26 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



Lime-tree looper Hihernia tiliaria. On May 30th the larvae were first seen 

 and then were a half-inch in length. They fed voraciously and pupated 

 about 18th June, one male moth emergin<]f in confinement on 7th October. 

 The moths of Tent caterpillars, probably Clisiocampa fragilis, which seems 

 a very variable species, were noticed in abundance at two points north of 

 Edmonton amongst the aspen, on 21st July, when they were just' emerg- 

 ing from their cocoons. In several instances, two or three males were seen 

 clustered on the cocoon from which females were apparently expected to 

 emerge. Some larvse of this species were taken at an earlier date south of 

 Calgary from several of which Tachina flies emerged. About E.egina, on 

 11th August, the weed CJieno podium album was noticed to have been des- 

 troyed by the larvae of a small moth, not yet identified, many of the chry- 

 salids of which, about a quarter-inch in length, were found in the withered 

 remains of the leaves. Larvae of the Beet moth, Loxostege sticticalis , were 

 also prevalent on the same species of weed and in the same locality. These 

 two last mentioned insects may, in this case, be looked on as beneficial in 

 helping to destroy a weed responsible for considerable loss to the grain 

 growers. At harvest time complaints were received of the Grain Aphis 

 being so abundant on wheat north of Wapella that binders were stopped 

 by the canvas slipping and the Aphids were removed by the shovelful. 



While no appropriation is made by the Territorial Government for the 

 control of insect pests, owing to the necessity not being forced upon them, 

 a large amount of money is expended in the crusade against weeds officially 

 proclaimed noxious. While, by legislative enactment, power is in the hands 

 of the inspectors, fifty of whom are employed for a short period during the 

 summer, to have a crop destroyed ; it is .seldom, found necessary, the farmers 

 being mostly willing to do their best to eradicate weeds when their atten- 

 tion is drawn to the appearance and the noxious character of such weeds 

 as may be found in their crops or about their places. The estimated area 

 cropped during the past season was over 1,800,000 acres and if even a frac- 

 tion of a bushel per acre were the loss in yield sustained through weeds it 

 will be seen that it would represfint a sum of money well worth saving. Edu- 

 cational work is pushed close after settlement by means of institute meet- 

 ings, bulletins and displays of mounted or green specimens of weeds. The 

 difficulties that inspectors have to contend with are great, one being the 

 fact that the population of some districts is of a very mixed character, as 

 indicated by the fact that twelve distinct languages are spoken in one dis- 

 trict within a radius of twenty-five miles. The early plowing of summer 

 fallow and subsequent surface cultivation, followed by harrowing of the 

 growing grain, is the method genei^ ^' recommended for the subjection of 

 annual weeds. Working of the soil i6l this way results in increased crops 

 of grain, which well repay the labor. Spraying has been recently advo- 

 cated by some, but is not looked on with favor by the most practical men 

 and will probably never be adopted to any extent in the prairie country. 



In 'many districts there is a perceptible inn")rovement in the appear- 

 ance of the fields since the inspection system was begun. 



In the weed ordinance there is a clause which prohibits the sale for 

 seed of grain containing seeds of noxious weeds, ond this is quite an aid 'n 

 preventing the spread of weeds, but unfortunately very dirty grain may 

 be s'>ld for feeding purposes without restriction. 



Dr. Fletcher, in commenting on this r>aper, spoke in high terms of ap- 

 preciation of Mr. Willing's work in the Northwest, having known him for 

 many years, and having had many opportunities of observing his work and 

 methods. Mr. Willing, h'^ rt-.tod, has ':'h'\rge of all the weed inspedion 



