210 EXPERIMENTAL FARMb 



8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 



The bees were examined from time to time and kept as nearly as possible at a 

 temperature of 45° to 50°, and at time of writing, April 1, are seemingly in good 

 condition and quiet, keeping well clustered up in the combs. 



D. D. GRAY. 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR SENDING INSECTS THROUGH THE MAIL. 



A constant source of inconvenience and loss of time to the officials of the Divi- 

 sion is the manner in which insects and plants are sent in for identification. It is 

 most advisable that inquiries should always be accompanied by specimens and that 

 these should be packed in such a way that they may come safely by mail without the 

 parcels being crushed and destroyed, or in the case of living insects so that these 

 bhould not escape. Experience has proved that it is a very difficult thing for those 

 who do not make a study of natural history to write descriptions of either insects or 

 plants so that they can be recognized without specimens. There is also a tendency 

 everywhere to give new and local names to any enemy which has forced itself upon 

 the notice of farmers, fruit growers and others, by its sudden appearance in unusual 

 numbers or by its injuries to crox)s. These local names are as a rule not in the least 

 ilescriptive of the pest and only in the very rarest instances are they in any way 

 applicable to any striking characteristic of the insect or plant to which they are 

 given. They are generally quite unintelligible to others and are a source of dire dis- 

 tresS; annoyance and waste of time to the specialist who is referred to for informa- 

 tion, unless specimens accompany the inquiry. It may certainly be accepted as a 

 general principle that any insect or weed which occurs in sufficient numbers to be 

 troublesome is not of a new kind which requires re-naming. There are now several 

 sources of reference in Canada, where every one who wishes to do so can find out with 

 very little trouble the nature and habits of any unwelcome visitor which may appear 

 in farm or garden. All that is necessary is to send a specimen to one of the many 

 government institutions or agricultural papers with a few lines descriptive of the 

 occurreuce and a statement of what infomiation is desired. When such inquiries are 

 made the following rules may be followed and are merely mentioned here, surprising 

 as it may seem, because they are so frequently neglectedi by correspondents of this 

 Division. 



1. Sign the letter of inquiry and give post office address in full, stating province 

 and post office to which a reply shoi;ld be sent. 



2. Send specimens representative of the species. In the case of plants, if i>os- 

 sible, send flower, leaf and root. As everything comes free by mail to the Experi- 

 mental Farm, Ottawa, and the postmasters in all parts of Canada have printed in- 

 structions to this effect (Canada official Postal Guide, 1908, p. xxiv), there is no ad- 

 vantage to any one, and a great disadvantage when accurate information is desired, 

 in sending small chips instead of proper specimens. 



3. In all cases write the name of sender with his address on the packet. 



4. Do not inclose letters inside packets of specimens but send them separately. 



5. Do not send specimens without a letter or note saying what information is 

 desired. 



6. Do not send fragile specimens in paper boxes. The post office officials have 

 sometimes to handle several tons' weight of mail, and fragile packets are easily 

 broken under such circumstances. 



7. Do not send specimens in glass bottles or in liquid unless carefully protected. 



8. When sending specimens or writing for information let the letter and the 

 specimens if possible go by the same mail. 



9. Living specimens of insects or plants should always if possible be sent in tin 

 boxes. Insects should always be accompanied by some of the food plant for them to 

 feed upon during the journey. Tin boxes prevent the evaporation of moisture and 



