44 PROTECTION OF PLANTS, 1917-18 



(b) Each member should be assigned work according to his special qualifica- 

 tions. This may be: — 



1. Scouting work — to keep in touch with threatened outbreaks; 



2. Control work — to see that proper remedial methods are applied, where 

 outbreaks have already occurred: or 



3. Publicity work — to prepare circulars and articles for the newspapers, 

 and to give addresses, regarding the nature of the pests likely to appear and the 

 best methods of control. 



The work thus outlined obviously implies a director who keeps in touch with 

 all the workers. It also irnplies a certain amount of equipment for which each 

 worker should be supplied by the Department. The services of the County Demon- 

 strators should be enlisted, as far as possible, for they have an intimate knowledge 

 of the agricultural conditions of their districts, and are in a position to give time- 

 ly intimations of outbreaks. 



Preventive measures should be emphasized. Such measures, as I have already 

 said — rotation of crops, and good and clean culture — can be used to good advan- 

 tage in the case of farm crops. Even if they do not produce apparent results the 

 first year their value becomes more striking in subsequent years. This war is not 

 yet over and were it to cease tomorrow the need for greater production will be 

 felt for years. I believe that if a vigorous campaign were carried out against pests, 

 the indirect results would even outweigh the direct in the general adoption of 

 practises which mean better farming. 



What pests are likely to be troublesome this coming season? 



1. We will likely have those pests that are more or less troublesome every 

 year, namely the Colorado beetle, the late blight, and the soft bacterial rot on 

 potatoes; the anthracnose and the bacterial blight on beans; the green worm 

 and the root maggot on cabbages; cutworms on garden vegetables and other 

 crops; the fiea-beetle on turnips; the cucumber beetle on melons, cucumbers and 

 squash; the codling worm, bud moth, curculio, aphis and scab on apples; the 

 currant worm on currants and gooseberries; smut and rust on oats and wheat; 

 and others of minor importance. 



2. There may be a recurrence of certain forms that appear periodically, such 

 as grasshoppers, the wheat midge, the clover seed midge, white grubs, and the 

 tussock worm. It is improbable, however, that grasshoppers will be serious, but 

 there is a probability that the wheat midge and the tussock worm may do some 

 injury. Forewarned is to be forearmed; consequently the first duty of the farmer, 

 fruit-grower and gardener is to equip themselves with the necessary chemicals 



