7-8 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER N«. 16 A. 1908 



HEPOUT 



OF THE 



ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



(James Fletcher, LL.D., F.L.S., F.K.S.C.) 



1906. 



Dr. Wm. Saunders, C.M.G., 



Director of Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Ottawa, April 1, 1907. 



Sir, — I have the honour to hand you herewith a report on some of the more 

 important subjects which have been brought officially before the Division of Ento- 

 mology and Botany during the past fiscal year. There are a great many other sub- 

 jects which have taken up some of the time of the staff; but as these have been either 

 treated of before, or are as yet under investigation, they do not require special treat- 

 ment in this report. The number of applications for information continues to increase 

 year by year and the Division has become a recognized source for reference by all 

 students of economic natural science and scientific farming. The farmers and fruit- 

 growers of Canada to-day, carry on their work in an entirely different manner from 

 That which was generally adopted ten years ago, and there is a constant demand for 

 accurate information as to the nature of plants grown for crops and as to the various 

 enemies belonging to the animal and vegetable world which reduce the profits of the 

 agriculturist and horticulturist. The value of a scientific knowledge on all mnttcvs 

 related to farming has been recognized by the important place which has recently 

 been given to nature study and similar subjects in the educational systems of the 

 various provinces. The staff of the Division of Entomology and Botany have been 

 frequently called upon, and have willingly given their services, to help school teachers, 

 normal school students and pupils of all grades in their natural history work. Largo 

 collections of plants and insects have been received from such students from all parts 

 of the Dominion. Many addresses have also been delivered to schools, drawing) atten- 

 tion to the value of these studies and giving suggestions as to the best way of pro- 

 secuting them. 



Collections. — The collections in the Division have been largely increased during 

 the past season and have now been rendered much more complete and useful than they 

 have been for many years. The entomological cabinets have been increased in number, 

 and many specimens of insects have been taken from store boxes and mounted for 

 arranging in their natural ordersT This was made possible owing to extra assistance 

 allowed me by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture for this special purpose. The 



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