38 Transactions of the Canadian Institute. [vol. x 



The Entomologist has also the administration of the "Destructive 

 Insect and Pest Act", passed in 1910, to prevent the introduction into 

 Canada and spreading of insects and other pests injurious to vegetation. 

 Under the regulations of this Act, trees, shrubs and nursery stock may 

 only be imported into Canada during certain specified periods of the 

 year and through certain ports, of which there are nine in the Dominion. 

 At six of these ports fumigation stations have been established where 

 certain classes of trees and plants are fumigated with hydrocyanic acid 

 to prevent the introduction of San Jose and other scale insects. 



Plants from certain countries are inspected either at the port of 

 entry or at their destination. The protective value of this inspection 

 work has been frequently demonstrated by the discovery of such serious 

 pests as the Gipsy and Brown Tail Moths and certain scale insects on 

 imported trees. 



Many other aspects of the Entomologist's work of controlling and 

 eradicating the countless insect pests affecting man in all his activities 

 and his pursuits might be referred to, but space will not permit. I 

 would, however, mention the important investigations that have been 

 made in recent years by the Entomologist at Ottawa, respecting the 

 ubiquitous house-fly, its menace to health and the means for its sup- 

 pression. 



Chemical Work. 



And lastly I come to speak of the work of the Division of Chemistry. 

 Of its fundamental and varied character you will have judged from the 

 many references made in this address to the aid that chemical research 

 has given towards the solution of the numerous problems in general 

 and specialised farming. The relationship that exists between modern 

 and progressive agriculture and chemistry is a very important and in- 

 timate one, so that we may say with a very large measure of truth that 

 up-to-date farming is putting into practice the teachings of agricultural 

 chemistry. The requirements of crops and animals, the constitution 

 and needs of soils, the most economical means of maintaining and in- 

 creasing soil fertility, the nature and amounts of fertilizing ingredients 

 in manures, the relative nutritive value of forage crops and cattle foods, 

 the composition of dairy products, the constitution and preparation 

 of fungicides and Insecticides, all these and many more form the sub- 

 jects of chemical research and analysis. I shall but indicate some of 

 t-ie more important of these investigations now in progress, omitting 

 mention of those already alluded to In the course of this address. 



Canadian Soils. 



The chemical and physical examination of virgin soils and those 

 from unoccupied areas has always been a matter of particular interest 



