free of the weevil, the following evidence shows : — 



' Renfrew, October 22. — Our soil and climate are peculiarly well adapted to grow- 

 ing the ordinary white field peas, and our farmers are still growing them in large 

 quantities. They could and formerly did grow the large garden peas but gave them up 

 as they were too troublesome to harvest. This year we had magnificent crops of white 

 field peas, and, as prices are high, it was undoubtedly the best paying crop farmers grew. 

 It certainly appears that from some cause, whether it be from our very severe weather, 

 or from some other cause, the Pea Weevil cannot live in our section. Our farmers have 

 always made the small white pea a staple crop, and it is now growing largely in 

 favour. ' — A. A. Wright. 



' Toronto, October 25. — We find that our Montreal office has this season bought 

 40,000 bushels of peas in the counties of Renfrew and Lanark, which they worked for 

 export via Montreal, and they advise us that the quality is very good, being practically 

 free from bugs. ' — James Carruthers & Co. 



'Wellington, October 20. — Parts of the counties of Peterborough and Simcoe are 

 free of the weevil. In Hastings county it does not extend north of Madoc' — W. P. 



NiLES. 



Prof. Lochhead tells me that there is no sign of the Pea Weevil in the Manitoulin 

 Islands, and the Algoma District. The same is almost certainly true of Nipissing, Parry 

 Sound and Muskoka districts. The soil and conditions on Manitoulin Island are well 

 suited for the cultivation of peas, and doubtless large areas will be found equally so in 

 the other districts mentioned, as the country becomes settled up more thoroughly. 



The three chief JEnejnies of the Pea.— There are three distinct insects which have 

 caused excessive losses in the pea crop of recent years and there is still some mis- 

 understanding among farmers and seedsmen as to what exact insect is intended by 

 the name ' Pea Weevil,' and some again have protested that the name ' Pea Bug ' 



