112 l>R0TECT10X OF PLANTS. I9I.-I7 



FACTS ABOUT WEEDS AND INSECTS 



G. Fontanel, S.J., St. Mary's College 



In order to accede to the desires of our devoted President, I shall call 

 attention to a few enemies of plants which I have seen at work this year. 

 My observations cover a very limited territory, consequently the conclusions 

 must not be generalized. Moreover, I have had but little time at my dis- 

 posal and thus many little robbers may have accomplished their work of 

 devastation without my knowledge. The fact that I have not seen them 

 does not prove that they have not kept busy. I shall begin by a few plants 

 and continue with a few insects. 



Plants 



Towards the end of June I noticed that the race of dandelions was not 

 likely to die out soon. At all events, if the seed gives out, one has but to 

 betake himself to the neighborhood of Boucherville and the islands opposite. 

 Even from a long distance away most of the fields at blossoming-time have 

 the aspect of an immense yellow carpet. One would imagine that there 

 were no other plants besides this one. Without energetic action, I fail to see 

 how the dandelion can be destroyed, and this all the more since by its early 

 blossoming it has already scattered to every wind millions of seed before 

 the other plants are readj^ for the sickle. Its propagation then seems 

 assured. 



I call attention also to the buttercup and the ox-eye daisy. I should 

 never have imagined that such plants could have been tolerated, and this 

 in the circumstances I shall name. In early July I have followed them 

 from Montreal to Bout de I'lle; then from Montreal to Montfort Junction, 

 then along the C.N.R. To be sure, all along the journey, one could make 

 a very decent collection of the worst noxious weeds — here the wild mustard 

 predominating, there the thistle and chicory. But that which first of all in- 

 trudes upon the traveller's sight is the enormous quantity of buttercups and 

 daisies. It is difficult to say which of the two plants counts the most 

 individuals: in certain spots the buttercup takes the lead while in others 

 the daisy has the upper hand. Near the railway the daisy has generally 

 the advantage, but the buttercup on the other hand spreads over a larger 

 surface. This is particularly noticeable in certain places recently settled 

 in the Laurentides. Not a field, not a road free from the buttercup and 

 not rarely is the daisy found as its companion. It is clear that these plants 



