ECONOMIC CAUSES OF DEPLETION 81 



cars in one year. Surely that is a confirmation of the 

 statement that if the methods employed by the best 10 

 per cent, of the farmers prevailed all over Canada. we 

 would get this doubling of the value of our crops. 

 $565,000,000." 



The loss from the prevalence of weeds, insects, and 

 plant diseases was found to be heavy. Taking the 

 farmers' own judgment as to the amount of loss 

 always, when carefully given, an under-estimate because 

 of lack of trained habits of observation this runs to 

 an average of $75 to $100 to each farm. There are 

 areas in the West actually abandoned through the pre- 

 valence of wild oats and stinkweed. In the county of 

 Brome, Quebec, orange hawkweed threatens to destroy 

 the pasture and has reduced its power for carrying stock. 

 In Lanark County, Ontario, the injury done by sow- 

 thistle is so alarming that it is predicted farms will be 

 abandoned. Dr. Robertson remarks, in reporting on 

 this matter : " I do not want to say anything dis- 

 paraging about Canada . . . but I have to go to 

 Scotland once in a while to get the delight, the refresh- 

 ing delight to one's eyes, of seeing farming that is clean, 

 and beautiful in its cleanness." 



Yet Britain once suffered most severely from weeds. 

 The poet Crabbe gives us this vivid picture : 



Rank weeds that every art and care defy 

 Reign o'er the land and rob the blighted rye; 

 There thistles stretch their prickly arms afar 

 And to the ragged infant threaten -war; 

 There poppies nodding mock the hope of toil; 

 There the blue bugloss paints the sterile soil; 

 Hardy and high, above the slender sheaf 

 The slimy mallow waves her silky leaf; 

 6 



