52 B. C. ENTOMOLOGICAL PROCEEDINGS, 1912. 



I will name a few: Codling Moth, imported from Europe; San Jose 

 Scale, from China and Japan ; Oyster Shell Scale, from Europe ; 

 European Fruit Scale; Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths; Mediterranean 

 Fruit Fly. All these and many others have been imported direct from 

 the countries producing the plants. The Hessian Fly, one of the most 

 destructive pests that infect wheat cereal, was imported from Europe, 

 so that taking the whole list of destructive insects, as stated above, over 

 fifty per cent, were imported. 



Had a judicious system of quarantine been adopted in the early 

 history of North America, these destructive pests would have been kept 

 out, and much of this terrible annual loss of $1,272,000,000, would have 

 been prevented. 



While Canada may not suffer as much in proportion as the United 

 States, still we have to pay our annual toll in the destruction of vege- 

 tables, grain and fruits. I am not sure that I can give a correct estimate 

 of the annual loss of Canada, but I think it is safe to assume that it 

 would bear about the same proportion as our neighbors to the south. 



Fortunately for us, British Columbia suffers less than any other 

 section of North America. This is largely owing to the early pre- 

 ventative measures that were instituted nearly a quarter of a century 

 ago. California led the way to the adoption of quarantine inspection. 

 Shortly after British Columbia fell into line, and the pioneer fruit- 

 growers suggested to the Government the creation of a Board of Horti- 

 culture with power to formulate regulations for the inspection of 

 nursery stock and fruit. It is greatly to the credit, I believe, of the 

 horticultural pioneers that these preventative measures were introduced, 

 and many of the most destructive pests have been kept out. If this 

 Province is probably the cleanest country in the world today, I think it 

 is largely owing to the foresight of the pioneer fruit-growers. 



We have the reputation today of being the only Province in North 

 America that is free from the Codling Moth, San Jose Scale, Gypsy 

 and Brown Tail Moths and the several Fruit Flies. Shall this reputa- 

 tion be preserved, and how, is a matter that should receive the immediate 

 consideration of the B. C. Fruit Growers' Association, the Central 

 Farmers' Institute and the B. C. Entomological Society. 



It devolves upon me to suggest the means that may be safely 

 adopted for our protection. In doing this I am following the lead of 

 California again, and also the Federal Government of the United 

 States. 



On December 24th, 1911, the Governor of California called a 

 special session of the State Legislature to consider the passage of a 

 Quarantine Law, which would enable the horticultural authorities to 



