108 THE REPORT OF THE , [ Ko. 19 



the fall, will disturb these cells and kill the iamates by exposure. Seeding down only 

 encourages the wireworm, but barley and rye seem distasteful to this pest, and fair crops 

 of these can be grown even if the field be badly infested with it ; and possibly the fi.eld 

 itself be ultimately cleared of the pest. 



Among pests of foliage has been the pallid aspen beetle. The loathsome larvae of 

 this beetle were very destructive to the early leaves of aspen poplars throughout Alberta 

 and the Territories, and considerably marred their beauty. Remedy ; Poison their food 

 by spraying with Paris Green solution. 



The- striped cotton wood beetle was also very abundant on willows. The fetid larvae 

 enoit, when disturbed, a milk like fluid from tuberclf s along their back, and trail a sticky 

 fluid wherever they crawl upon the leaf, This is a very troublesome pest in the East, in 

 districts where osiers are cultivated. The larvae as well as the beetle cause the osier canes 

 to branch by injuring the tips. Should osiers bo cultivated in the Northwest this pest 

 will be on Lacd. Remedy : Paris green or green arsenite solution sprayed on the food. 



Lice on poplars and plants have been common in many parts of Alberta. Remedy : 

 SuffocAtion by coal oil emulsion, or fumes of tobacco. The Western Blister Beetle was 

 reported like " swarms of bees " on beans at Lethbridge in Southern Alberta about 25th 

 June. Other blister beetles were abundant on vetches in Central and Northern Alberta. 



Fleas. Towards the end of summer this pest became an intolerable nuisance 

 throughout the Northwest. Hay mattresses swarmed with them. A slight odor of 

 carbolic acid will prevent them from coming into a room so scented ; but if introduced 

 •wi'h bay or otherwise, then burning pyrethrum powder is a gocd remedy for driving 

 them out. 



Warbles in cattle appear to be on the increase. Cattle farmers are very well 

 acquainted with this fly, .but it 5S a trouble that is too apt to be treated as of not a very 

 Berious nature, and as not preventable. This, however, is a great mistake. In the first 

 place the bot maggot, or warble, so damages tke hides that grubby hides sell for one-third 

 less th^n sound ones. Bat the beef itself is rendered so inferior that buyers of the high- 

 est class ot meat, who supply hotels, (kc, will not on any account buy carcasses showing 

 traces of warble attack Such beef has therefore to be sold at a lessened price below 

 that obtftinab e for grod beef, the reduction sometimes amounting to $5 per carcass. In 

 view of the large and increasing exports of beef (cold stored) to England, it becomes im- 

 portant to 8et3 that the reputation of the Northwest is sustained by keeping stock free 

 from this pest. In dairies, too, the loss sustained through the attacks of warbles is just 

 as serious. There is the loss in quantity of flow of milk as well as deterioration in qual- 

 ity, resulting from the annoyance of the animals by the flies when depositing their eggs, 

 and later by the grubs The shrinkage in the milk is estimated at 10 per cent, and the 

 deterioration in quality at the same rate, making a total of 20 per cent. By th6 time the 

 warbles are discovered in the spring the mischief is done. Certain localities are more 

 particularly infested than others, and a dry season seems more encouraging to the warble 

 fly than a wet season, and where there is danger of the warble the animals should be pro- 

 tected during the summer months by spraying them occasionally with strong smelling 

 oils, such as fish oil, train oil, kerosene emulsion, «fec. 



To m^ke kerosene or coal oil emulsion add to 1 gal. of kerosene hot soap suds made 

 of \ gal. of water (rain water preferred) and \ lb. soap. Then churn all thoroughly to- 

 gether till it will adhere to the surface of glass without oiliness. When required for use, 

 dilute the emulsion by adding from 9 to 15 tim<s its measu'-e of warm water. 



After the close of the discussion consequent on the President's address, the officers 

 of the Society for the year 1901 were elected. The officers for 1900 were re-elected in the 

 capacities respectively held by them with the exception of A. D. Gregson, who retired 

 from the curatorship, the same being accepted by Percy B, Gregson, the collections hav- 

 ing been safely removed to his house. 



Mr. F. H. Wolley-Dod most generously presented to the Society a large number of 

 Lepidoptera, the bulk of which were new to the collection. 



Mr. O. 0. Poling, of Quincy, also presented to the Society several exceedingly rare 

 specimens including Neophasia Terlootii and Erebia Magdalena. Some of these spec- 

 imens are represf nted in but one or two other collections in the world. 



After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the proceedings terminated. 



