78 PROTECTION OF PLANTS, 1916-17 



THE RISE OF PLANT PATHOLOGY IN THE DOMINION OF 



CANADA 



H. T. Giissow, Dominion Botanist 



The science of plant pathology, or the study of the diseases of plants, is 

 one that has attracted little or no scholastic or practical attention till within 

 a comparatively recent date in the Dominion. When it became generally 

 realized that nearly all agricultural and horticultural crops of the Dominion 

 suffer annually very considerable depreciations from fungous and bacterial 

 diseases, the Dominion Department of Agriculture appointed to its stafif a 

 technical expert to direct the study of the economically important diseases, 

 with a view to controlling or minimizing the losses caused to farmers and 

 fruit-growers by such diseases affecting their respective crops. 



In July, 1909, the Department equipped at the Central Experimental 

 Farm a special laboratory devoted to researches along the lines of economic 

 botany, and principally for the study of diseases of plants. The initial 

 equipment consisted of the most essential laboratory apparatus; and, after 

 preliminary field studies of the most important diseases in a country like the 

 Dominion with its thousands of miles of varying climatic and ecologic con- 

 ditions, it was soon recognized that a great want existed for the rendering 

 of helpful services to the farming and fruit-growing communities of the 

 Dominion. 



For the first year or so the work was in the hands of the Dominion 

 Botanist, and one junior assistant, with the very modest appropriation of 

 some $2,000 per annum (excepting salaries.) Soon the more important 

 problems began to suggest themselves, arising out of the correspondence 

 largely carried on with interested parties, mainly persons whose crops 

 became damaged from some disease or other. 



As early as October, 1909, the zeal of the responsible officers led to the 

 discovery of the existence of so serious a diseases as potato canker in close 

 proximity to Canada, viz., in New^foundland. This discovery constituted 

 the first record of the presence of that disease on the continent of America; 

 and, very promptly, steps were taken to prevent the introduction of this 

 disease into the Dominion, w^here, it is safe to say, this persistent disease 

 would have considerably added to the troubles of potato growers. 



This discovery involved consideration of such legislative measures as 

 would, both at the moment and in future years, adequately protect the 

 Dominion from invasion by this and other foreign diseases. As a result, the 



