24 THE REPORT OF THK No. 19 



Economic Entomology, then, as far as Ontario is concerned, dates from the tarly seventies, 

 although considerable had be^n written earlier by Professor Hind and Dr. C. J. S. Bethune, 

 the latter as editor of the entomological column of The Canada Farmer from 1865 to 1873. I 

 am sure that Dr. Bethune himself will acknowledge that the information a*-; that time regarding 

 remedial treatment was not very extensive. It is true that our fathers and mothers at times 

 practised according to the very latest methods, and that they had some knowledge of the value 

 of the suaps and lye as insecticides. The series of Annual Reports issued by the Entomological 

 Society beginning with 1870 were most- admirable, and probably did more to familiarize the 

 people with the names and habits of the common insects of the orchard and garden than any 

 other cause. When one travels about the country, as I have sometimes occasion to do, on 

 insect quest, one is often surprised at the amount of knowledge displayed by the older men. 

 These men had read the early Reports, and had inwardly digested them. 



When Dr. C. V. Riley was preparing his famous Missouri Reports, our entomohgists 

 furnished him much information and material, for their names are frequently mentioned by 

 him. Among the workers at this time were : Dr. Wm. Saunders, of London ; Dr. Bethune, 

 of Port Hope ; R. V. Rogers, of Kingston ; E. Bayne^ Reed, of London ; and B. Gott, of 

 Arkona. 



A little later. Dr. Fletcher and Mr. Harrington, of Ottawa, J. A, Moffat, J. D. Evans 

 and Dr. Fyles joined the Society, and soon took a prominent part in its proceedings. 



When the Experimental Farm was established at Ottawa, Dr. Fletcher was made Dominion 

 Entomologist. His annual reports have always contained the very latest information as to 

 the best remedial treatment for the noxious insects of the farm, garden and orchard. Through 

 his labors, our knowledge of insect life has been greatly widened. His pen is facile and his 

 tongue is both fluent and eloquent. For the last 15 years, Dr. Fletcher has been the chief 

 entomological figure in Canada, and his reports are eagerly scanned by our brother workers 

 across the line. Long may he be spared to occupy the important position he now holds ! 



Indirectly for many years, Professor Panton was performing a very important work at the 

 Ontario Agricultural College by training a younger generation of observers in the ways oi 

 insect life. His was a busy life among his students, and it is a great regret that he could not 

 find more time to attend the annual meetings of this Society of which he was a member. 



During the eighties and eirly nineties, the values of the chief insecticides were determined. 

 With the adoption of better methods of farming and the rotation of crops, it was possible, in 

 many cases, to control the attacks of injurious insects. The knowledge of insect life became 

 more general through the efforts of men like Dr. Fletcher, Dr. Saunders, Dr. Bethune, the 

 annual reports of both Dominion and Province and the many speakers attending the Farmers' 

 Institutes, of which Prof. Panton was chief entomological speaker. 



Among the chief insect pests of the Province in late years were : the Hessian Fly, the 

 Army Worm, the Wheat Midge, the Pe\- Weevil, the Horn Fly, Cutworms, Wireworms, the 

 Cabbage and Onion Maggots, the Codling Moth, the Clover-Seed Midge, the Tent Caterpillars, 

 the Potato Beetle, Apple Aphis, the San Jose Scale and the Tussock Moth. For all of these 

 remedie.s have bren determined, so that the intelligent, wide-awake farmer and fruit grower need 

 have no difficulty in controlling them. It wouldbe difficult to estimate the money thus saved to 

 the Province every year by the adoption of the remedies advocated by the entomologists, 

 members of this Society. • 



While the main efforts of our members have been given to the perfection of remedial 

 measures, which, I am proud to say, have been adopted by the best farmers and fruit- growers, 

 I surmise that considerable attention will have to be given to the work of educating the rank 

 and file, if the country is to get the full advantage of our work. I feel that we must enter 

 upon an educational campaign. I do not imply tha^ we must not remain investigators as in the 



