60 DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



THE DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



The work of the Division of Entomology may be said, 

 briefly, to have two objects: first, the prevention of the intro- 

 duction of insect pests into Canada, and second, the control 

 or eradication of injurious insects already existing in this 

 country. As insects affect and destroy forest and shade trees, 

 fruit and fruit trees, field and garden crops, grain and stored 

 products, domestic animals and man himself, the varied and 

 wide character of the work of the Division can be understood. 

 The three methods of attaining the objects in view are by 

 investigation, education and legislation. 



The Dominion Entomologist, who has charge of the Division, 

 has the administration of the ''Destructive Insect and Pest 

 Act," which was passed in 1910 to prevent the introduction 

 and spreading of insects, pests and diseases injurious to vege- 

 tation. In order to prevent the introduction of insect pests from 

 other countries, the Regulations under this Act require that 

 trees, shrubs and other nursery stock shall be imported only 

 during certain specified periods of the year and through certain 

 ports, of which there are nine from Halifax, N.S., to Vancouver, 

 B.C. At six of these ports, fumigation stations are established, 

 where certain classes of trees and plants are fumigated, in houses 

 provided for the purpose, with hydrocyanic acid gas to prevent 

 the introduction of the San Jose and other scale insects. In 

 addition to this precaution, trees and plants from certain 

 countries are inspected by officers of the Division, either at the 

 port of entry or at the destination of the shipment. 



The powers which the Act gives to eradicate pests which 

 have already been introduced into Canada are being used in 

 Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where an active campaign is 

 being carried on by the Division against the Brown-tail moth, 

 which has recently spread into these provinces from the New 

 England states. The provincial governments of Nova Scotia 

 and New Brunswick co-operate by supplying men to assist the 

 field officers of the Division. In Ontario, the provincial govern- 

 ment assists in the inspection of imported nursery stock and, 

 in British Columbia, the provincial government also co-oper- 

 ates in the inspection work. 



The Department of Indian Affairs makes an annual appro- 

 priation for the cleansing of the Indian orchards in British 

 Columbia. This work is carried on by the Division, and an 

 officer is permanently employed in visiting the orchards on the 

 Indian reservations in British Columbia, for the purpose of 

 assisting and advising the Indians with regard to the spraying, 

 pruning and proper care of their orchards, which otherwise 



