REPORT OK THE SOCIETY 113 



everywhere accompany the settler if he is not careful. Why be at such 

 pains to move far away only to cultivate the buttercup and daisy on the 

 rocks? It is evident that the railroads have infested their own lines whence 

 the seeds scatter into the adjoining fields. However, many distant locali- 

 ties, difficult of access, some even accessible only by the lakes, are already 

 invaded by hundreds of plants. This can only be explained by bad seed. 

 In this case the buttercup always predominates. It would be expedient 

 to make greater efforts to convince the farmers of the harm done by these 

 weeds. Many do not even suspect that the evil exists. Generally poor 

 and with but scant knowledge they have gone out to clear new land, then 

 have sown it but with cheap seed dear at the price they paid for it. It 

 seems to me that it would be a work of national welfare if the Government- 

 could furnish good seed at the price of commercial seed. The Seed Depart- 

 ment at Ottawa would doubtless be ready to do this, but many are not 

 aware of this and not a few imagine that the intention is to rob them or to 

 bribe them with a view to the elections. Before passing from colonization 

 roads to other matters I would call attention to the orange hawk-weed. 

 It has taken firm foothold near the C.N.R. at no great distance frcm 

 Montfort. What a pity that this should be a noxious weed for it serves as 

 a beautiful decoration to the outskirts of a forest. The passengers who are 

 unacquainted with it except for its face admire it willingly and take advan- 

 tage of the occasional stops of the train to seize a fiower. W^ould that they 

 might gather them all! W^ere it not for its invading roots it would be an 

 easy matter to get it under contrcl for it has not yet spread very far from 

 the railroad, but three or four miles. But in certain places it is very plenti- 

 ful, while in others are to be found but a dozen plants or so, probably sprung 

 from a single seed that the trains or even the passengers had dropped there. 

 The infested lands will not be settled to any great extent owing to the essen- 

 tially rocky nature of the country. In any case, the farmers will have to 

 watch, for it travels rapidly. 



But let us return nearer to Montreal. We shall again meet our buttercups 

 and daisies. Not only is "it a pity but a shame as well to see all the farms 

 east of the city so completely overrun. On both sides of the railroad 

 tracks to Bout de I'lle nothing is seen but white and yellow — daisies and 

 buttercups. Wild mustard is rarely absent, while on certain farms it 

 predominates. But that which strikes the eye first of all is the marvelous 

 prevalence of daisies and buttercups. Are all these uncultivated fields, 

 or the property of lazy men.'' Few or no vegetables, rarely crops of any 

 kind, so that one would take them for abandoned farms. Here a few cows 

 whose tails stir the daisies that hide them, there some children gathering 

 berries; no workmen about or next to none. Here and there a farm with 



