done by this Society, incorporated it in 1870, as the Entomological Society of Ontario, 

 and gave at the same time material aid by allowing an annual grant from the public 

 funds. By this assistance, the usefulness of the Society has been greatly widened, and 

 the officers have become an advisory board to whom reference can be made whenever 

 information concerning injurious insects is sought by farmers or others — an advantage 

 of which the intelligent agriculturists of the Province have not been slow to avail them- 

 selves. 



Of all the important events affecting agriculture in Canada which have happened 

 during the past year, none can compare for importance with the establishment of the 

 system of Experimental Farms throughout the Dominion, lately organized by the Federal 

 Government. To no one more than to our members can it be a source of so great 

 pleasure, that the person chosen for the important and responsible position of Director, 

 should have been the present incumbent, Prof. William Saunders, who has been for so 

 many years identified with the prosperity and progress of our Society ; what he has been 

 to us we all know ; what others consider his value to have been, is well shown by Prof. 

 A. R. Grote, one of the best American entomologists and a highly esteemed and regular 

 contributor to the Canadian Entomologist. 



When spsaking of that journal in the preface to one of his works, he says : — 

 " The treatise of Dr. Harris which has become classical on its subject, did much 

 towards creating a general interest in entomology ; but the publication of the Canadian 

 Entomologist, a journal aided pecuniarily by the Ontario Government, and owing its 

 success chiefly to the unselfish labours of Mr. William Saunders, has assisted the progress 

 of entomology in America probably more than any one other similar undertaking.'' This 

 statement is not a bit overdrawn. Prof. Saunders — and I speak of him from an intimate 

 acquaintance extending over a space of many years — is an exceptional man, remarkable 

 not less for the diversity than for the thoroughness of his accomplishments, but above all 

 for his tact and good judgment which have made him an object of respect and have 

 endeared him to all who have had intercourse with him. Now, above all things, Prof. 

 Saunders is an entomologist, and' to it chiefly he owes his eminence. We congratulate 

 him upon his appointment and also the Honourable Minister of Agriculture upon the 

 wisdom of the choice he has made. 



It may not be amiss here to say a few words with regard to the work it is 

 proposed to carry out at these Government experimental stations. In the first place, the 

 system will consist of a Central Experimental Earm at Ottawa and four other branch 

 farms divided as follows : one for Ontario and Quebec, one for the Maritime Provinces, 

 one for British Columbia, and one each for Manitoba and the North- West Territories. 

 The officers at the Central Farm will be, the Director, and an Entomologist and Botanist 

 combined, a Chemist, a Horticulturist and an Agriculturist. At the Central Station 

 there will be a museum for the preservation of objects of interest. These, of course, will 

 include all the different kinds of grain and other crops, and as well, cabinets for entomo- 

 logical and botanical specimens. As most of you are aware, I have been appointed to 

 fill the position of Entomologist and Botanist to the Dominion Experimental Farms. I 

 trust that I may be able to show before long that this selection was not ill advised. At 

 any rate, I can assure you that no efforts will be wanting on my part to render the office 

 one of general utility and a benefit to the farming community. I purpose, as quickly as 

 possible after the building is finished, to place in the museum a collection showing, under 

 each of the principal crops, all the insects by which it is attacked, so that the farmer or 

 gardener who finds any of his crops injured by insects can come to the museum and see 

 for himself, under the head of each plant the injurious insects known to infest it, and at 

 the same time learn the most approved methods of treating them. 



In addition to the above, there will be a botanical garden on the farm, a plot of about 

 65 acres having been appropriated for this purpose. Here native plants of economic value, 

 as our forest trees, will be grown in large numbers for distribution and observation under 

 varying conditions, so as to note their behaviour under different circumstances. Here, also, 

 will be cultivated a large collection of plants of interest to the botanist from ail parts of the 

 world, including, of course, all the native species, of which I can obtain roots or seeds. It is 

 thus hoped that many of the difficult problems will be cleared up which at present trouble the 



