8 



near the western extremity of the island, a full-grown larva of Attacus luna was picked 

 up, and on inquiry I learned that earlier in the season that beautiful moth was quite 

 common in that neighbourhood. 



In the department of Economic Entomology some items of interest were gleaned. 

 The pea crop throughout this district is an important one, and I made a diligent search in 

 many fields for indications of the presence of the pea bug, Bruchus pisi, but could find no 

 traces of it. Satisfactory evidence was furnished me, in at least two instances, of the 

 sowing of seed brought into the island which was badly infested by this weevil, yet I was 

 assured that neither during the season following nor in subsequent seasons did the crop suffer 

 from this pest. The pea crops growing in these particular localities were also examined 

 by me. Hence it would appear that the climatic or other conditions prevailing in this 

 district are so unfavourable to this destructive pest that it is unable to survive. Should 

 this exemption prove permanent, the cultivation of the pea there will doubtless be rapidly 

 extended, as there will be a large demand at good prices for seed peas from this section, 

 since so many portions of the Province are now so overrun with the pea bug that it is 

 , difficult to get seed fit for sowing ; and, for the same reason, such seed peas will be readily 

 purchased for planting in the Western States. 



For many years the district extending from Goderich to Colling wood has, in conse- 

 quence of its exemption from curculio, been extremely favourable for plum culture, and here 

 immense quantities have been grown and shipped to other parts of Canada and the United 

 States, Goderich being for many years an important centre for the production and shipment 

 of this fine fruit ; but within a brief period this foe has invaded Goderich in such force 

 that to grow plums successfully there, warfare must now be maintained against this pest 

 similar to that practised in the more southern sections of the Province. This enemy has 

 now advanced as far as Southampton, and before many years we may reasonably expect 

 that the favoured district at present exempt, from Owen Sound to Collingwood, will be 

 similarly invaded. Thinking that the Manitoulin Island, from its insulated position, 

 might possibly offer in the future a fine field for this department of fruit industry, I 

 examined carefully, whenever opportunity offered, for evidence of the presence of this insect. 

 In the neighbourhood of Manitowaning I found two trees of Lombard, a blue plum, the 

 name of which I could not ascertain, and two wild plums, all fruiting, but could find no 

 traces of the work of the curculio ; but on a farm in about the centre of the island, three 

 miles from Gore Bay, I found on a wild plum tree which was fruiting in the farmer's garden a 

 number of stung plums, and on opening one of them found the larva of the plum curculio 

 nearly full grown. Since wild plums are found in many parts of the island, it is probable that 

 the curculio will be found in other districts there. I saw several wild plum trees at the 

 Sault Ste. Marie, but had no opportunity of examining the fruit satisfactorily ; from what 

 I saw I was led to believe that there was no curculio in that region. The cultivation of 

 fruit both on the Manitoulin Island and at the Sault is so entirely in its infancy that it is 

 difficult to form any decided opinion as to the probable future of this department of industry 

 in those districts. 



In many sections, forest fires have destroyed a considerable proportion of the original 

 woods, leaving many of the larger trees standing scorched and dead. From these much 

 marketable lumber could be got, were it not for the destructive work of the wood-boring 

 beetles ; these troublesome creatures have bored through the trees in every direction, and 

 thus made the timber obtainable from them worthless for market, and useful only in the 

 construction of barns, sheds, etc., on the property of the owners. Both of the large species 

 of long-horned beetles, Monohammus confusor and scutellatus, appear to be abundant, the 

 latter I think most common ; some of the small wood-boring beetles belonging to the family 

 Scolytidce, are also very numerous. 



The cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapce, has within the last two or three years spread over 

 the whole of the area I visited, and is playing sad havoc with the cabbage crop. In 

 Manitoulin Island I found a specimen or two of the Colorado potato beetle, and made 

 further search among growing potatoes, but could find no more. I was informed that this 

 beetle had been seen occasionally for several years past, but that .it had not made any 

 headway in any part of the island. Another insect was found attacking the potato vines, 

 although not injuring them very much. I refer to a species of blistering beetle, Epicauta 



