96 PROTECTION OF PLANTS, 1915-16 



prevent weedy land being rented after due notice to the owner. Though 

 resented at first, this act now receives general observance and enforcement. 

 Ontario reports tend to show the provincial "Act to Prevent the Spread of 

 Noxious Weeds" is ineffective, not enforced, and virtually a dead letter. 

 This is accounted for by ignorance of the act, and fear that it will not be en- 

 forced. In this province there are, however, several organizations assisting in 

 the spread of knowledge of, and sentiment for, weed control. These include 

 the Agricultural and Experimental Union, Farmers' Clubs, and Farmers' 

 Institutes. The district representatives assist in this work. The "Union's" 

 committee on improving the act has made important recommendations 

 urging publicity, organization for enforcement, and the banning of sixteen 

 additional weedy plants. 



Passing to the Quebec law of 1909, now in force, we find that on 

 the complaint of any person, and after eight days' notice, owners, 

 occupants and landowners must cut down and destroy noxious weeds 

 on land not in crop. Refusal or neglect to comply may result in a fine of 

 forty cents a day till the ordinance is obeyed. Any person may compel his 

 neighbor to pull wild mustard and daisies, even, in a sown field, as soon as 

 the weeds flower. It appears that this law would be quite effective in any 

 community where a strong spirit in favour of weed control existed. Un- 

 fortunately, enforcement of the law seems to be entirely optional. It 

 should be imperative on each township or municipality to appoint qualified 

 weed inspectors. Tactful and patient work by them would soon make weed 

 control a less heavy burden. 



Quebec is, nevertheless, making progress in controlling the most danger- 

 ous weeds. Yet the report of Mr. F. C. Nunnick (7) on the agricultural 

 survey, 1912-13, showed "that practically none may be said to be following 

 a systematic rotation of crops" but, "the farmers practising a rotation 

 were found the more progressive, their farm_s carried more stock per acre 



of tillable area than where no hoed crops were raised." In some 



districts the farmers have fanning mills, or can secure their use, and clean 

 their seed before sowing. In other places the farmer's clubs have bought 

 up-to-date machines. In still other districts, the fanning mill is an unknown 

 quantity, many of the farmers have never seen one. The survey, 1914, 

 shows that on 82% of the farms examined couch grass was increasing as 

 a weed, on 51% ox-eye daisy, and on 17% sow thistle. 



Successful Methods used in Weed Control 



Improved methods of cultivation and farm managem.ent hold the 

 solution of the weed problem and of these crop rotation is the outstanding 



