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of Quebec. The list with analytical keys, annexed by abbe Moyen to his own 

 "Traitc dc Botaniqtic" , though more complete is yet fragmentary, and must under- 

 go the very serious criticism of lacking the descriptions necessary to every one 

 ♦'xcept the trained specialist. 



For these several reasons, I believe that a reprint of Provancher would either 

 be of mere bibliographical or historical interest, or would oblige to work such a 

 havoc with the plan and the scientific material, that nothing would stand of the 

 original book. 



I think that the demand is for a new "Flore Illustree de la Province de Que- 

 bec", embodying the Ungava Territory, and brought up to the present state of 

 botanical science. I take the liberty of insisting on the illustration as it is the prin- 

 cipal feature of usefulness to the general public. 



To be candid, I do not consider the publication I suggest as a very easy task. 

 Difficulties are numerous, and foremost among them would be the cost of pro- 

 duction. The plates alone in such a work could not be secured for less than 

 $3,000. I hardly think that any private enterprise in this line could be possible. 

 It seems that the provincial Government should take charge of the work through 

 one of its departments, subsidizing it as the work goes on. 



I have no information as to whether our English-speaking friends feel this 

 lack of suitable books, as keenly as we do. The unrivaled botanical writings pub- 

 lished in the last twenty years in the United States generally include the Province of 

 Quebec in their range. I mention as covering the whole subject: "Illustrated 

 Flora" (Britton & Brown, 2nd Ed.), "Gray's Manual of Botany" (7th Edition), 

 the last mentioned having included for the first time the results of Fernald's in- 

 vestigations in the Gaspe Peninsula. At all events, once the "Flore Illustree de la 

 Province de Quebec" completed, the translation might readily be made at very 

 low cost. 



These considerations, Mr. President, I respectfully submit to you and the 

 meeting. "The Quebec Society for he Protection of Plants" will have done 

 much for the Province and the fulfilment of its particular object, if it can induce 

 the Provincial government to undertake this much needed work. For, I am 

 thoroughly convinced that the indifference which the public at large shows to- 

 wards nature study is principally due to a want of adequate and readily acces- 

 sible literature. Some might object that such a scientific literature would logically 

 result from increased interest in botanical studies. If so, we are arguing in a cir- 

 cle, and such a situation will only be cleared up by an energetic effort having its 

 expression in "La Flore Illustree de la Province de Quebec." 



The INJURIOUS FLEA-BEETLES of the PROV. of QUEBEC 



By Arthur Gibson. Chief Assistant Entomologist, Ottawa. 



Among the destructive insects which attack the foliage of many plants, the 

 flea-beetles must be recognized as an important group. They are dosely related, 

 and all belong to the same family of Coleoptera. viz., the Chrysomclidac, the 

 members of which are knowm popularly as "leaf-beetles". 



The Flea-beetles are most injurious in spring, at which time the young seed 

 leaves of much plants as turnips, radishes, etc., are visited by large numbers of 

 the adult insects and quickly destroyed. Numerous small holes, in some of the 



