REPORT OF THE SOCIETY 57 



ganisation and its means of immediate communication with farmers were kindly 

 put at the service of entomology. 



Thanks to this agreement, the purchase of insecticides and fungicides was 

 made in bulk by the various parish committees installed in over 800 rural muni- 

 cipalities. Circulars and bulletins on the protection of plants were distributed 

 through these committees closely connected with parties interested. On the 

 other side, all minds were prepared and roused by a publicity campaign regarding 

 the damage caused by pests, the benefits of spraying and various treatments; 

 all the newspapers have contributed in spreading these indispensable elements 

 throughout the Province. Several circulars on sprays giving the price of chemicals, 

 etc., were mailed to each committee. We had besides published two posters, 

 colored and illustrated, giving full information for spraying vegetables and fruit 

 trees; after a few weeks, none were left for distribution, a proof that farmers have 

 realised the necessity of protecting their crops in an efficient manner. Instructors 

 and lecturers, together with the District Representatives, have kept the sacred 

 fire burning during the whole summer, and they have helped greatly towards 

 ensuring the final success. 



What has been the result of all this work in so far as the protection of plants 

 is concerned? We must frankly admit that results have gone considerably 

 beyond our expectations. Within one year we have made more progress in this 

 respect than during the five years previous. At first, the most important feature, 

 the habit of spraying, as you know by experience, was progressing very slowly in 

 rural districts. Owing to the impulse of circumstances, it has spread to such an 

 an extent that more than two-thirds of the farmers have introduced this practice 

 into their farming system. Now, in this matter, the start is the most difificult 

 and afterwards the work is repeated automatically; the work is popularized, 

 and this alone is a very great result. 



Here are a few figures which will give you an idea of the insecticides and 

 fungicides used in the Province during 1918. 



Paris green 225 tons; Lead arsenate 120 tons; Formalin 18 tons; Blues tone 

 15 tons. 



Let us mention here two new cases where the practice has generalised. First 

 is the treatment of cereal seeds and potatoes with formalin which was practically 

 not done before ; in the second place, the spraying of potatoes with poison bordeaux 

 mixture, only practised on a small scale up to that time. It is well to state that 

 all farmers did not use these two fungicides, but a fair proportion which it is hard 

 to figure out exactly had recourse to these remedies for the first time in 1918. 



I do not think we shall fail to progress; this is only a seed put into the ground, 

 and which will not fail to yield excellent fruit within a few years. The example 

 of those who have gone forward will soon make the defaulters follow. To con- 



