70 B.C. Entomological Society. 



liiKl the system of inspection and fumigation is very complete and efficient, the 

 liossibility of tlie introduction of any dangerous insect pests being reduced to a 

 minimum, and spraying in the orchard lias become general throughout the Province. 

 Mr. Cunningham, assisted by Mr. W. H. Lyne, Assistant Inspector of Fruit Pests, iu 

 close co-operation with the Dominion Division of Entomology, represented up til! 

 October. 1011, by Mr. Tom Wilsou, acting under the Dominion "Destructive Insect 

 and Pest Act." operate the co-ordinated inspection aud fumigation worli in Vancouver, 

 whereby every plant product is duly given individual inspection and fumigation 

 within certain regulations. The writer took over the work from Mr. Wilson in the 

 fall of 1911. 



The first power-spraying outfit (Bean) was brought to the Province in 1910. 

 To-day there are nine large machines at worli,in the various sections of the Province 

 o| (era ted directly by the representatives of the Provincial Government. Several 

 lirivate individuals aud fruit-growing concerns also enlist the aid of these machines 

 to reduce the margin of loss in their orchards. At present between Armstrong and 

 I'eutictou there are about twenty-five private machines iu operation. It is curious 

 that the Lower Fraser Valley, which was the original fruit-growing area of the 

 I'ro\'iuce before the Okanagan became famous, forming as it did the advance guard 

 in the use of the siiraying-machine, and first illustrating the principles of pest-control 

 iu the early days of the Province, has let other sections go ahead and leave them in 

 a not very much better position than the early 90's. From the experience of the 

 writer during the past few years, it would seem apparent that there are no more 

 than fifteen individuals iu the valley who own and operate their own spray-machines, 

 liaud and power, for the control of orchard pests and diseases. 



In May 1912 Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt. Dominion Entomologist, established a field 

 station for investigational research in entomology, the object being to study the life- 

 history and habits of insects in the Province, preferably those of economic importance 

 and their control. The writer has the honour, at the moment, of occupying the 

 position as field offlc-er for British Columbia under the direction of the Dominion 

 Entomologist. Through the courtesy of Mr. Arthur Brealey, fruit-grower, Hatzic, in 

 the Lower Fraser Valley, the Dominion Division of Entomology was permitted to 

 establish temiwrary field-quarters on his farm for the purpose of investigating the 

 life-history and habits of Otiorliijiwhiis oratiis, the strawberry-root weevil, an insect 

 which was causing very considerable annoyance to the growers in the locality. 

 These temporary quarters at Platzic were removed to iiermauent ones on the 

 Dominion Experimental Farm, Agassiz, also iu the Lower Fraser Valley, in the 

 .spring of the next year, 1913. 



In the spring of 1912, again, the Provincial Department of Agriculture appointed 

 Mr. W. ri. Brittain, at the request of the British Columbia Board of Horticulture, 

 to the position of Entomologist and Plant Pathologist for the Province. Mr. Brittain 

 commenc-ed to work collecting data on fungous diseases and insects of the Province 

 in April. 1912. His headquarters were at Vernon. In the fall of 1913 he accepted 

 a position in charge of the Biological Department at the Truro Agricultural College, 

 Nova Scotia, thus leaving British Columbia at this time. The results of his investiga- 

 tions iu insects in the Province are for the most part recorded in our proceedings. 



Under the date of November 12th. 1912. Seymour Iladwen. D.V.Sci., First 

 Assistant Pathologist, Dominion Veterinary Department, at the branch office on 

 the Experimental Farm, Agassiz, published an account on the " Economic Aspect 

 and Contributions on the Biology of Warble-fiies '" under the auspices of the Dominion 

 Department of Agriculture. Health of Animals Brauch. 



The records of entomological work accomplished within the Province since 1911, 

 and the workers who are responsible for the dissemination of knowledge at this time, 

 will be found iu the publications of the proceedings of the Society. As the science 

 stands to-day, everything bids fair for the future. The numbers of workers are 

 increasing and the demand for knowledge is being felt. The moment should not pass 

 without one last reference to the splendid foresight shown by the several names 



