70 



and, together with those which were contained in untreated seed, attack 

 the growing- crop. As soon as the new pea pods are formed the 

 females la}^ their eggs upon them. The larva on hatching eats its way 

 through the pod and enters one of the forming peas. Here it remains 

 until full grown and before emergence has destro3^ed a large propor- 

 tion of the contents of the seed it infests. This diminution of the food 

 contents of the grain amounts to over one-sixth of the whole of the 

 large peas and nearly half of the small varieties, l)ut when the grain is 

 required for seed the loss is greater than this. From se^'eral experi- 

 ments I have found that only about 12 per cent of small seeds and 18 

 per cent of those of the large varieties will produce plants, which are 

 later in developing, and most of them diminished seriously in vigor 

 and crop-producing power. 



I have carried on an extensive correspondence with pea growers, 

 grain merchants, and seedsmen with the object of discovering their 

 views as to the most practical method of controlling the pea weevil, 

 and find that all are agreed that the loss is excessive and that some 

 detinite action is urgently needed if the paying production of peas 

 for home consumption and export is to be preserved. The pea crop 

 is one of special value to C/anadian farmers, not only l)ecause no other 

 feed fully takes its place as food for stock and in connection with dai- 

 rying and hog raising, but on account of the high reputation of Cana- 

 dian and Northern-grown peas on the Eluropean markets. It is also 

 highly advantageous from the farmer's standpoint. The pea being a 

 legume, the soil is enriched in nitrogen by its culture^ and at the same 

 time the land is left in the best tilth foi- fall wheat and other crops. 



It is genc^-ally acknowledged that pons are an advantageous and 

 desii'able crop to grow, but it is now a fact that, owing to the pea 

 weevil, they are not l)eing cultivated over a large area where formerly 

 peas of the very first quality were produced and could be again pro- 

 duced if the pea weevil could be controlled. Th(> vital question is, then. 

 Can this be done? I feel confident that it can, but it will require con- 

 certed action and cooperatioti. What, then, is the best and (juickest 

 way to reach this end, and what difficulties shall we have to contend 

 with? To l)egin with, I must acknowledge that, almost with one voice, 

 those I have consulted have expressed the opinion that the only way 

 is to give up growing peas entirely for one or two years, so as to starve 

 the insect out, and to enforce the measure with legislation. 



Theoretically, at first sight, this seeems to be a perfect remedy, and 

 if a complete cessation of the cultivation of peas were possil)le no 

 doubt it would ])e a solution of the difficulty. But after considering 

 this matter very carefully I can come to no other conclusion than that 

 it would be an absolute impossibility to prevent some sowing peas 

 within the breeding range of the insect. For this measure of starva- 

 tion to be successful, not only would every large pea grower and 



