THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



ANNUAL MEETING. 



The thirty-seventh annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Ontario was held 

 in London, the headquarters of the Society, on the 13th, 14th and 15th of November, 

 1900. 



On Tuesday evening, the 13th, a joint meeting was held with the London Horticul- 

 tural Society in a lecture room at the Normal School. Notwithstanding the inclemency 

 of the weather, a snowstorm prevailing at the time, the hall was completely filled by a 

 very appreciative audience, representing both Societies and the general public as well. 

 The proceedings were much enlivened by instrumental and vocal musical selections kindly 

 furnished by Miss Morpby and Mrs. Edna S. Robb, who was accompanied by Mr. J. W. 

 Fetherston. The Horticaltural Society is a new orgtnizition which has not yet com- 

 pleted its first year of existence, but has shewn itself to be full of energy and enterprise. 

 Two very successful flower shows were held during the summer and several public meet- 

 ings at which addresses were given on horticultural and kindred topics. The directors 

 and officers are all members of the Entomological Society and so intimate are the relations 

 between the two that the younger organization may be regarded as a section of the older 

 and larger institution. 



The chair was taken by Mr. C. James, Deputy Minister of Agriculture for 

 Ontario, who delivered the opening address. He began by explaining the intimate rela- 

 tion that exists between horticulture and entomology, showing that we could have few 

 fruits or flowers if there were no insects, and that there could be no insects if there were 

 no vegetation. While many insects are most beneficial to fruits and flowers, other kinds 

 are most destructive. As noxious or beneficial, the insect world has the closest possible 

 connection with the vegetable kingdom. He then tpoke of the various aspects of horti- 

 culture and referred, in the first place, to the labor side. In the sweat of the brow 

 must the soil be cultivated ; no good results can be obtained without hard work, but the 

 earth responds most bountifully when well directed labour is bestowed upon it. 



The next aspect is the financial. Horticulture must be profitable from a pecuniary 

 point of view, otherwise there would not be so many professionally engaged in it. Their 

 evident success and the expensive character of their equipment shows that they are pro- 

 viding for a real want of the community. All over the country there are extensive con- 

 servatories for the production of flowers, and here and there large nursery gardens for the 

 supply of fruit trees and ornamental shrubs and plants. 



But is there anything intellectual in horticulture 1 In the early days of this country 

 the pioneer farmers devoted themselves exclusively to the raising of grain, and they 

 began in the same way in Manitoba. All that they produced in excess of their own 

 requirements was bartered for the necessary supplies of their families. After a time the 

 care of cattle and pigs was added to the work of the farm and by degrees, after the lapse 

 of many years, this department grew into the great live stock industry that we find to 

 be so prosperous and so important to-day. The next development was the planting out 

 of a few acres of apple trees and the addition in this way of an orchard to nearly every 

 farm. The benefits derived from this improvement, both in the supply of a most whole- 

 some and agreeable variety for the domestic table and the production of a lucrative crop, 

 were soon realized ; more and more land was given up to fruit culture, a higher taste 

 was developed, a more lofty plane of life was reached. The monotonous routine of the 

 early farmer's life was changed to one filled with variety as the seasons came and went, 

 and men found that reading and knowledge were required for the successful prosecution 

 of their varied pursuits. A further mark of progress was the adornment of the home- 

 stead with flowers and shrubs. The ornamentation of the home with these objects of 

 natural beauty and the elevation of taste engendered by them indicated the highest stage 

 of country life. The combination of all these things that have been referred to provides a 



[9] 



