128 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



at the agricultural colleges with the young men who assemble there ■''or 

 instruction. Such knowledge as I have indicated cannot be imparted in a 

 few popular lectures. Time is required to give the knowledge of, and 

 and acquaintance with the insects that will be of much practical value to 

 the young farmers when they return to put into actual operation the lessons 

 they have learned in the class-room and laboratory. 



I believe the agricultural colleges are giving courses in Entomology along 

 the very lines I have indicated. The courses in Entomology at the 0. A. C. 

 and Macdonald College are so arranged that the important elementary 

 economic topics are discussed and studied in the second year by all the 

 students in that year. Practically, then, all students who attend the 0. A. C. 

 and Macdonald College are given instruction in this most important aspect 

 of agricultural operation. Unfortunately all students are not missionaries; 

 many fail to proclaim the important entomological tidings to their benighted 

 neighbours, and so the great work of the evangelization of the whole land 

 is delayed. The wide-spread interest in agricultural education for rural 

 schools indicates that some of the seed, at least, that was planted by the 

 older men among us fell on good ground; for the present, interest has, to 

 some extent, developed by way of Nature Study. 



To one who took an active part in this movement for agricultural 

 education it is clear that the presentation of the various phases of insect life 

 by many of the members of this Society throughout the Province made a 

 deep impression, whereby it was possible to introduce Nature Study into 

 many of our schools. 



INJTJEIOTJS INSECTS IN ONTARIO IN 1908. 



By C. J. S. Bethune, Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph. 



The season of insect activity, which has now come to a close, has not 

 been marked by any unusual outbreak, such as that of the Variegated Cut- 

 worm last year, but several of our well known pests have been more than 

 usually destructive to certain kinds of vegetation. The long hot summer, 

 with plenty of rain in this part of the Province till the middle of August, 

 and the subsequent protracted drouth which has lasted with but few slight 

 breaks till the present time (November), has been favourable to the multi- 

 plication of many insects while detrimental to others. 



Insects Affecting Farm Crops. 



Plant-Lice. There have been more complaints this summer concern- 

 ing the damage done to turnips and cabbages by Plant-lice (Aphids) Fig. 33, 

 than regarding any other kind of insect. From every part of the Province 

 letters have come asking what could be done to get rid of the pest and to 

 save the crop. Usually the application has been too late — the plants have 

 been injured beyond recovery, and no treatment could restore their lost 

 vitality. The warm dry weather in September was very favourable to the 

 increase of this most prolific insect, and they multiplied to enormous num- 

 bers before their attack was noticed. They usually congregate on the under 

 side of the leaves and are out of sight to a casual observer, but many of 

 them are on the upper surface as well and the dead and withering leaves 

 should serve to draw attention to them. These plant-lice are dark green 

 in colour, much the same shade as the leaf they are feeding upon, and are 



