232 EXPERIMESTA.L FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



into Canada from countries where the San Jose Scale was known to occur. When 

 it was discovered that this insect could be killed on nursery stock by fumigating 

 with hydrocyanic acid gas, at the urgent request of many fruit-growers, horticultural 

 societies, nurserymen and others, by instruction of the Minister of Agriculture, 

 proper fumigating houses were erected last spring at such points on the boundary as 

 it was thought would be most convenient to importers, and qualified superintendents 

 were appointed to treat any nursery stock, trees, shrubs or other plants as might be 

 imported through these ports, and then repack and send them on to their destination 

 as promptly as possible. For this fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas the formula 

 Recommended by the United States Entomologist for dormant stock was adopted, it 

 being the simplest effective formula, viz. : one fluid ounce of commercial sulphuric 

 acid, one ounce of refined cyanide of potassium (98 per cent), and three fluid ounces 

 of water to every 100 feet of cubic space — exposure 45 minutes. These fumigating 

 houses were located at the customs ports of St. John, New Brunswick; St. John's, 

 Quebec; iSTiagara Falls and Windsor, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Vancouver, 

 British Columbia. The whole expense of these stations was assumed by the Dominion 

 Government, but all shipments were made entirely at the risk of the shippers or 

 consignees, the government assuming no risk whatever. The packages had to Ije 

 addressed so as to enter Canada at one of the above named ports of entry, and the 

 route by which they were to be shipped, clearly stated upon each package. 



Many horticulturists and nurserymen availed themselves largely of this con- 

 cession, and at every port much stock was imported from the United States and Japan. 

 Nursery stock of all kinds can be imported from Europe without fumigation, as the 

 San Jo-e S ale has never gained a foothold in European countries. Certain other 

 plants which are not liable to the attack of the San Jose Scale are also exempted 

 from treatment under the San Jose Scale Act. These are: (1.) green-house plants, 

 including roses in leaf which have been propagated under glass; (2.) herbaceous 

 perennials, including strawberry plants ; (3.) herbaceous bedding plants ; (4.) all 

 conifers ; (5.) bulbs and tubers. 



The fumigating houses were kept open with a superintendent constantly in attend- 

 ance throughout the seasons of spring and autumn sh'pments of stock. Owing to the 

 lateness of the season at which it was decided to do this work, the fumigating station 

 for British Columbia was not operated until the autumn season of 1900, and, as all 

 vegetation is much earlier in Oregon and Washington States, from which most ship- 

 ments are made into British Columbia, it has been arranged that for that' province 

 the fumigating house shall be kept open for the winter months from October 15 till 

 March 15. For Manitoba and the Eastern Provinces the spring season is from March 

 15 till May 16, and the autumn season from October 7 till December 7. 



The San Jose Scale, although only occurring as stated above in a comparatively 

 restricted area in the province of Ontario, has increased considerably in orchards 

 wliich were infested last spring and other orchards adjacent to them. Nevertheless, 

 the condition of orchards even in the area where trees are liable to become infested, 

 is by no means hopeless. The Ontario Government has expert, capable and wise 

 officials devoting iheir best energies to the discovery of a practical remedy ; and, 

 although, from the lack of knowledge on the part of some fruit-growers, the work of 

 controlling the San Jose Scale has been much hindered by the suspension of remedial 

 measures in 1899, at the same time, the results of experiments show that much good 

 can be done by treating orchards if this is done systematically. This treatment, how- 

 ever, in the present state of our knowledge, is both dangerous and rather expensive; 

 but the former of these drawbacks will most probably be lessened or done away with 

 l)y future experimenting, and the question of expense is merely a business matter of 

 Comparing outlay with returns, the same as has to be met in every branch of a fruit- 

 grower's or any other business man's work. It is merely a question of whether the treat- 

 ment pays or whether it does not. If it can be shown that a certain expenditure of money 

 and labour will bring a profitable return, that is all the business man has to consider. 



