To THE HONOURABLE SYDNEY A. FISHER, 



Minister of Agriculture, 

 Ottawa, Canada : 



SIB, I have the honour to submit herewith a special bulletin on the 

 farm weeds of Canada, prepared in accordance with your instructions. The 

 text of this bulletin is by Dr. James Fletcher, Entomologist and Botanist 

 to the Dominion Experimental Farms, and the illustrations were made in 

 water-colour from actual specimens, under his supervision by Mr. Norman 

 Griddle, of Aweme, Man., while employed by the Seed Branch. 



Incalculable losses are annually sustained by farmers on account of the 

 prevalence of noxious weeds. The cost of the labour needed to control and 

 eradicate them has become a serious problem in farm management. 



There are many means by which weeds become disseminated. Weed 

 seeds are carried by the waters of rivers and creeks. Transportation com- 

 panies, especially the railway companies, are responsible for the introduction 

 of many new weeds. The wind and animals of various kinds do much to 

 spread weed seeds in a locality. The results of investigation work conducted 

 by this Branch clearly show that the commerce in agricultural seeds is an 

 exceedingly fruitful medium for the distribution of weeds from field to field 

 and from province to province. 



In the Seed Laboratory all kinds of seeds are tested free of charge to 

 farmers. The reports issued thereon give the names of weed seeds found in 

 the samples sent for test, but the mere names of weeds frequently have no 

 meaning to persons who are not expert in the nomenclature of plants. In 

 consequence most new weeds become introduced and well established before 

 their noxious character is appreciated by farmers. 



The reference collections of correctly named specimens of weed seeds 

 that are prepared in the Seed Laboratory for distribution to seed merchants 

 and agricultural institutions, are used in the identification of impurities found 

 in commercial seeds. The illustrations of weeds and the information con- 

 tained in this bulletin will make these reference collections of weed seeds 

 more intelligible and serviceable. 



Since the work of testing seeds for farmers and seed merchants was 

 undertaken by this Branch, many applications have been received for a bul- 

 letin containing illustrations of the weeds named in the Seed Control Act 

 and other weeds, the seeds of which were reported to be present in the sam- 

 ples sent for test. It was largely with a view to meet this need on the part 

 of farmers that I suggested to you the preparation of this illustrated bulletin 

 on farm weeds. I recommend that it be printed and distributed, free of 

 charge, on personal application, for use as a reference book in the libraries 

 of farm homes and rural schools. 



It is a pleasant duty to record the hearty cooperation that I have nt 

 all times received from Dr. James Fletcher in compiling reference collections 

 of weed seeds and other work of this Branch, but particularly am I grateful 

 to him for his kindly co-operation and the deep interest he has taken in the 

 preparation of this bulletin. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



GEO. H. CLAEK, 

 Seed Commissioner. 



