REPORT OF TEE ENTOMOLOGIST AXD BOTANIST 201 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



NOTES ON LECTURING TOURS AND INVESTIGATIONS 



IX MANITOBA, THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES AND 

 BRITISH COLUMBIA IN 1901. 



By instruction of the Honourable the Minister of Agriculture, and at the request 

 ef the several governments of Manitoba, the North-west Territories and British Col- 

 umbia, I spent the months of July and August last in the West. In Manitoba the 

 chief subject studied was locust injuries. In the North-west Territories a series of 

 farmers meetings was held in northern Alberta in continuation of work of a similar 

 nature which I have taken part in during the last three summers. The special sub- 

 ject for discussion was Noxious Weeds and their Eradication. In this work particu- 

 lar attention has been drawn to the great value of using light harrows and weeders 

 on growing grain crops after they have appeared above the ground, also the value of 

 Nature Study in Agricultural Education. In British Columbia insects injurious to 

 field crops and fruits were dealt with as well as weeds, hay and fodder crops in general, 

 and Nature Study. 



Manitoba. 



Leaving Winnipeg on the first of July in company with Mr. Hugh MacKellar, 

 the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Manitoba, and the Rev. W. A. Burman, I 

 yisited certain districts where serious inroads were being made into the crops by 

 grasshoppers. A report on this investigation made to the Hon. R. P. Roblin, Minister 

 of Agriculture for Manitoba, in which the main features of importance are dealt with, 

 appears further on in this report. (.See page 222.) 



The North-west Territories. 



After finishing the work in Manitoba, I proceeded westward. A most pleasant 

 and profitable day was spent at the Experimental Farm at Indian Head, examining the 

 crops and making other observations connected with my work. The exuberant appear- 

 ance of all vegetation throughout the West this year surpassed by far anything which 

 had ever been seen before since the settlement of the country, and the magnificent crop 

 which has just been reaped confirms the hopes which were entertained by all classes 

 at the time of my visit. July 10 was spent at Regina with Mr. T. N. Willing, the 

 Territorial Weed Inspector for the North-west Territories, and an interesting drive 

 was taken through the country surrounding the North-west capital, during which 

 notes were taken as to the degree of prevalence of noxious weeds. The good work 

 which has been done by the North-west Government in this connection, was very per- 

 ceptible. 



On the evening of July 10, I left Regina and reached Pense, where I visited 

 Gatesgarth, the home of Messrs. Gerald and Bernard Spring-Rice. This is now a 

 most interesting place, where successful experiments have been carried on for some 

 years in advanced farming and tree-planting. The following day was taken up in 

 examining the groves of trees, plantations of shrubs, fields of Brome Grass and other 

 crops. The greatly enhanced beauty of this place, due to the enthusiasm and skill 

 of the brothers Spring-Rice, the improvements and advanced methods practised, have 

 for several years been an object lesson to the farmers of the district. My kind hosts 

 Bpared no pains to make my visit profitable and enjoyable. On the evening of July 

 12, I reached Calgary and joined Mr. Angus Mackay. Leaving Calgary early on the 



