REPORT OF THE SOCIETY 43 



HOW MAY OUR SOCIETY HELP CROP PRODUCTION? 



By Prof. W. Lochhead, Macdonald College 



This question is undoubtedly a proper one at the present juncture. I believe 

 we can be of valuable service if only we can be properly organized and utilized. 



Prof. Cooley in his presidential address in Pittsburg before the Association 

 of Economic Entomologists said : "In the present great emergency we must be 

 willing to do anything necessary within our power to increase the supply of plant 

 and animal products, and we should be willing to lay aside for a time our research 

 work and meet emergencies. 



At this tirrie there is a special danger from insect and fungous pests because 

 the energy of the producers is centered on production, and there is a general slacken- 

 ing in the efforts for protection on account of scarcity of labor and the high cost of 

 insecticides and fungicides. 



Crop protection means increased crop production, but we all know that with 

 the large number of pests of different habits feeding on different plants the methods 

 employed will necessarily be many. They may be grouped, however, under two 

 general headings: 1. Cultural and preventive methods, and (2) Artificial or remedial 

 methods. Under the first heading will fall all practises of handling the soil for 

 crops that interfere with the development of the pest, such as rotation of crops, 

 good cultivation, co-operative measures and the utilization of the enemies of the pest 

 as far as possible. It is not necessary to illustrate here how such practises control 

 many of the worst pests. Suffice it to say that such methods are most effective 

 against pests of the ordinary farm crops. 



Under the second heading will fall the application of chemicals, powder, liquid, 

 or gas, against the pests when they appear, and the use of protectors, repellants, 

 traps, etc. It is obvious that an intimate knowledge of both pest and remedy is 

 required if control is to be secured, and herein lies the value of this Society and its 

 individual members. 



How the Society may help. — The following suggestions are made tentatively, 

 with the hope that they may be considered seriously. 



(a) All of our members who are available for rendering assistance should 

 be organized into a unit for effective work under the direction of the Provincial 

 Department or the Federal Department. 



