REPORT OF TUB ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST 211 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



ion. The meeting was largely attended, and an interesting discussion took place on 

 plnnt diseases and the weeds of the farm. Specimens were shown of the Leaf Spot of 

 the tobacco, of diseased potatoes, and of Poverty Weed. The last named is a deep- 

 rooted perennial, a native of alkaline lands, and a most difficult enemy to eradicate. 



These meetings in British Columbia were satisfactory throughout, and the wish 

 was frequently expressed that the speakers would soon return to hold similar meetings. 



On the way home, stops were made for one day at Glacier and two days at Banff ; 

 at both of these places we were favoured with magnificent weather and consequently 

 large collections were made both of plants and insects. From Nepigon, Calgary, 

 Mount Arrowsmith, Mount Che-am, Glacier and Banff, parcels of living roots were 

 despatched for cultivation in the botanic garden at the Central Experimental Farm. 



Ottawa was reached at 5.30 a.m. on the first of September. 



I beg gratefully to acknowledge the courtesy of the Superintendent of the west- 

 ern Division of the Canadian Pacific Railway, who gave me free transportation over 

 all parts of the C.P.R. system during the above investigations. 



DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



CEREALS. 



The cereal crops of the Dominion this year made on the whole a good showing. 

 Throughout the West the crop of all small grains, with the exception of oats, is unpre- 

 ccdentedly large and of good quality. The conditions in Manitoba and Assiniboia 

 were far more favourable from the beginning than in 1900. The spring opened with 

 fine weather, and there was little rain until the end of May. All farm work was there- 

 fore pushed forward. The ground was well charged with moisture from the rains of 

 the previous autumn, and crops got a good start. In Alberta the weather was wetter, 

 colder and more backward throughout the season than in Manitoba, Assiniboia and 

 Saskatchewan, but throughout the Prairie Provinces the summer was showery, and 

 magnificent crops were produced. In Alberta the excessive rain in spring caused some 

 inconvenience by delaying seeding and haying. August was very fine and all crops 

 rushed forward to maturity with remarkable rapidity so that, although harvest began 

 in Manitoba about the usual date, August 18-20, it was only a week or ten days later 

 in Alberta. The latter half of September was cold and wet with snow throughout the 

 prairie region on the 22nd and 23rd. After this the weather turned very fine, crops 

 picked up well, and all work was pushed rapidly forward. The average yields per acre 

 of the more important cereals are as follows : From the Manitoba December Crop Bul- 

 letin, a publication of great accuracy : — Wheat, 25 *1 bushels per acre ; barley, 34 -2 ; 

 oats, 40 -3 ; rye, 23 ; peas, 18 -6 ; flax, 12 -7. 



Mr. George Batho, of Winnipeg, has kindly supplied me with the following con- 

 cerning the North-west Territories : — 



1 The yields in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and Alberta were heavier than in Mani- 

 toba this year. Probably the most satisfactory crops were at Indian Head, Eegina, 

 Moose Jaw and other points in eastern Assiniboia. Throughout this district wheat 

 must have averaged 33 bushels, and many kinds gave returns of 40 bushels. In Al- 

 berta a considerable amount of the crop was uncut when cold wet weather came in 

 September ; this kept the yields from being as high as was at one time hoped for. 



' The oat crop throughout the whole Territories was particularly good. The aver- 

 age for Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and Alberta can safely be put at from 55 to 60 

 bushels per acre. Some damage to oats, and in a smaller degree to wheat, was wrought 

 by cutworms in Manitoba and in a few localities in the Territories. Grasshoppers 

 also reappeared in the same localities as last year in Manitoba, and where not attended 

 to destroyed a few hundred acres of wheat ; but their ravages affected very little the 



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