12 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



years ago to which Mr. Fisher has referred. How is this danger to be overcome ? Inspection 

 alone is not enough, as some scales in a nursery may be overlooked even by the keenest inspector. 

 The only plan then is to require compulsory fumigation of all nursery stock before it is sent out, 

 and this must be done by a man sent by the Government, who shall see that the fumigating 

 house is perfect and the work perfect. This is all that we now have to prevent with certainty 

 the dissemination of the scale, but we shall have to go further and allow no stock to be sent out 

 of a nursery that is in an infested district. 



It is desirable that further experiments should be made with the gas treatment. The 

 ordinary man will not believe that infested trees in the middle of a waggon load and tightly tied 

 together can be reached by the gas. This should be tested. The fumigating house must be 

 constantly inspected to see that there is no leakage, and this work must be done by an officer of 

 the Government. 



On the whole Mr. Dryden felt that we were in a better position now than this time last 

 year, and he felt very hopeful for the future. He had great confidence in the efforts that were 

 being made for the preservation of our fruit trees, and believed that if the danger were once 

 fully and generally realized, our fruit-growers would spare no efforts to exterminate the scourge. 



Prof. Webster stated that he had tried infested trees soaked in water and others daubed 

 with mud, and in no case had a scale got through the fumigating house alive. 



Hon. J. Drydev : There are thousands of trees in a nursery. If there should be only two 

 or three scales on a small tree, how can inspectors tell their presence ? It is therefore absolutely 

 necessary to resort to fumigation. 



Dr. Fletcher quite agreed with this, but considered the inspection of nurseries most import- 

 ant for the discovery of infested places and he believed it to be a very wise provision. 



Mr. Fisher said that an experienced inspector could discover the scales in a marvellous 

 way, -ind would often detect them where the owner of the trees failed to see any. With regard 

 to the 100 trees destroyed, already referred to, he considered that the destruction of each one 

 was worth a thousand dollars to the country. 



EVENING MEETING. 



A meeting, to which the members of the London Horticultural Society and the public 

 generally were invited, was held in a lecture room at the Normal School. Notwithstanding the 

 inclemency of the weather, the first snowstorm of the season prevailing at the time, the hall 

 was completely filled by a /ery appreciative audience. At 8 o'clock the meeting was called to 

 order by the President, Rev. Dr. Fyles, South Quebec, who spoke of the honor done to the 

 Society by the presence of the Hon. John Dryden, Minister of Agriculture for Ontario, and by 

 his kindly consenting to preside that evening. 



The Ho.- . J. Dryden then took the chair and delivered the opening address. He said that 

 he esteemed it a great honor to preside over a meeting of the Entomological Society, which was 

 one of the best as well as the oldest of the associations aided by the Government of Ontario. 

 It had always been composed of gentlemen of wealth, of education, and above all of public 

 spirit, who were willing to devote their time and ability to the objects of the Society. While 

 it was one of the oldest, it was also one of the most useful associations connected with his 

 Department in the opinion of a practical man like himself. We need its accurate work and we 

 have been greatly aided and helped by it during all the nearly forty years of its existence ; no 

 doubt we shall continue to be helped by it during the years to come. He was present at this 

 annual meeting to show his interest in the Society, and the interest which was taken in it by 

 the Government and the Legislature of Ontario. He should like to inspire everyone with 

 enthusiasm in the work of the Society which was doing so much for the country by its studies 



