REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 31 



SESSIONAL PAP£R No. 16 



of organisms tlian may appear from previous researches. This is one field of inves- 

 tigation entered into more recently by the laboratories of this Division. 



Owing to the recent discovery of powdery scab in Canada and to the apparent 

 difficulty of finding means of checking it, experiments have been undertaken and will 

 be continued for such time as may be necessary to show whether control measures 

 are possible or not. 



Another disease hitherto recorded from Europe and the United States of 

 America, known as Silver Scurf of potatoes has been observed during the year, an 

 account of which will be foimd in the report of the Dominion Botanist. 



The disease ' Silver Leaf ' of fruit trees has engaged the attention of this 

 Division ; it has been ascertained that this disease may be produced at will by inocula- 

 tion with a particular fungus (Stereum purpureum), but it has also been found 

 that there are other agents producing the same symptoms. These must be investi- 

 gated before one can be in a position to suggest methods for the control of the 

 disease. 



The St. Catharines laboratory of plant pathology is continuing its good work 

 among the fruit farmers in the Niagara peninsula. Mr. McCubbin, the assistant 

 in charge, by his careful work and by his desire to give advice and demonstrate 

 methods of treatment, has gained the confidence of the fruit growers. 



In the section for the eradication of weeds and the identification of plants poison- 

 ous to live stock, and other wild plants harmless or injurious, the assistant. Miss 

 Faith Fyles, has a splendid opportunity to demonstrate to the farmer what plants 

 to avoid and how to exterminate weeds. 



The weed question is ever prominent. The routine necessary for their exter- 

 ijiination often does not suit the practice of farming followed by some farmers; 

 others permit little weed patches to become large and spread imtil their eradication 

 is by no means easy. In most instances where advice is requested one feels that a 

 little early attention might have saved considerable trouble. Of weeds it may be 

 said correctly ' a stitch in time saves nine.' There is no better weed eradicator 

 than a spade, and the sooner it is used the quicker will the weeds disappear. Plough- 

 ing up large patches of veined dock, Canada thistle, couch grass, etc., will only make 

 them larger in the coming season. 



The Dominion Botanist was absent on official business in the western provinces 

 and towards the end of the fiscal year he was appointed to represent the Dominion 

 of Canada at the first international phytopathological conference at Rome, Italy. 

 While in Europe he was authorized to pursue certain investigations in connection 

 with the utilization of any potatoes that may not be sold and heretofore were left 

 to spoil. He is preparing a report on the question of evaporating potatoes for use 

 as stock food at a time when fresh herbage is not available, and the possible intro- 

 duction of the industry into Canada. 



This is the age of specialization, and the work of the Division of Botany includes 

 many phases in which special researches will become necessary, when the work done 

 by the officers in this Division will become of still greater value because of its appli- 

 cation to the special needs of all who require information and help along these lines 

 of work. 



THE DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



THE .\DM1NISTRATI0N OF THE DESTRUCTIVE INSECT AND PEST ACT. 



This work includes the inspection and fumigation of imported nursery stock 

 and the Brown-tail Moth control work. In order to facilitate the importation of 

 trees and other plants into the western provinces, an additional port of entry was 

 declared at North Porteil, Sask., by Order in Council, and a fumigation station has 

 been erected there. This will enable importers in Saskatchewan and Alberta to 



