KEFOKT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 2C9 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The injury by the Pea Weevil during the past season has been very serious indeed, 

 and I wish to impress upon all pea growers in the districts where this insect prevails, 

 the importance, or even necessity, of ma];:ing a united effort to decrease this great 

 annual loss by adopting some of the well known methods for the destruction of this 

 pest. 



The following are extracts from one or two of a great many letters on this 

 subject : — 



' Ottawa, Xovember 26. — During the month of August I made a bicycle tour 

 through the counties of Peterborough. Ontario, York and Brant, Waterloo, Welling- 

 ton, Oxford, Perth, Middlesex, Lambton, Huron, Bruce, Grey and DuSeriu. During 

 this trip I paid considerable attention to the insect enemies of farm crops, and 

 discussed the matter with many farmers. From my observations, I do not hesitate 

 in saying that the Pea Weevil is the most important pest with which the farmers in 

 the counties mentioned have to cope. I believe that the losses sustained in the 

 province of Ontario from this enemy are such as should direct more attention to the 

 methods of reducing or even exterminating this insect. In talking with farmers, 

 even where the weevil has been present for a number of years, I found that neither 

 the habits of the insect nor the proper methods of fumigating were very well under- 

 stood. Farmers who a few years ago grew every year 20 to 30 acres of peas have 

 become so discouraged that 5 or 10 is about the acreage they now grow, and many 

 have dropi>ed peas altogether out of their rotation.' — G. H. Clark. 



' Vellore (York Co.), Ont., Augiist 15. — The Pea Weevil is unusually bad this 

 year. A large percentage of the pods have every kernel punctured, and some kernels 

 have two insects in them. Last year, in early-sown field-peas, the bugs matured very 

 early, and at threshing time, shortly after the harvest, they were in swarms in the 

 barn, and the men were covered with them. It was an unusually hot season, with 

 continued drought, which, I presixme, hastened the development. Late sowing may 

 result in fewer weevils, but this method is invariably disappointing in the yield and 

 quality of pease. Many people sow one field from year to year, but they always 

 depend upon the early ones for the best quality of pease and straw. A heavy crop of 

 peas has the same beneficial effect upon land as clover, but to a less degree. This 

 result is very apparent on heavy clay lands. The much easier preparation of pea 

 stubble for wheat-growing is of great importance to those who make a specialty of 

 wheat, and as wheat usually does better on pea land than on other stubble, farmers 

 cling to pea growing for the above reason, which, in my opinion, is a very good one. 

 I have told many farmers of the plan of fumigating with bisulphide of carbon; but, 

 when extra trouble and cost as well as some danger are entailed, it seems next to 

 impossible to get farmers to take hold of this; if, however, you could devise some" 

 method by which public exhibitions could be given, for instance in properly fitted-up 

 railway cars to be moved from place to place, in which farmers could have their pease 

 treated at a small cost, I think they would soon learn the value of this method, and 

 if it were done for one season, there would be a general clamouring for more of it 

 the second year. A couple of years in any district would S(j thoroughly demonstrate 

 the benefits as to make it become a recognized duty of every pea-grower to treat his 

 pease, and with this united action much good would result." — John Laiimer. 



'Waterford (Norfolk Co.), Ont., November 7. — There seem to be few Pea Moths 

 here, but the Pea Weevils are very nearly equal in number to the pease.' — JST. H. 



COWDRY. 



'Belmont (Middlesex Co.), Ont:, December 4. — Pea Weevils have done much 

 harm. If a farmer treats his own seed pease with carbon bisulphide, unfortunately 

 that does not prevent the weevils from his neighbours' fields from injuring his crop. 

 There cannot be much good done unless we can in some way get united action. I 

 aril preparing to ^ow 12 acres of sod with pe::i.s next sprinrr. for fhere is nothing like 

 the pea-vine to thoroughly kill out the grass of a sod field. Before receiving your 



IG-U 



