188 ~ EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



GRi^N^RY INSECTS. 



When visiting the Chicago Exhibition, I was requested by the Executive Com- 

 missioner for Canada to examine the grain exposed in the agricultural trophy and 

 to report to him whether it would be safe to distribute samples of it to farmers who 

 had made application for it, and to use the straw when taken from the trophy for 

 packing purposes. The following is a copy of my report: — 



REPORT UPON INSECT PESTS IN THE CANADIAN EXHIBIT OF 



GRAIN AT CHICAGO. 



J. S. Larke, Esq., 



Executive Commissioner for Canada, 

 World's Fair, Chicago, 



Sir, —I have the honour to report as follows with regard to my examination of 

 the exhibits in the Canadian Court of the Agricultural Building at the World's Fair 

 as requested by you, 1 examined them carefully as well as similar exhibits situated 

 near ihem in the building, I found that the greater part of the injury <vas due to the 

 attacks of the Grain Moth (Gelechia cerealella, Oliv.). The Eice Weevil (Calandra 

 cryzce, L.) and the Common G-rain Weevil (C. granaria, L.), were also both found in 

 smaller numbers. These were chiefly in jars of grain which had been imperfectly 

 closed. In reply to your question whether it would be safe to use the straw of this 

 infesied grain for packing purposes and the grain for distribution, I would say that 

 it would be safer and cheaper not to use the straw for packing, because it would be 

 first necessary to disinfect it by inclosing it in some tight receptacle and then sub- 

 milting it to the fumes of bisulphide of carbon. It would be wiser also to ti-eat all 

 grain required for distribution with the same chemical when, I think, there would 

 be no danger in distributing the grain. As a matter of fact, both the Grain Moth 

 and the Grain Weevils are now well established in all parts of the world where the 

 climate will allow them to propagate. In Canada this is not the case and there is no 

 doubt that our exhibit has been infested from contiguous exhibits in the Agricultural 

 Building. Grain distributed in Canada will do no harm because the insects will not 

 pro])ngate here in injurious numbers, and samples sent to southern countries, even 

 if infested, will only take insects to those countries which already exist there. 



I take the liberty of forwarding you herewith a copy of my I'eport for 1889, 

 containing an article upon Granary Weevils. Seepages 71-83. I have marked one 

 or two passages, giving a description of the method and apparatus necessary in dis- 

 infecting grain, to which I would draw your attention. . I may mention that Mr. 

 Chittenden, a member of the entomological staff now in charge of the United Slates 

 Government exhibit at Chicago, has been making a special investigation of these 

 Granary Weevils and other posts to be found in the exhibits now at Chicago. Prof, 

 liiley the United States Entomologist, by whose instructions this investigation is now 

 licing made, will also be in Chicago during this week, as Mi-. Chittenden informs me 

 he has been telegraphed for. As requested by you I called upon Mr. Buchanan to 

 explain our position in this matter but was unable to see him until the day I was 

 leaving, when I called again in company with Mr, Chittenden and told him practi- 

 cally what I now report oflScially to you, 



Ottawa, Oct. 13, 1893. 



It will be ohserved that only three kinds of insects were mentioned in the above 

 report. But Mr. F. H. Chittenden of the United States Division of Entomology, 

 who wasspecialiycharged byProf.Eileywith the work of examining the food products 

 exhibited at the Exposition, for the purpose of investigating the nature and ravages 



