56 PROTECTION OF PLANTS, 1918-19 



HOW THE PROTECTION OF PLANTS HAS PROGRESSED 



IN QUEBEC 



Geo. Maheux, Provincial Entomologist, Quebec 



A slow progression towards improvement is the characteristic of any work of 

 scientific generahzation. Conflicting continually with old prejudices, ever 

 opposing the freaks of a deep-rooted habit, having to demonstrate its efficiency by 

 examples not always to be found easily on the spot, slowly penetrating into minds 

 who never accept an innovation without a pledge, its ascent, delayed by these 

 agents, sometimes follows a line, the elevation of which is hard to appreciate. 

 Such a work as that followed up for the past ten years by this Society and by the 

 Department of Agriculture for six years now is too practical to have failed to spread 

 gradually among the ranks of our rural community. It is well to glance 

 behind us to see the path that has been followed: a moment's observation will 

 show us the distance now separating the starting point from the present state, 

 and perhaps it will give us more courage to continue with a new impetus the work 

 undertaken. I will not go into all details of this progression generally witnessed 

 in the methods used for the protection of plants in this Province; you are all 

 aware of the conditions prevailing in this respect ten years ago. Except for a 

 few orchards owned by progressive people, and where sprays used to be made, 

 the protection of plants solely consisted in the application of Paris green on 

 potatoes, here and there, and then only to control Colorado potato beetles. Has 

 a marked progress been achieved during this decade? This we shall see 

 further on. 



From many standpoints, the year 1918 will be remarkable in the world's 

 history. It is, we might say, the golden age of Canadian agriculture; in a splendid 

 effort for increased production, the noble race of the humble tillers of the soil has 

 largely contributed to save the world from starvation, in making the Canadian 

 soil yield crops never seen before. In the Province of Quebec alone, nearly three- 

 quarters of a million acres of land were put under cultivation in excess of the 

 previous years. You are not unaware of the magnificent impetus given to the 

 agricultural question, as well as of the complete organisation created by the 

 Department of Agriculture to support the enthusiasm, stir up the energies, to 

 rouse and keep emulation up to the end. 



Invaluable services have been rendered to the Province by the Greater- 

 Production Service. None of the questions relating to the production of food for 

 immediate consumption has been neglected by its chief, Dr. Charron. Its or- 



