REPORT 
OF THE 
ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST 
(James Fiercuer, LL.D, F.R.S.C., F.L.S8.) 
Dr. W. SAUNDERS, 
Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, 
‘ Ottawa. 
S1r,—I have the honour to hand you herewith a report on some of the most import- 
ant subjects which have been brought officially under my notice during the past season. 
Many other subjects which have required attention have already been treated of 
at sufficient length for present purposes in former reports of the Division, or are as yet 
incomplete. The correspondence during the year has been large and of a varied char- 
acter. There were 1,920 letters received and 2,110 sent out. During the past year I 
have had several opportunities of attending meetings in different parts of Canada, and 
of studying in the field some of the important problems connected with the protection 
of crops from their insect and fungous enemies. 
The experiments with grasses and fodder plants, native and exotic, have been con- 
tinued and have proved of great interest to visitors. This part of the work of the division 
is in the charge of Mr. Berthold Nothnagel, who has shown vreat interest in his work 
and is untiring in his efforts to explain to all comers the value and nature of the expe- 
riments which are being carried on. 
The Awnless Brome Grass having proved to be very successful in all parts of the 
Dominion, about 600 1-pound samples were last spring sent out to farmers in all the 
provinces. Such reports as have been received up to the present are, almost without 
exception, enthusiastic in their praises of this valuable grass. A special interest has 
been added to it lately by the discovery that it is particularly well suited for cultiva- 
tion on alkaline patches where little else will grow. 
During the year several thousands of specimens of plants and insects have been 
sent in for identification from naturalists in all parts of the Dominion. From these col- 
lections several valuable additions have been made to the Experimental Farm museum. 
Meetings.— Whenever official duties would permit of my absence, every opportunity 
has been taken of attending farmers’ meetings to meet farmers and to deliver addresses 
on the work of the Division. 
In January last I attended the convention of the Eastern Dairymen’s Association 
at Brockville, Ont., from 6th to 8th of January. The following week I went to St. Mary’s, 
Ont., and was present at the convention of the Creameries Association, 14th to 16th of 
January. From 20th of January to February 2nd I was in Nova Scotia and New Bruns- 
wick, attending meetings of farmers and fruit growers. The annual meeting of the 
Fruit Growers’ Association of Nova Scotia was held at Woifville on 20th and 21st of Jan- 
uary. The annual meeting of the Nova Scotia Farmers’ Association was attended at 
Middleton on 26th, 27th and 28th. On my way back to Ottawa I stayed off at Sussex, 
187 
