REPORT OF MR. S. A. BEDFORD. 343 



SPRAYING FOR INSECT PESTS. 



We have had an unusual visitation during the past season from insects of the 

 Aphis family, this may probably be attributed to the climatic conditions of the season, 

 different forms of these plant lice have attacked the Maples, Willows, Currants and 

 other shrubs and trees. The pest was kept in subjection by the use of refuse tobacco 

 soaked in water and the liquid applied with a spray pump ; 6 pounds of tobacco was 

 steeped for 6 hours in boiling water, then diluted with 25 gallons of water ; each large 

 maple tree required 1;^ gallon of the liquid at each spraying, from one to two sprayings 

 each season was found sufficient. 



NOTES ON TREE SEEDS. 



Last fall many tree seeds such as plums, crab-apples and cherries were saved and 

 were placed in boxes with alternate layers of sand. These were placed in a position 

 where they were exposed to the action of frost and were found to be in excellent condi- 

 tion for planting in the spring, most of the hard shell pits having burst. These were 

 sown as soon as the ground was in condition and some thousands of flourishing young 

 seedlings are the result. 



The advantage of sowins: tree seeds on summer-fallow was well demonstrated this 

 season. Two plots of Caragana seed being sown on 25th April. Plot one was summer- 

 fallow, Plot 2 was spring ploughing, harrowed and rolled the same day as it was 

 ploughed. 



On the 18th May the seeds in Plot No. 1 had germinated and were well out of their 

 seed leaf stage ; on the other hand not one plant could be found in Plot No. 2 ; in fact 

 they did not germinate until after heavy showers in the late summer. After the grow- 

 ing season trees on both plots were counted and measured, there were 25 per cent more 

 plants on the summer-fallow and they were one foot higher and more vigorous. 



FOREST TREE DISTRIBUTON, 



Number of packages, trees distributed 906 



" reports received 81 



'• received in good condition 74 



" " in fair condition 2 



" " in poor condition 5 



•' had good success 71 



" had fair success 10 



" failures 



MAPLE SEED DISTRIBUTION. 



Number of packages sent 385 



" reports received 99 



" very successful 58 



" fairly successful 30 



" failures 11 



