DlVrsiOX OF ENTOMOLOOY 



857 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



It is most gratifying- to observe the increasing quantity of nursery stock imported 

 into the prairie provinces. The number of trees inspected has been given in the pre- 

 vious table. The following figures indicate the amount of nursery stock subject to 

 fumigation that was imported into the prairie provinces alone; practically all of this 

 stock originated in the United States : — 



These figures not only indicate the proportion of nursery stock fumigated as 

 compared with the quantity inspected (see previous table), but afford strong evidence 

 o£ the efforts which are being made to make the prairie farjus lesb treeless. 



Field Work against the Brown-tail Moth, 1912-13. 



NEW BRUNSWICK. 



During the winter of 1911-12 seven counties were fouiad to be lightly 

 infested with the Brown-tail Moth. Owing to the unfavourable weather con- 

 ditions prevailing in July, 1912, when the moths were flying in the adjoining states, 

 which prevented any invasion of the female moths, and to the careful scouting work 

 during the previous season, an unusally small number of winter webs was collected. 



The scouting work commenced on November 22, 1912, and terminated on Febru- 

 ary 3, 1913. The field force consisted of eight men, the Dominion and Provincial 

 Governments each employing four men. Mr. J. D. Tothill had charge of the work, 

 assisted by Mr. A. B. Baird. The whole of the area infested in the previous year 

 was scouted, but only eighty-one new winter webs were found and the remains of 

 twenty-seven webs of 1911. Eighty of the new winter webs were found in C^harlotte 

 county, and a single nest occurred in Queens county. 



The distribution of the Brown-tail Moth on the food plants in New Brunswick 

 durin,^ the season 1912 was as follows : — 



Apple r . .. tiV 



Amelanchier 6 



Thorn C> 



Choke Cherry 4 



Elm . . 

 Plum. 

 Oak. . 



Maple. 



The fact that in Charlotte county 1,812 winter we»bs were collected in 1911. and 



only 80 were found in 1912 indicates the value of the thorough scouting work which 



was carried out, and that were countie.-; in New Brunswick not subject to an annual 



invasion of moths from the adjoining states during the flying season any unusual 



increase in the infestation could be checked. In 1913, however, an immense flight 



of moths took place in July, and the inspection work of the present season (1913-14), 



of which Mr. L. S. McLaine, with the assistance of Mr. A. B. Baird, has charge, has 



disclosed a very heavy infestation and a great increase of the infested area. The 



results of the inspection work of the past winter 1913-14 now being brought to a 



close will be given in my next annual report. 



Ottawa. 



