82 PROTl£(TION OK PLANTS, 1916-17 



P. A. Murphy, Assistant in charge of Dominion Field Laboratory of Plant Pathology, 



Charlottetpwn, Prince Edward Island. 

 W. P. Fraser, Assistant in charge of Dominion Field Laboratory for research on Grain 



Disease, Indian Head, Sask. 

 P. R. Cowan, Acting Assistant Dominion Field Laboratory for Research on Grain 



Disease, Brandon, Man. 

 and Plant Disease Inspectors under the Destructive Insect and Pest Act; 

 Messrs. Geo. Partridge, Rolf Holmden (on active service), 

 D. E. Lothian (on active service), S. G. Peppin, W. O. Johnston, J. R. Brownlee, 



A. T. Tardif, and R. Trepanier. 



The foregoing is merely a general statement of the establishment, 

 organization, and progress of Plant Pathology in the Dominion during the 

 eight years this work has been under the direction of the writer. It is pro- 

 posed to follow these introductory remarks by short statements relating 

 to the special work done by the officers in charge of the Dominion's Field 

 Laboratories. 



THE FIELD LABORATORY OF PLANT LIFE PATHOLOGY AT ST. 



CATHARINES, ONT. 



W. A. McCubbin, M.A., Assistant in charge 



In 1912 the Dominion Department of Agriculture took steps toward the 

 solution of special disease problems, and adopted the plan of establishing 

 field laboratories for the study of diseases and the carrying out of experi- 

 mental work at a point closely in touch with the growers themselves. The 

 first of these laboratories was placed in the Province of Ontario, and it was 

 located in the heart of the largest fruit-growing district in Canada, the 

 Niagara Peninsula. Because of its central and accessible situation the city 

 of St. Catharines was chosen for the purpose, and the station started on its 

 work here on the first of August, 1912, with Mr. W. A. McCubbin, in charge. 



The first laboratory building was a small portable house 10' x 12' in 

 size. It was comfortably fitted up and served very well during the summer 

 months. It was located on the farm of the late Mr. Robert Thompson, 

 who generously .gave the use of the small site necessary, and to whom we 

 are deeply indebted for countless other kindnesses. Later on it was found 

 that this arrangement was unsatisfactory in many ways; the laboratory 

 was not easily accessible to the public; board could not be found near by, 

 and it could not be occupied in the winter time. Consequently a change was 

 made in the spring of 1913 to the present location in St. Catharines. 



