5-^^ 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



moist summer and heavy snow protection 

 in the winter, roses of all kinds thrive un- 

 usually well. In the northern part of On- 

 tario and Quebec the hardy roses have in 

 many cases given amazing- results, the heavy 

 protection of snow often bringing the plants 

 through in better condition than is seen in 

 the more southern sections. Throughout 

 the other portion of Ontario, and particu- 

 larly in the Niagara Peninsula, the ever- 

 blooming roses give the utmost satisfac- 

 tion out of doors and can be safely wintered 

 with very little trouble. On the coast of 

 British Columbia the paradise for ever- 

 blooming roses is found, and it is a matter 

 of surprise to many Canadians that one por- 

 tion of the country yields perfect growing 

 roses often as late as Christmas Day. Per- 

 haps a greater surprise in the matter or 

 plant growth will yet come from the great 



Canadian West. It has already been proven 

 that tea roses there grow with most un- 

 usual vigor, and constitute one of the very 

 best summer bedding plants. We have 

 many letters from that section that will tes- 

 tify to beds of tender roses enduring the 

 severe winter safely covered by the protect- 

 ing snow, and breaking into early growth 

 and bloom with scarcely the loss of a single 

 plant. Success in rose growing has at- 

 tended trials in North Alberta and the pro- 

 vince of Saskatchewan, and we heard some 

 years ago from a gentleman stationed at one 

 of the Hudson Bay Company's posts on the 

 shore of Hudson Bay of the wonderful suc- 

 cess in the cultivation of some roses 

 brought to him from Great Britain. As the 

 possibilities of the Canadian West are re- 

 vealed, it is plainly evident that we have 

 still much to learn about that section." 



^uestiotx gratuer 



Wheat Wire Worms. 



1326. Sir, — I herewith send you some pests 

 called here " yellow wire worms." There are mil- 

 ions of them in the ground, and they devour such 

 seeds as peas, beans, etc., when planted. Those 

 that escape them long enough to become plants, 

 are often killed by having their roots and stalks 

 eaten hollow. Root crops, as potatoes, etc., are 

 ruined by them ; also snch crops as pumpkins, 

 tomatoes, etc , are filled with them wherever they 

 touch the ground. In one case thirty-five worms 

 were feeding off one tomato berry. Please name 

 the beast and tell me how to exterminate it and 

 you will do a great favor to many. 



D. C. Crosby, Berwick, N. S. 



REPLY BY PROF. LOCHHEAD, O. A. C. , 

 GUELPH. 



In reply to the inquiry regarding "yellow" 

 wire-worms, I beg to say that the specimens 

 sent in are the common Wheat Wire-worm, 

 [Agnotes mancus). The adult, or Click 

 beetle, deposits its eggs on the roots of 

 grasses in early spring, and may prove very 



troublesome for the two or three years that 

 it remains in the larval stage. The larva, 

 or wire-worm, passes the winter in the earth 

 and is troublesome in spring. They cease 

 feeding in the fall, generally before Novem- 

 ber 1st, and descend several inches into the 

 ground, where they remain in a torpid con- 

 dition during the winter. In the spring, 

 they come towards the surface with sharp- 

 ened appetites after their long rest. When 

 they become full grown, which occurs be- 

 tween two and three years, after the eggs 

 are deposited, about July ist, these Wheat 

 Wire-worms prepare for pupation (their 

 resting stage), by forming a little earthen 

 cell in the soil, usually less than six inches 

 from the surface of the ground. The worms 

 then turn into the little white pupae. They 

 remain in this condition about three weeks, 



