224 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



The practical work of the Arboretum and Botanic garden, which was done to a large 

 measure under my direction until last spring, was then, at iny request, handed over to 

 Mr. W. T. Macoun, the foreman of forestry, who, havino; men under his control, was in 

 a better position to look after the necessary labour, such as cultivation, planting, tidying 

 up, ikc, than I was, with only one man, whose time is very fully occupied with the grass 

 and fodder experiments. In addition to the above reason, Mr. Macoun is specially well 

 qualified for this woik from his natural tastes and knowledge of plants. I had, there- 

 fore, very much pleasure in recommending to you that this work should be entrusted to 

 him. 



Whenever my official duties would allow of my absence, every opportunity has been 

 taken of attending farmers' meetings to deliver addresses on the work of the division and 

 to meet the farmers. In this way information concerning the work of this division has 

 been spread to many who might not otht-rwise have known of its utility. Meetings were 

 attended at the following places : — 



January 7-10 — Campbellfo'd, Ont. 



do 14-16 — Cornwall, Ont. 

 February 7- 8 — Toledo and NewLoro', Ont. 



do 10-15 — St. Johns and Ormstown, Que. 



By instruction of the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, and at the request of the 

 Manitoba government, I proceeded to Manitoba on 23rd June last, and, in company 

 with Mr. Hugh McKellar, Chief Clerk of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and 

 Immigration, or Dr. S. J. Thompson, Veterinarian of the same department, I held a 

 series of twenty meetings in many of the most important wheat growing centres of 

 Manitoba. The subject treated of at all these meetings was " Noxious Weeds, their 

 Nature and Habits, and the best Means to adopt for their Eradication." These meetings 

 were in evt^ry case well attended and very great interest was manifested in the subject, 

 large numbers of weeds being brought in at every meeting for naming and information. 

 All arrangements and expenses of these meetings were undertaken by the Provincial 

 Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Thomas Greenway, who, by associating with me in 

 this work the two above named officers of his department, materially increased the value 

 of the meetings on account of the practical knowledge and long experience of both of 

 these gentlemen in the methods of culture practised in Manitoba, as well as their tho- 

 rough acquaintance with the capabilities and physical features of the country. 



Acknowledgements. — As in previous years, I am under great obligations to my 

 friends. Prof. John Macoun and Mr. W. H. Harrington, for frequent assistance in the 

 identification of difficult plants, insects and other objects of natural history. 

 To Mr. J. B. Tyrrell, of the Geological Survey Department, I am indebted 

 for the identification of specimens of Arachnidce. I also take pleasure in 

 again gratefully acknowledging the valuable assistance I have received from my 

 many correspondents in all parts of the Dominion, who have much aided the 

 work of this division by making observations and by sending me prompt notice of the 

 occurrence of injurious insecls and weeds. My thanks are particularly due to Dr. L. 0. 

 Howard, the United States Entomologist, and his staff for many favours in the identi- 

 fication of insects, for the use of illustrations and for valuable publications. The 

 following donations have been received, all of which are most acceptable : — 



J. R. Anderson, Esq., Victoria, B.C. — Botanical specimens and living roots of five 



species of British Columbian Ribes. 

 Andre Body, Esq., Quebec. — Botanical specimens and seeds. 

 Uev. VV. A. Burman, Winnipeg. — Seeds and specimens of Manitoba weeds. 

 F. C Clare, Esq., Edmonton, Alta. — Specimens wf rare plants and insects from the 



North-west. 

 M. G. DeWolfe, Esq., Kentville, N.S. — Living root of Amorphojjhallus Bivieri. 

 A. Grant Ferrier, Esq., Sorrento, Florida. — Insects from Florida, including a living 



specimen of the whip-tailed .^corpion (Thdyphonns giganteus). 

 T. W. Ramm, Esq., Ross Mount, Ont. — Specimens of ii, sects, including a beautiful 



pair of the Imperial Moth (Fades impericdis, Drury) taken in Ontario. 



