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32 X
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SELE
^t-t^ut'-i -e^
EVWmCE OF Da JAMKS FLe
-•™m..u«.s. ...„ „„,,,,„, „.„„^.,.,^^. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^
IIKKORE THK
SELECT STAND,NC CO„„,TTEE OK THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
AGRICULTURK AND COLONIZATION
Sesi5ion of 1897
I'^illilW^ HY OHDER OF PARLlAMK
I)ei]
mar
■If
CoMMriTKR HooM 4(;,
Hou». „,. C,«,,„s«, F,y,.j._ 3s„, „,^^^ |^^.
■0.4 'i:.,!"S ?s?ss,r;'p'::.i,^«'^-''- -"- «°""i»«"" - '-■- c..y .»
Mh. ClIAIHMAN AND (3|.\Ti cuiw T
ntere.st.ng account ,.f his ^vo,■k in tl^^Vo nesttml ."'""r '" '"'' «'^*'" •^»^'' '^n
of great uuportance, the advantage of smn , er fal ow n , '''""'" P"''^i-»»'"'ly what is
80.I, a nmtter of the utn.oHt in.poftance i. "^o we 't ' « *^"'"''' "" "'"''^*"''« "*" *''^
A ?!?.'*'? '"?'! ^*V"*^' ''PP'y t" ^»t«'-'o?
% ^J/r. Semple :
th ng in the west, and wLt nXs t c^^^^^^^^ ''^'^'' '"'* ^he .nost in.portant
holds the nu.i,stu,e in the land S/e whoTeS: """'TV """'^' '«' ''"'•^ this „,E Ln
.nojsture in b, stirring up a ti>in laje^t t^l'^fT''"","' '''T '« *° ^^^P "h^e
and. be.ng of a d.fferent texture to L soi, t:i:lt:^^.^::^Z:^ '^ -^ d'y "P
VALUAm,K PODDKK (iRAHSES.
Conunittee to two samples of «ri;^T;hic?rhtv7lL"j:ht''f '7" ''''■ '^"^"''"" ^' ^^e
VVehave been experimenting for about nrn? '"^"""K^*. l''««'' specimens,
mention that it was our own Can^ian Jll. i?^T'' ^'^^ ^'•«"'« g'*««- T might
into American agriculture Seve^.^ "/T"' ^*'''''' .'"Produced this%aluable grass
beginning of the Lperimental Farm Zt\T\r^''''^ ^'^^ Russia atTht
«mall packages all over the country wTerever we .h'w'' '"^^ '^«" 'H«tri bated in
to-day the best grass of all that wl \ • thought it would be useful It is
wherever it has been tried Them al^tv a ' T^'^f^u '^"•' '"« g'^en good ' resd s
go;.!. It has the udvan age of Sng a J^r^''"''' ^r'^'™'^
w>ll grow. It is extremely early Ind coiu^ir'^P ^^^'\ "''^ ^'^ "'her varieties
than that it is not only suited to W-lyT". Zds^h.T'."^ ^^'' '"^ ''>« ^'^"- ^^re
the high dry lands of the North-west amlMrS'n i T «'''''" excellent results in
croft, which is in one of the dry sectbns of Br isl. O .""T- ^'- ^^"^""'^"- "^ ^^h
received only yesterday, and tells me that he h-^ • '"T'^'*' ^"'es to me in a letter
particularly well. Down the Okarga„ v^ f "^^^^^^^^ '' '^'''' »"^' that it is doing
IB also being grown. A small packet contain^n. a fl^^^ " another dry section, this gra^f
Rose Brothers, of Kelowna^nd Xen ? ;Wte7theTr ^ '^' ''''' was sent to Meirs
their farm, and was doing better th^n\L 'it ^^^"^ '^ ^*« ^ conspicuous object nn
on Its .jualities come in constantly from all over ritrT *^''r" 'j'^''^- *^'"'''^'' '"eports
Mr t'u' ^T^' '^"'' «"« ^hich Lkes it vaLblet;"tt nTu "^ '^' ""^''^ ''haracteris-
Mr. McKay did not lay as much stress on th?«lV^. North-west, is its root growth,
when speaking of it he was drawn oT l^ a ' esK ' ^t"^^ '^ ^« *"^^-'«d. because
which will prevent the soil from blowing •1"^''^'°"- The Brome grass makes a sod
'' I.
f i f '•]
h
I>R. JAMES FhHrcHKH.
In MiiniloltH Timothy ih now nn»wn to a liir^o extont in wnne wctioiiH, ami by
fonniiig a wui nnifli iinpioveH the condition of tim soil und prnvt-nts l.iowin^r, which
ttives it ft Mptial valui«. Uroin« Kniss Iiiim thi» quality ami to a larKcr dcKree It
Jias t.K., another cliaiacteriHtiu 1 hIi .ul.l like t^. mention, imh-ed, it has ho many
K(kk1 .iualiti.'H that one Ih npt to think we ni;.y Iw .'xagjieratinK when de«cnbing
them This fharacteristic is that, unlike Timothy and neatly all other ){r«Hs,.H, there
is little decrease in the value of the hay for feed even when it is left standiiiK until
the seed is ri|H«. This is owing U) a fH-culiar habit of growth by which i.fter the
tlowerin ' stem has »)een protlucetl, several other supplementary barren sh(x.t8 which
do not flower spring up from the ro«.t. These sh.n.ts are very leafy and a<ld inuoh
to the value of the hay. Mr. Sliutt, our chemist, has found that the hay from which
the ripe seed has l.een threshed, is almcml of the same value as that cut at the proper
time iu8t after (lowering, and the grower has Iwsides a large supply of valuable seed
for which he can always get a ready sale. The hay is of fairly good ciuality and
smells sweet like Knglish hay. Mr. McKay speaks of from one and a half to two
and a half Urns as an average cnip. Here, we have had at the rate of four and a
half ti nsof hay. I have a letter from Mr. Wm. Hull, who ha>* an irrigated farm near
Calgaiy, in which 1 e tells me that he cut 900 tons oH' 200 acres, from which he
would have got nothing without irrigation.
Mr. Mc(JuE<ioK.— With the native grasses one ton of hay is goo«l growing.
Mr. Fi.KTciiKH. -Yes, but that is without irrigation.
By Mr. McMillan :
Q. Have you reference to a small plot 1
A. One-twentieth of an acre.
Mr. McMm.lan.— As farmers we would rather see an acre.
Mr. Fi-ETciiKK. — Ye , we have that this year.
Hy Mr. Dutujhi* :
Q, Has any experiment been made with this gia-i^s on alkaline land?
A. Not oil lan«l classed as alkaline, but at the same time it has been grown on
lands containing a great deal of alkali, and has given goo«l returns. Mr. McKay is
now testing it on "alkaline" s|K»ts at Indian Head.
Mr. DouoLAs.— That is an important point, because so much land is now going to
waste, and it wou'd \w. important if a success was made in this respect.
Mr McKav. -We have some alkali on a very low part of the farm and it is
growing there as well, if not better, than on other parts. I believe it is a great success
on alkaline land. ... i i * ui
Mr. FLKTriiKH.—With regard to the hay, it is particularly sweet and palatable.
Any one going into Mr. McKay's barn notices the sweet smell like English hay
and moreover the cattle are verv fond of it. It holds its leaf which gives it a peculiar
value Most grasses after they flower deteriorate rapidly, but as smm as this is in flower
it begins to increase in value from the numl)er8 of supplementary shoots which are pro-
duced, so that when it is threshed for seed you have a valuaV»le fodder in the straw.
By Mr. Roijers :
Q. When and how should it be sown 1 . .
A. In the west, it recjuires to lie sown alone, because the young plants dry out in
August when sown with a mother crop.
By Mr. McMiUan :
Q. As it grows from the bottom, would it not be too troublesome?
A. It may probably be some trouble to get rid of it again, from the running
root-stocks: but if you examine the root I have here, you will see that it is near the
surface, and for the same reason it, like couch grass or " Quack," can be taken out of
the land by shallow ploughing.
Q.
A.
Brome g
as uiead(
VA/MAfiLK ronhKIt GN.USKS. AXO WKKhs.
in i/
.11 wa!:^ ^^'^^'---^^ k -k..H a ,„,at ..... ..f ,a..u.. to take out ; w„ ,.ave tn«. it
tlwu. l.n.louKl.i„« iie«,, ■"' ^"" •-■*" «•" "' '^ '^ W*--^ «'«'»' 'H-ttcr l.y nhalluw ploughing
^r^'i''^u:y:\u"Z,;!:'::^ ^'l-'^innan. ....f..,^ tl... M.....ti,..
«fha...t, ,„,.s,„uel. US it is very L.V „. L /X ^W . '"' " *'••'"'"'' •"»f«"-.cJ
«m.sm..n t.. sell an.l fann.Ms V., 1m-.,w T. t tw " "' '." r'"'"'' '' ^""'•' W
N..rth,.rn lUu.- Joint ar. ti.e «ra.',rtluU cl d/tl . "^7* '''*' "'••""'• K''^- "".l the
exp..rM„..„tal tar,„ at this .in.e of th., y. a 'J^.l 7" "^ ":"''^' '."'" "'"' ^ ''^i'" the
•o the ve,,. top, hav.. a la..«.. ..^ntit/oH^.^l^n,, a-t^^rill'tlLl;;;!' "'^ '^•^^""' "^
Ay Mr. Semph ;
A (i* -r .'''"'■^""'>' "» '"'«-Il''-.t Krowth f.,r tho :»8th of Mav ?
A. \es. ,t ,.s a very «..., ,,...,,vtl, an.l particularly thisl'll^
Jii/ Mr. IUhjivh :
^l l>'M'.s it l)ef.Hne s.KMec. /
^.^ ;M^r'£,';:.i '3,,"' -rzi?,?;- , '•''"^ " "t '";"■ >"' '- "- p'-
tlie best n-sults. ^ '^ *""• '""^ to leav« any land in -.vw.s to give
% ^»/r. Mvdreyor :
y. How is it a.s a feeding grass?
^^^^^^^::ii^z:::t^^i:r rt^'^-1 ^''^•"- ^i-e value of
as meadow. "^ *^ ' P""*""- 8"^"** '^^'er having l>een us.m| for 2 or 3 years
• years
liy Mr. Car;/!// .
Q. In Older t.) get a crop .,f that for hav for tl p (\^,
your land an.l sow it alone ' ^ "'® ""^^t season y..u would prepare
)^;^^.^z:^J:::s^i^^,^;-:^^^^^ you ...« ti. troupe of
All grasM^s would .lo better if thevTer^wnZV.Tt '""''*' '''''8^''^«'^^-'>'"'^--
quite as well. Jf you ...,w some -n-a n with thet ' " ''""■" "''' ^^■'"' ""• '»"••. I'«v
as you would the we.Hls ; but you must .nl a veT' ^'u '"" ''■'' ^'"'^ "^ *'''■«'"»•■ ''.ne
or even less, of barley, r;e or iheat. • ^ ""''" ''"""^'^^ "*' g'''*i».-oue bu«hel
Jiy Mr. Martin :
Blue jornt grass, but i::ir^t::Jz^z^ Ti^^i""' T' "^ •""^'' ^'»^- - ^'-
any of these grasses can be drowne out Tl ^'T'^^^ und(;r irrigation, but, of course,
«ightofin.sptikingofintatoritc2ar.i'T.r T """« '""^^ ^^« "'"'t not lose
>lountain.s. !vhich is, that Ihrv^^iter^f Cb":^ h '' P'"''"' '" ''"^ '^^^^^ "^'^'^ t»'e Hoclcy
a 1 through the sum.ner. so tha^the «rals ca^Z/! ''V' ""'^ T' *" **'« f-ee^ing point
districts. ' "^ Srass cannot stand us much water there as in other
\t
.'t-j
hR. JAMBS F/.KtCHKH.
Il;i Ml. M.Mifhni :
if. Wiiulil it not \h' lu'ttor wlien? it in cut, t<» leiiv*- it for ii k«mkI oov«Tinj( of thoHoil
in ♦.li«< Th'IiI I Would you liiiv«> anytliin^ oH' it lU'xt your /
A. It is ti very iiiirdy xrasH. I tliiiii< it in iiiirilior tlinn uioMtKraHMeH we have tried,
Aiul is killnd out loiu«, lui tliat it would not i-equii-e tliiit pr^itcctiun.
y/y Mr. ( 'nivrt :
Q. DiN'H it mature iilxiut tli« nhuio tinio lu* Tiniotliy I
A. Y»'s, alnrnt tlw Hjiinc tiiu*', hut oan be left a little later without ho much Iohsh.
By Mr. Riigf.m :
t
l}. We have heard alnrnt all the >{o<mI (|ualilieM: are there any had ijualitieHt
A. Heally, r clo not know of any or I sluuild have niintioned ihcni, so as to
give a little variation. Kor the West it is a nioht valuable intro<luclioii. It is not
goin^ to Im' (|uite so valuable in the Kast, where we use the whole of our fannn for crop ;
but in tlie Went it will Im> es|teoially valuable. In the Kjwt, too, the running rcKtt-.stocks
will be considered troublesonio by a certain class of farniers.
/ly Mr. L'ar</U/ :
y, For Ontario, would you reooinniend it ahead of 'I'iihothv or (Mover?
A. No, (.'lover and Timothy have a special value in Ontario. In addition tf) their
intrinsic value, they ha\e an artilicial value, ficmi the hay always having a i;<M»d
market. Wherever a man can got iiinie money for Timothy and Clover than for anything
else, by all means let him grow them.
By Mr. Kogfra :
t^. It would not do to mix clover with llrome yrass, would it ?
A It grows t«M» heavily, I think ; but I have them growing mixed this year.
Mr. McMlM.AN —Having visit«'tl the Indian Head Farm, and having gone over it
with Mr. MacKay, it has given nie very great pleasure to hear him to-day. I can assure
all the gentlemen who have never iieen to Indian Head, if they go there, they will lind the
farm in capital condition. I was much pleased with everything I saw on th • farm and
everything in connection with it. Then- is no doubt but that Mr. MacKay is doing
gojxl work. I have al-o visited the farm at Agassi/. IJoth of these farms are doing
excellent work for the farniers in those parts of the country.
Mr. M('(ii(K(ioit — I was at M<Misejaw for several years, an,! they had the dilliculty
there, that Mr. MacKay has s]M)ken of. It was s(\ dry that the farmers could not get a
crop and were moving uAay from the distrii-t. I had an interest in the liell farm. We
had ditliculty in getting enough yrain to gather a crop. I am pleased beyond measure to
know that they have introduct>d this system of sunnner-fallowing, and that it has been
attended with such satisfactory results. I have not the least doulit that this is going to
be a great country. (^uAppelle and Indian Head were troubled with the drought, but
with the e.\pericnce of ten years they have largely overcome tlu; disadvantages. Sum-
mer-fallowing is largely overcoming the drought.
y.iU'ARLH FOODS/t >.HASMia. AXO tyA'SOS.
idd?
CoMMIITKK llooM 4«5,
lUnHK uy r'>^^^u,SH,'l\^:HU^^,HhJum, 1897.
4"
clay. V..U arc uwa.e that tl... H.,u . ,„ ^ . ^^ . ""•'"'"« '"^""•' "^" ^^''"'""h-
Wol.av.. with us this num„« T; L ;, u:!''7''''''''!^^^ "»■ »'- ""«-•
of the .„«.. ., hi. o..e..v:!;r :;;;rrL:r^.;;h;i'^t." "••" ^^'^^-^'^ ^^^ -
>•>«
control .i weeds .rul the r/n-Ji ^ ' r ' :!'^'^ ins.cts th„ ..rLlioution ana
«o,n<wh«. on s,.v,.rul .,c-casi» mm f i V "N""""""*" "P"» whid. f have r..po,.„Ki
the las, ,„..,.ti„« wh . Z L uT T'" '""' "I''""*""' «'"^-- I '^I-k.- at
oonlin.u.,1. As a matt; f S t i kit i ' ;'"•' '"•*"'" "^ ^'"'^ «'"''^ '""' "" '>'-»
that this grass has solv -d t., a vhpv S^ i '".t say.n,^ too n.ueh wh.a it is stated
hay in th. ^^.,■th-w.s Vm-i /. -iirL TfanifT'' "'" ''"'""?" "^ '"•"^""'"«' '^^^^'^ -"^
i" the eastern provinees w U ", ,^I ' '' '"'" ,'" "'•' '"''' '"^^••'''•^•-- '^'^ ^'''"e
a useful, sue .ulent grass. , I , e.^ ^ [veT?"" '""" '' r\ •'"' '"""" " ' ^■'>'-
r.t„rnsit-,.ro,,Hrniixt.Mesar leflT . ^^"?'^^^^ ^^"' -'i^'" "^ «'»<^J
not loft too long i g a u i H V "■^' '"•'\^'''-;"' /'"'' '"'^^ ""' ^'"' "'-l-vs are
manyl«rge(i..|dsof this .rrass •;,."... ■ . ' > "'"g last sun.nirr in Manitol.a I saw
wereprodueingav'vh :;•" 7^^^^^^^^
K.«wn there, in the d^y ^^ is f | , h '( . ^T'"\^""- T^' ."' '""" ^''"f' ' '"'^ '-'« '"'«"
with son.e alkali, it has h , " itse n1 "' ' "^ i'"" '! '"^'^ '"''" ''•''"'' ""•' »l-'» ''^"'J
low, rich lands ^here, of .se ^1 , s ^^^r u'^""'' !' "^T ^"-«^>^ -'1 on
su.ceed U.tter than a ,y n:aW^':^Zl ZtorT ^"■""' ^''Vl' '"''' ^"'"'^ '^ ^^i"
then, for fodder purposes ,. ad.lS .. n 7"'.'^^'.'"" ""y crops wlneh have b-en sown
if it continued to sueeeed it id th.: ' '''" f'''"' "1 "^" ^'•^P^''i">"<- -f one year,
viding a largo supply of «u J^den fee 2 1 ,'' •""""'-'' '^"'"•' ""' 'l""'^''"» "^ P'-o'
sent year, o;r e,,ll L i.m o^.m el f^^^^^ r"'"/'-'' '>'"i"^' the pre-
in ..und,er, on account of lusrer^wi^e^t^^^^^^^^^ I'-'" has been very nuuh re.lueed
winter we have lost n.ore ki ds 0511 1 1 l""" ^^''T' "''""-''• '*»''""' ^he la.st
winter that we l.ave 4^eSt " Vt. ; ?' ^ T" '"."' """'" ''''""^ ^'••^" *" '"">' "t''«r
yoars were entirely kilSr Ce nlan in .1 w '""" ''T^- '" ,""^ '"'''^ *'"' "'"''^ '■• "ine
nine years, giving us S cr ns w k^MeT 'T .. "^""'' \ ^^. "^'^ ^*'''''' ^''"^ '"^'' «t'»<>^l for
feet down.' Son.t othCnew Sa^ s ! T"^' ''''. r""*^'*^ »»"'»S entirely destroyed for two
not 1« con.T.ared with o'Urs al? XteZn " """ ^ '".^'''"^ *'"' "''"*"•' ^"'' ^'"'^ could
T'le !„.,). ',„- } M,, >^*^*^''''^^ '*''^*"'^"''h«''^elatter pants w.>rpMken-i<v-'-;!)--5
in aiirereiit nart,„f rnerie„ w. '' 'T' ''""""">I a»"le,i»,.,„lfr„,„ ,ti.,u
PR. fA.VKS FLBtrHKIt.
to whii'h I n-lVrifd iit tho Itint insptiiiK. It in oilled thi' Noitli.-rn Mlue.loint. It JHiiot
<|uil.' tin" Name HH tlic onlirmry hliii' .loiiit, wliidi in toiiiiiion in li.w IhikIn uikI rniiiHln.ii,
iirul «i-.>\vs 111 IKK Ntri'iiins mid rivfiM. TIiim Ih ii n«»itht'rii varioty >ind Ims ii !,'iciit. r vuluo
an II fiKldiT |iliinl It liitM iiKiiH leaf and tlif nU'iiik hh- iiitlni tiin'r, ami I li-licvi. it
will |.n.v.' a N<Ty \aluali!«< ^tiiss. On.. ,.f tli«' pioldi-riiH wlii.li lui^ t<» Imi (..iiHiiificd in
toliiid a KiiisHiliat will ({row in tli*>ll(KNled in<>adow.s particularly aimij; tlit- hanks of tho
St. hawivnce, wli»'i« there arc a Kicat many aorcs which aro lluodijl in tlio spiin^r. Tho
• lucstion \-^m to what kind of KrasM can Ih'mowii |.i<»Htal)ly to taki» ilie place uf thi' coarse
.s.'d>{«>* and niai*Nh Kransen which kii.w thiTc naturally. 'I'Iuh jji-ilsh will l,» valual.lc for
uw- in this way, as well as the coniinoti lUuc Joint yriws. A varii'ty known bh the
Caiiaiy llccd jf|(i>s will also lie a valuable ),'ra«H for this purpose. This is one of the
prolileuiH wc are conHiderinjr now.
WKKIW.
The next suit ject which has been studied in the Motanical Department at tho Kxpori-
mental I'lu in particularly durinj,' the last two years is that relatin- to weeds. Tli it a
dee|. interest has iH'en shown in this suitject is evidenced by the larije number of letters
received from farmers in all parts of Cana<la. but particularly in Manitoba. Weeds in
Manitoba had increased s,, much that the farmers saw they had to take some very decided
measures toeiadicate tlieiii or they would become a source of very serious loss. The .Min-
ister of A^ricullui'-. the Hon. .Mr. (ireenway. published a veryexcellent bulletin, decidedly
the best bulletin that has ever been imblished for the purpose for which it was re.|uired
and one which has done a «reat deal of ^.'ood in the country. During the last two sum-
mers for a shnrt time, with the permission «.f our Minister of Aijriculture, I have been
iiiMaiiitolia lecturing upon weeds, and in that way a uonaideral)le interest has been
stirred up in the subject ; and a larjjo number of farmers have beciune acijuainted with
the habits of weeds and have been enabled to i<leiitify them. I think there is no
more imp(.rt.int infnrmation about weed.s. l..okin>,' to their eradication, than to under-
stan<l the iiaiiire of tln'ir «iowth. AIthou«h there are a large number of plantH which
are .sometimes ai.'(riessive enemies to fanner.s, the firinciples ujjon which they are t(» bn
fought are simple, and really all depend on the nature of the plant, *.*•., on one or two
very imjiortant characteristics of each kind,
CLA88IFIC.\TION OK WKEDs.
The divisi.)n of all plants into three classes i.s, of course, very important, namely :
Those plants which live for one year, those which have a lif.' of two years, and all
others which live for many years. Vw those which live for one year, the eradication
is simply a matter of preventin« them from .seeding and this ayain a|)pl es to those that
live fur two years. If .seeds are not produced the plant.s, of comse, must die out. The
iiio,st dithcult class of all to light ajiainst is that known as perennials, or plants which
live for many years. Ai;ain, we find tli.it we can divide these up again, fnr purposes
of considering how to gc^t rid of them, into those; which root near the surface of the
ground, and those which re ot deeply. To get lid of those which root near the .«urfaco
of the ground, we have only to prevent their seeding iid by ploughing throw them up
to the ail to dry out; but with those which r(jot deejily it is a more dillicult matter;
we must f.lou.h deeply, so as to prevent the formation of leaves as long as possiljle so that
they may starve; the leaves are necessar to the plants to absorb food from the air.
The.se general princi[)les cover the whole of weed eradicati.in ; but we know that in
different sections of tho country the same plant may develop different characteristics.
As an illusMa:ir.n of this, I ne.'d only refer to the Canada thistle. The Canada thistle
about Winnipeg and for a few miles beyond is very troublesome, and is just as aggres-
sive to farmers there as it is here. Hut farther west on tlie drier lands tiie Canada
thistle is not a weed, is not aggressive, does not produce many sncrls and is no tiouble
to keef. down. That is largely a matter of climate. There are many plants which
give no trouble here ; but which under different climatic conditions would become
weeds In the eastern provinces of Canada to prevent the Canada i histle from becoming
our master, we find that mowing early and again alwut September to prevent the
leaves from performing their functions and storing ui» nourishment in the rootstocks,
WiUfAliLK tOIUmn UNASSKS, .l.V/* H'KKOS.
i» tltf Item trniit
MUlltl
uu'it' is
"w.r, we (iriil ihiit it"
in.rit w,. CUM «iv,. it,. f„ t,„. \V«,t.
ii<» trotihlf with il
NiiriiiiH'r f(illt.win;< Ih- i|
MMII.
K'owtli. ami if tliH liri.lisl.ruk
yi>H lU'liiy HlliiiilliM
tlu> till I
oiiii oil
ri
wifh this, M w«-l|
.fi
»" witli thi> Willi
<•"•• <arly in .fun,., ,.r h.tn ii
en II
(IWH II
lyi
lallMMii,j{ tor only » fuiliii«ht |
» til.- hin.l |.|ou«l,.^| will U. full „t' 1 1
.hs,.,,Ih,.,h |....lu.„a>..,J„t ,|..al ..If „„,,,.v .„,,.
I' in May or .lii,„. th.-y .an U. era.li.ai,.,l'.a;ilv I
Miiy.
wippy -lUTnU-nt
III;; it until lati> in J
itiii if
•«' <'xplaini'<
tiini) riMxIfrs it nion
ll.y
sUSf(
ll'Hi. I,y th.. ftlil of tl
iint> or ,1
•ir;|H»siii^ (hat, ih,. su.vul..nt .'on.l
•• scanon.
ri
ly.
n\H
K
i"ll UO« M not N
|>til.h« to injury, and <|
ill 'II «if tliH plant at that
'"<««'.m| with UK|„.r,.. So it in not Hu;.|
•May MftH in and ihi* w..,.d ml
otonly .'v.-ry plant n,,,.,!. t.. iH.stn.lir.l ar.o.xl
I li Hiiiipl.. iiiattfi as at (list
""lit. This
may I
Muniioha
pHstN in .suiiw places, and in oti
tUK to itM growth and .iisirict ; l.ut i>|
n to have rfon»ni/fd tl
w<'«'<ls, and Working acn
nitioiis of sp«.,ialisiH who I
lis, a
Imm- oa.M's not Ih, wce.ls at all. Tli..' f
ml ai«. now lindin«outall tl
>••'< nm.
pliints
''IIM'IM of
'•••luiK to th)> .•xp.'ri.'iH'.' of oth.-is. Tl
i''v can learn al
I aiHiut
A
oiiii nrfti/iif'
iii\»» Mtiidicd (hen
JH they ^e| fVom thepuldi-
weeds liy their ri^lit
" im|M,rtant matter I haM, referred to I
names
II
'"ip'Mtant, and im| or.aiit for H
>* Mot ihe uiiiiiiportani malt
H'fore, is the calling .f
tn ie;,'ard (o mix
oni! of these pulilication^
lou.s Weed
■. luid an
118 ivason, thai iIh
y one who rei|uir<-s inf
<T M si^-niH at HiMt siyht. 1
KH'(it deal piililishMl
re IS a
deal with, lip will
W
Jit't 1 1
••St, the mass g,.n.'rally called
. "Md It hed.K's mil km.wiheiiKht na f ih
i«' wvoiiii informal ion. I ui||
orination is referrwl to
<' weed he hiiH to
Tl
Holy
or
'H
|Uai
<«'t ^'ra.s.s, the native hav f
or
Kive you an illiiNtral
on.
couch jjiass" is what is e|vwl
i.s IS a very deep rooted «ras,s and almo.sl al
my from whi.h Ihe Imlians iiiak
III the
Ifl-e calli .1
Ea.st wehaveaiiotl
c-ally ditlerent. '|
pos.sil.ie, -eiiin.r t,, |7
i<'ri|iiack;,'iasN,t(Miwellk..
'<) n*-l the liest resultN, howe
way
:«' .scented liHsket>
••'•lied .,uack «ra.sHin the Wesi. I,, tl
nowntouN. Thet.eatmeiitofil
On the other hand.
H' loots, a
nd tl
but
in tlie Wost, tl
irovv
ii'« »l
r, here we ploutfli a.s near the snif
"•'" on to the fop of the .soil to d
Minpiv priinrd and hel|MM| in t|
■'•y would not U. reache.; |,v that .shallow |.|
le
lese isdiametri-
iie«' ax
ly out.
■•'NUll.s if harrowed when you d
<Viiack ;,'ia s in the j
u-ir Kiovvih, ju.st lis a w
orn
yet in .Manitoha ipiaok -,'
jraine provinces is fai
lont want to plou-h ii iimil ihef.
plou;,diinjjr,
•III ineailow will j^five
iHNlialiow and I
and
lere w»'
ia>s IS not a weed -hecausetl
more aiiundant tl
••llou Mil
yi-ar.
pioii-,di deep and try t
's a cons...|uence .piack yru.s.s is ploughed m.der an.l
io a li'lN'fleeper each time, than I
lan III Onl.Mio and
ling
K'le the usual meth.Ml of |,|..u<'l
iiH'iit hfis I
will
n Itefon'.
M'cii made that if you tl
soil. Hut
'I'l
lis i.s not the
now i|uack j;rass on a f
K'ws vi;L;oiuus|y. Thestatc-
ca«^e.
Dur e.\|)eiieiice shows it d
t ha- not much vita iiy. if
••nee and |eav<' it f
or u wee
ground roots, which d
.von take it out of tl
k it
ly lip It thrown on tl
<"'.s uiow if c.veied up, owing to its sn.cul
lie
I!,, I 11 , ' , . : •' I " ^"■"""1 <in tin
a luid l.y pluuglnng deep and being dragged by a I
He i.ead-rows and around ll.e liehis than throned I
glass lo ;^M.t nd of, but il
m surface. || i
•'lit under-
very often dis.seminate(
larniw across the Held, lying
la
,' more in
Th
litl
IS not asdilKcuItas.som.. of thefa
some
well to havi
prevalent ami occurs in |
<'r«'nt chaiacterislics of weed
»' crop It i,s not. certainly, an easy
i,i <l... «• _ • . 1 •' .J
(now
s are sometimes hard I
rmers in the country think
nbuiul
\V
aiice will make it
est, fiom absorl
l«'dge of their bad point.s. One is tl
argenumbers, even ifit is m.t .liHicuil
source of danger and lo.ss t.i the f
o recogni/e, liut it is
lal w here a
w»>ed JM
fact of its I
i-i'ing th.. moisture from Ihe soil, whid
inner,
wmgin large luimlieis d
I IS rec
to gi'f rid of, its wiy
I'articulaily in the
reminded of a litMe w.-ed tl
juiied for iho crop; but tl
Weed of the \\
not prove that it is .lillieult to erad
the Southern States the fa
V-st, the seed of wliici
If .small Hag Weed of ( )ntario. Tl
icate
F
le
am
well known to millei
iM IS not the giaiii l{ag
tl
tl
Tl
•en^ to a height of si.v and eight feet, and f
leni that tie I?,.,. U'„...i .... ■ . '.
rmers i- gard consider the Hag We.nl as tl
's as " crowii weei
II
leir manure It "i
ni that the_ Hag We.-d, with which tl
iirmeis w.iuld think a man foolish wl
• )WS
told
i<^y oay that it is their nianu
I • 1< I I -•-«»ii •w«f||,-<||| Willi lOlt
.eir helds are coyer..,!, should be era.licated
_armer to •'niertain, that it will ,„ak
lere is no weed, exc
r«> and tlu'y plough it in. It
Tl
e an atUiili
)e put back again by plougl
pt perhaps clo\ er, which d
<»n to the .soil by plougl
IS a nnsta en notion fi
my
ling in this weed.
Iiecause f
armer.s, ai d indeed
are open to him. It is f
futu
ever
ling It in.
•ybody,
It
loes not take na.re from ihes.iil
tl
lan
18
ar easier to I Rave weed-s
is too dangerous a thing f, n-conimend.
apt to choose the ea.sy course, if
re tune you will plough them in, thiu; U^^ ^^i^'l^^
growing with the idea that at
two oourses
some
cle
iin all the time particu-
10
Dli. JAMES F LETCH UK.
larly if you can persuade yourself tliat it is a wise plan to do so. It is a dangerous
plan because in tiiis way many weeds are allowed to ripen seed and are then
plouf,'hed in.
Some plants profluce an enormous quantity of seed. Here is some seed I have with
me, of a plant called the Tumbling Mustard, and one plant is capable of producing one and
a half million seeds, and you .see it is a very small seed. A remarkable point in
reganl to this is the large numl)er of seeds it produces, and also the large development of
the plants which come from the-se. .Millers do not mitid this wet.'d, because the seed is
easily cleaned from grain. The metlujdof distribution of the seed is an injportant point
with regard to a weed. The downy seed of the Canada Thistle, for instance, is distri-
buted largely by means of winds, and some seeds which have hooks or barlwd spines on
them are distributed l)y reason of thase, through the agency of various animals ; some
for instance are very troublesome if they get into wool. The obnoxious characteristics
of .some weeds are indicated by such means as Hevils Weed, Blue Devil, White Devil
and similar names.
FOISOXOUS PLANTS.
Some few plants are obnoxious fiom their pois(ming ([ualities, and we should be
particularly careful with these. They aro not many in number, but some of our native
plants are very poisonous, and on the north-western prairies and in British Columbia I have
known some instances of cattle and horses being jxiisoned from eating wild plants. One,
Cowbane, wrongly called "Wild Parsnip", which has white Mower, grows in wet lands all
through the prairie region. Tliis is one of tho common species, and farmers should carefully
clean the land of these poisonous and injurious plants. There are some weeds which have
grer, vitality to resist all ordinary methods of eradication, and then we must use some
special means of cleaning the land ; these have to Ve modified ac.iording to the species.
A method which has been used with advantage is the use of " smother crops."
^fty;';.— Some good work has been done in Western Ontario by growing rape. It has
to be cultivated till late in the season and covers the grounil very heavily, and I think
it would be a useful plant for much more general use in cleaning land as well as for
producing a large quantity of good feed for stock.
CVofe/-.— To seed down heavily with clover is an excellent plan, and clover adds so
much to the fertility of the siil, that I think it would be wise if the principle was
established that clover .should lie sown with all crops. It can he sown advantageously
in that way, if only for the value it adds to the fertility of the soil as well iwTfor its
usefulness in cleaning the land. Certain weeds are introduced with clover seeds, and we
have to be on the watch for these. None . f them are very noxious weeds, and, although
a good many weeds have been introduced through clover, this has been due more to seeds-
men selling dirty cheap seed than to the practice of growing clover in the way I have
mentioned.
The prevalence of weeds is a cause of loss to farme s on account of the difliculty in
separating their setds from grain. Millers have now a special invention for cleaning
grain of seeds that are injurious. The cockling machines have been found very good
in bringing down the number of injuri usseeds which were very troublesome in the mills,
through their similarity in size to grains of wheat.
Another seed which is very troulilesome and the one most disliked by western
millers, is that of the Giant Rag Weed, this seed is detested by millers because it is
aljout the same size and weight as a grain of wheat, and they can neither sift nor blow
it out. It is very desirable that farmers should, if possible, use clean .seed grain, and I
am glad to say that more care is now being taken to clean grain thoroughly before
sowing. If farmers do not give their attention lo this very soon, the millers will
refuse to buy from them altogether. Grain has been much cleaner this year than last.
A knowledge of the seeds of weeds is very important, because if a farmer finds foul
seeds in his grain these should be recognized, so' that he may not sow his grain in a dirty
condition.
The percentage of weed .seeds in a sample of grass seed may be very high and yet
be hardly noticeable without careful examination with a magnifying glass. It is with
the seeds of crops that many weeds are introduced into the country, this only shows what
VALUAHLE FOUDEH U/USSES, ANI, WEEDS.
183?
11
clean seed fn..n -edsnfenrthe L Ln I ^.ulv will 71"'' ''",' ^'"•>' •^'-"d '-' ve
seed well cleaned. 8ome of ti.e weed In S h take special pains to have their
trouble have not been found very tl In ttStn^^'^ntr ^'^'^^ "' ^'^"^^'^-'^^^
into StrrS:::! w{;l:h\:i:;;t't;w;?tn o!;;e "r •^-" ^"^'-^--^ ^^^"^-^
has not proved a very troublesome weed here but i.l'" ^^ T'^ ^'^'"'^ '^"^ ^^'''•^h
to spread that it is a bad weed. It has M^n';,! V '"'\,'''"^'\ '« Manitoba by its power
tain. It is an ag«re.ssive wee. w -h Mo ..s T th '"'f i"/'"' '^"^•^'>' ^^I-""
spread very fast over hundreds and i ou X.f . ''\T'"^ {nnuly, and having
enen.y and dealt with accordingly. It Z.' e u v n H . ^'"' *" '"^ '"^""-"'"'^ - ^»
^a// 1/../.,. / A , " ^ " 'P'"' "•" '> "^ ^''« «"»>« ^ay as n.ustard does.
■oaii Jlitstanl. — Another wop/1 rst ♦!,«
because the seeds are contained n1 Httl ro "d ^r.^" ^ ''^^'^ ^••■^"^'' '^'^" "^^-tard,
does not open at all ; this plant has prS .' . ^l m" "'' ^'^ ^''- ^ ^'>"*' -hi«h
grown. T saw one area of iiOO acr.-s oui?- o u t C ' f"""*''^ ^''"^'^ ^^''e'lt is
farmer said to mo "it does not do much a^ni " l.ut wh ""? "'"' ""'' '"'" ^^'^d- A
he found that he had reaped olf that I in v 1 i 7 ? ^'^ "''"^^ ^° ^''''^sh his wheat
got had that weed not grown there '' '"''"''' "* """'"'^ ''^^^ than he would have
n.to b^we^r(^:^;t,;^P-:-^-;X^ --der special conditions, develop
known as Pepper (Jras., belonging tTte^u ft r.s'u^^:","^'^.^^ ^™'- ''^ ^''^t is
but produced in enor.nous ..umbers I J i T ^ ^^lu^tard. The seeds are small
w th a great n.any branches ™,^:,w,;^^^^^^ fron. 6 inches I, g.
what is died a Winter Anni.il ThTn f ' ""K ''''"*-^'' '"'^'^'•« two seeds. It is
There are son.e plants wfudM-ipen S.' S; iX t f" ""'^ "•. '7 '''^'•^ ^"-t^--
the autunm, and, instead of being killed irthe f ott litrn '"'"" u'^'u "'"'" ^^nninate in
of a lat rosette of leaves on the ground in he same' w H''^^ '^^ '''''''' "^ 'he shape
are then ready the next year to tl row "thdr stem ^ A 'V >"^'' P'-'^'^^s lo ; they
wet seasons this plant instead of beiri smi 1 n . T? ^'f""'' «*^^^'« <l"ifkly. I^
large tree-like p'ant, 18 inches 1 igh vh c o ^ ;"^h:^'' ^^" '"?'-''- d-'eiops^.ito a
proper development. This calls attention .\7 7^ f ^°""" '''^"""^ '"»! prevents its
practice whic'h so.ne have t^rnV:.^:^!^'^'^, '' ^ "^^ "''^^ '^ '-^-- tLe
sowmg their grain on stubble, instea< of Z-^hi: M ''' .^"Jorth-wes. Territories, of
hey sow wit:, a p.-ess drill 'o.rthourTf'th^
there ,s a risk that th.se bien.ual weeds or wi . '^ ^y^"""' *^ ''"'"« "^ ^^«t spring
gran, and a huge Kx,s will occur "^on. T ereT'" '' T", ''^"'"P ^'"'^^^ ''' ^h^e
■same class. The value of the method of su,m..e f!n '■■"' ^'^''T ^^«l'>"ffi"g to this
where the,-e is someti.nes not ,,«ite e.' c^^h raL w " '"^' '" • '^'" ^^'^•^*«''" ™"ntry
a the .neeting at which he ac dres-^d he ColSe^ "^^ ^7 '"''^">' '*>' ^^'^ ^^'-''^'^y
at that ti.«e .so that it is not ne^ssary fr.-e ; M *'''" T^^
Idea generally held in regard to sum.nerSow n "Tn H "^ f "f ''"" ""^^^ ^»t the
are not .naking the best use of ourTnd ai.d thft bv h' T' "* ,"" '"""'"'y '^ '^-''^ ^^e
labour which we have available we sh;i Inl^n "tilling the
n>o.-e mnsture is not necessary ' This ; ' '^blrthr " ''""'''• ^' '^ -"sidc-ecf that
m the West it has been shown that surner-^n "'''''" '"''"^ P^
M.ickay told us that the farme,-s wo ^uZ^l^^^^^f '\"'' T"'''^' "^""-'ty. Mr.
d.d .lot su.muer fallow, did not get good XS"- ^'^^^ ^ ""''^"' "'"^ ''^"'^^ '^^'
ture winch is ..etained in the land by th.s .netl.od T ''^rr^'^'^^ i« in the ,..ois-
somotin.es done too late on .locount of the '^"'"'ner-fallowing in Manitoba is
n,d.vi.lmd faunae.-. Tt should he do e be o.e h?i 'trTll "'';"^ "" '"^ ^'""' ^>>^ -^^
of the weeds which g.-ow in su.nn.er allows haiennl ? ., "'^' "^l""' ^'''"^'^ ^^^e most
one or two which h.ive not rioened fheir. 7 l^T^ *''®"' ''^^'^'' '^"^ there are only
erib^d as weedy pla..ts than ^ weeds "ndte'" t' 1T' '"' ^'»^^^ -'« '-"er de!j
s— d:^-:rx^.^-&^^
others. Instances of such plants ^^^^Z^Z^^ZZ, S;;S'Sire:r
i »
12
DR. JAMES F LETCH EH.
Tlie liietDiiaf Woriiiinmd. — This weed is called False Tansy frmi its resemblance to
that well known plant. It produces a larger nuinbef of seeds but it does not flower as
early a-i ni my other plants, so that by the use of spring ploughing or sumiuer-fallowing
it can b») kept down. In Manitoba, Timothy i-s now being very much more grown than
it was in the past. T saw many excellent Timothv fields in Manitoba, of, .sometimes, loO
and 200 acres. The farmers tliat were growing Timothy wanted, of course, the hay
that it would produce, but the chief object they had in view when sowing it was to turn
the sod into the ground to increase the amount of fii)re, so that if there were heavy
winds in the spring it would hold the land, and more than that, the best wheat that is
produced is on sod land which has been ploughed down.
By Mr. McMillan :
Q. What do you do to cxtermiiiate the ()x-eye Daisy ? It is spreading rapidly.
A. Yes ; the Ox-ey.i Daisy is .spreading rapidly in Ontario and has spread to a
nmrvellous degree all over thf Maritime Provinces. Tlie best treatment that I have tried
is to seed to clover, and cut it early. The Ox-eye Daisy belongs to the peienniid class of
plants, it does not sprea 1 by running roots but by oH'sets growing near the surface.
Thus i'' the infested land is seeded down to clover, and then after cutting one or two
crops of clover, the lea is ploughed up, the roots of all the plants are killed, and you
only have to tight new .seeds l)rought in. It is a curious. thing, but I believe that the
spread of such a weed as the Ox eye D.aisy is hugely due to the Ivauty of the tlowers,
so many ladies pick them as they go along the roadside and wear them. And like many
other plants similar to the smitlowei, there is .sap enough in the stalk to ripen the seeds
after the tlowers have opened. If you root up Ox eye I)aisies and throw them on the
ground, there is often enough sap left to ripen the seeds. A great niany peopln grow
the plant for ornament, and thus the .seeds are scattered. I persuaded three people in
Manitoba to root up plants of Ox eye Dai.sy which they had growing in their gardens
for ornament. They have not thi.s plant as a weed yet in Manitoba. But one thing is
certain : it is a plant able to thrive there if it once gets a footing, and it will do so unless
they take steps to prevent it. For over '20 years it has been one of the greatest pests
in the East, particularly in New lirunswick, and elVorts are being made to get farmers
to eradicate it by seeding down their land to clover.
A Model Farm. — Mr. Fisher is my Minister now, and it may be thought bad taste
to refer to him, but I cannot help lemarking upon the fact that on his farm, which is
in the middle of a district infested with Ox eye Dai.sy, you cannot find a plant. That is
simply the result of turning out every year with his men, on one day-their daisy day —
and seeing if- there is a daisy to be 'ound ; and they look for eve y plant and cui it out
and destroy it. Today th 're is tiot a plant of dai.sy to be found on his farm. It is a
most troublesome weed, and one which has shown by its power of spreading to be very
dangerous I have seen it .stated in some books that it makes yood feed for animals. It
does nothing of the kind, for cattle won't < at it, and though they may eat it mixed in hay,
they won't eat it in a pasture ; sheep won't e it it either. I .saw in one book that the
writer .said it was better than even clover for renovating worn-fmt lands. No one
could think I he Ox eye Daisy a good plant to grow after seeing its prevalence in Canada.
Mr. McMir.LAX. — I bought a farm and on it was a spot covered by Ox eye
Daisies, four rods lon'jf and two rods wide, where a fence had been set. I took up the
fence, summer fallowed the land for two years and kept the surface clean. The first
year I got no plants but the second year they were as bad as ever. I took salt and
used it with veiy fair effect ; but these plants were soon as bad as evei-. The only
remedy is to seed down with clover.
By Mr. Sproule :
Q. Does it propagate by seed?
A. By seeds and off-sets.
VALUAt^Lt; FOIWEH aiiASSES, AXD WEEDS,
liy Mr. MiGrctjor :
lad?
IS
have worked for 10 years. I an, certa n th fn/ " '"'"'""« " «'"'^'«» ""w, which I
but I have .nustard 'every sprin'^^itrkJe; ^0/;:.'"'' "' "" ^''"^ "^"^ '^^ ^^^^
^'"^ ''"'«" ^'"."/'.—Keferrin" to whaf Vr \r Ml,
Eastern Townships an extre.,,ely aggret^Vwe^nf uS ""^ ^^ .^'^'^' *'-^« - i" the
.« known as the^ Paint Jirush, or thrOe" 's Pai t u . ''"u '^ u' ^"''^ ^^^^^s, and
It has been studied at the Vermont Exnerim,M f t,. ' \^^,''- P^^'^ilee will know
practical treatment w.s using one andTeS Ln^on.rf '^7 ^"""^^ *'"^^ ^''« '-^t
found th,s did not aflect the |rass iniuriouslv L I f ^ b.oadcasi, to the acre. They
weed. The trouble in the Ka,stern T^shTns an ; / '"'P'"'"^ ''' '^"' '^ destroyed Z
many upland n.ountain pastures it il^nTZS to tZ'""':!"?^ T^'"'''""^' '«' 'hat on
weed becomes established it spreads raSv 1 a ^ """ ''■'"•'' "^^ '^at when this
with salt is the only satisfactory reat S v.-t dL.T '. ""' '^'' '>""'''■ '^op-diessi,,^
small experiments have been tried .n Sn *h '.f ^'^'^^''^^^ « «f "d of the weed. Some
after some years of expe.-imentin.s ProS^ Jots "^^ '''' "-'^- "o-ever!
tion, finds that one and one-half \onsSsal^^\eacr^ ^'"^^^ Experiment Sta-
V.^/"'l,*''" •« *^n important dis. overy, because i ml '■\"'^^'"^f '« "S'-t quantity,
of the Eastern Townships and Vermont t^save their n? ^?'''''" ^°'' 'he farmeVs
IS rather expensive, it well repays itfuse Some of ^ 7 ' ^°'' ''"^"«'' *he remedy
have obtained equally good results. "^ ""*" ^*''™«''« have tried it, and
whiciftb'a^rhtf ^sp;ci:,eL"Ttt;L'c";s^^ ■"^•■^^"-^ --^ of
and ,s a pretty plant, which is sometin.es arown iA i' ^^''•"^" '" '^e Pink family,
Manitoba by the Mennonites. Many of fheTe neonle '' " ""** introduced int^
cheap seeds, with which they introduced those^f ^"'^ P'^"" '^"^ ^^^ey bought
among then, the Cow Cockle. This okntTro Jc f . /"'"^ troublesome plants
on^twelfth inch in dia.neter, blaTk^nlrXt y Incl M i'f 'if '*'• ^^'^ -
fields^ It has spread in Manitoba, and in Sou{hT»n.> i ''■°"''>'^so™e in grain
crowding out wheat. It forms a large succulent nflT.^^ T'"*'''^ large area.,
across. In going through the Mennontfe settlement^ S "* %'' ^'^^ ^"^ '^^ ^^e
!"?»«!""»« way the farn.ers were tighting aeainsTthe wl ^T-\ ^ u ''^'' ^^^^'^ '« «^« the
introduced by purchasing poor seecl from RuS and ^^r'''''*^^.'^ ^ad un.loubtedly
best to eradicate the w'eeds. All spe™k S^^n andTo '" ^^.%"'' '^"'"^^ 'hei^
soon as some of the English speakin^settlers the h'" ^°f ^M^ently did not learn so
but when the Manitobt govirnment sent on7 „ ^'"' °^ neglecting these enemies-
set to work with German ^ertinadty to Imp out"the ne?" {'"."• "^'^^ *« ^°' 'bey'
country, one may often see whole families nuZ<.wp« 1 ^T' '•" ''''-ving through thV
all through the crop until the wholTt 'd'^t 1,ee„ tX ?
farmers here often do with mustard-pull it ud and T" ^l^'^ ^^"'<^ ^'" ^s our
where It smothers the crop and ripens iL seed B^ H ri. '' 'l*'^'" "" 'he ground,
large flax sack over his .^.oulder?, and al the o^her li*''"" "^ '^' ^''"^^^y ^^"-"^^ a
hands are full and empty them inti tSe ba i w£ L ^^ ^' '^''/'n*" ^™ ^^''en their
side of the field, where the weeds a,e piVd up and b, rn^ T '' ^"" *'' '^ ^'"'"'^^J ^o the
method of life among these people is to live Tn "ui "es 1^' ^''^ '^''^ P'-«bably aware, the
raorning and taking their din„e,s with tK^ te'leav?t? ""' *" "'^"" ^""""'"^ '» '^e
the field, have dinner around them in (,he middK I T ''T"'' '^^ ^'e side of
villages at night. Every night they can- bad i..? ''''>'' ^^"^ «" '>^^k to their
ront of every house in the Monnon^itH I a::f t.^ i"' IT"",^ '^ 'T' ^^ "^^^«' ^^-^ '-
burn their weeds. This shows what thesl" peopl7are 1^' T'^' ''^P'^' where they
H remarkable result on the condition of that conn rv n f^f ""'^ '' •^'*"""' ^"^ hav^
farmers in Manitoba three years ago and to d thern^T I T-'' ^^^^en I n.et the
me You want to go down to the 4nnonite countTv t? .'. ""^^'"^ "^^^'^' '^^y said to
All I can say is, that the Mennonites can ::ZZ;^:]:'ZCi:i'l:^ ^^soTetf
■j^
II
li
14
Dli. JAMES FL ETCH hit.
our farmers in the better parts of Canada. Millers tell n.e that they are gf trng much
cleanrrZin now from southern Manitoba. The farn.ers have learne^d tha ,t will pay
them o''et rid of these weeds, an.! their it.dustry has prcM^ed to them the truth of
whTt had been told them, namely, that with care every weed could be eradicated.
Bi/ Mr. McMillan :
The Morning Glory.-Q. We have a creeping weed with a little pink flower ; do
vou know what it is? . >,i,^„„9
^ A Is the flower about an inch across like a small Mornir.- Glory \
Mr. Ebb -It is a w. ' Morning Glory. We have it .n our neighborhood and it
'"" * m7 FMH-It is one of the worst weed pests and one of the most persistent
which 1 as eenntoduced from Europe. T am trying some treatment tins year w th
Tal to ee f T cri Hnd a means of eradicating it. It does not prcKiuce m this country
verv many seed or flowers, but it has an enormous develop-ment of underground
stems I have a specimen in my oflice. the underground stems of which are over four
SeH; length The undergrouncl system of stems and roots is very extensive and leat^
bear n-^ 2^^ f'-*'«ly'^" «^^'- '^^ P^tch when once estabhshed. We
oearin„ hnoui,« iiic n. i_ j «„Uf;„„ «,\r t.hree vears. and we
ree years,
have
have a natch on the farm which we have been hghtmg tor . -
found that t^s one of the most persistent weeds, and none of the treatments m the
way of ap^lyingTalt or chemicals have succeeded so far, but we hope soon to get a
''^™'77<; Perennial .?o,«-<Aus<^«. -There is another weed, which is rightly causing much
me ^'''^'"'^Ji , Perennial or Field Sow-thistle. This generally makes its
:lZrr:'^n ™ i. a mor H i estricted patch ; each plant will throw out fifteen
orTwenv shits around a central stem which bears three or four la-ge conspicuous
and that will smother anytliing.
By Mr. Parmalee :
Ifnrd f/nck Weed -Q. Have you any treatment for the Hard Hack weedj
A None txS pulling it out and burning it. Mowing seems impossible. The
bl fatch by hand, but whei it covers large areas this is very expensive, btock does
no't seem to eat it, except when it is very young.
weed, while in Ontario it is in most places rare.
DESTRUCTIVE INSECT PR8T.S.
1897
I>EST/fC("fJVE FRUIT /'ESTS.
to the country. You, V,.ni\nn.n^^ul^^^^^^^^^ "^'''' ""-^' "^'-'"^ '""-^-"« S
asked alK)ut this, and it is just /is well Tf von ..f ^ ^ ^ •'' r'^"^t't»«nts and you may be
ex'je< in,dy dirticult to n.ut and veTy h -^"0 3e eel X'/"? ^" '"r^"-- ^L seal's
to hnd Ks to wash the fee. with a stron solut on J w ''T' '?"''>■ ^'^ '"^^-^ l^^^" '^ble
agitation .n the West to have prohibitivrie 1?" "/ p"' *"' '^""f- ^here is son.e
sock, through which this scale is Tn fJu^ Z. 1^ .''"'"^
at all. After studying the n.atter I havelt ^t e.^L"^' "■^"^''^ '"^^ »»'« «'"»try
to recommend such legislation. All I cm slv i. T H ^ ""7 '" '''^^"^^ ^he Minister
fully m the United States, and I th nk I know of'.II /r"- T'^''^ '' 'P'^^^ ^ery care-
proved to have been introduced into Canada Resoth '? *"r\'" "^'^'' '* ^ai been
. M ?' T-*'"" ^^"•'"'' "P'"'«" demands it so f r Tl T'^' ^^ '^"^ *" legislation,
should be directed towards finding out the'ht«f ' " ""^ ^'"' «^*«« = O"-" ^'hief efforts
established business of fruit-gro^s ^nd nur^ J^r If "'^''.""^ •"^•^^^«"»^' -'''.the
men could grow all their stock, and woul^Lrow ^ ben ^ ''"'/'•''■^'•■""^'-^""^ ""'-^^'ry-
be considered more seriously. We know fh^ '*' ,V'«'^ fg'^J'ition of this kind ini"ht
this insect, but we also kLw ifat they annT ver"'"'/" T ''•^"'«" ^ave not go
customers re,,uire. They have t<> get them StlrTT'^PA'^'' ^'•*' f'"'t trees their
enact prohibitive legislation before^it i po"s Eo the.n' y^'"*^ '''''''"''' ^"^ '^ -«
we are going to interfere with both of tC? 1.?,!^ ° ^"^ without the importations
way to advise the Minister to enact tl is le^^ ]irrr. h* '"^'' \"^ ^ ^« "^^ see my
mvestigated, and I have instructions fro.n h.'n tlmt' recH ""'"' '^', ""''''' thoroughly
getting away I am to go to the west agaii a d eSm neK."'^ """""^ ^'^' ^"°«^ of ™y
scale. There is one at Niagara, one at Chatham and nM ■' »""^" ccurrencesof the
IS of course too far off to visit • it is nof 1 1 ' • 'l^^^her in British Columb a which
there three years ago. and.'ttideV h" ^r pXe." thT R 'v I ^^T'^ «" ^'^^ - ^ -s
and iruit Inspector, a very efficient officer is wS.!,^^^ ^^'r '^'^ Entomologist
at Niagara and that at Chatham have Te^n e^tafe^J'^^Krl""^- '^^^ o^eurre^ce
but so far have not spread ; at least I ImvA t"'" .''''ied probably for two or three years
orchards, who are naturally very .u;hcZ T"^'^- '«"ers from the owners ot these
very far in their orchard,^ TLraieT Z ' '"^'"f '^^' '^' '"^^^^^s have not spread
back to New Jersey nurseries/ ' " '^'^ °"g"^^' trees, which they have tmced
as H-^S'Si J^;^:±-^;;,E;-ts a^^ i^ hmited by what are known
large nmnbers of the plants and ^"^100';'^^^^^^^^^^
dehned belts have been mapped and sner ,,1 n?^ ^ ?• T ""'^^ '^''^^S and certain well
Canada is included in wha^is kno.'ra the Bo/^'f/^' *" 't^^' ^he greater ^.rt o
known as the Transition Zone, oJich we h^ , Then we come to what is
country. Along the northern poi^i^n of lome of T' ?"'"'':f '""""^"'^g "P i"to our
us and a little strip north of Lake EHe ncludln *'^«^^"'t«d States lying south of
If once introduced, owing to the fact that it wHl her« fl ^ n^'u^ '""'^ '"^•'^^^e '•^Pidlv
for ite rapid development. ''" "^^'^ *^»d '^H the conditions necessary
exercis^^AlTetdint;;^::^^^^^^^^^ "P *« ^he present, by the fruit .rowers
ZT'^M^'^'^y^^'^'^' this inlliHou ircT?horr.fr>^----. theyVaTn
country. We cannot prevent its introduSnhpp„ '*• ""u^' certainly occur in the
need common sense to see that it dol not Ip^^d ^ Tdok /' ^Zl ""^r^^ ^^^ -« ^^ly
»t has gamed a foothold. In case I m^ft ''''^^'y.^^^"' the few localities where
culture has instructed me to go to NialjaLd ^''""1 '" .^h^^' the Minister of A 'r?-
St. Catharines and Grimsby 'district^ We ^S^l 1"!" t>,"''^''''^^'•"•'-g••°-«rs ot?he
examination and ascertain what is the exit tatl^^f 'ri^" mfested orchams, make an
Jose Scale is one of the most injurious hisects tha? h '^''''- u ^""^^ '"'^ *hat the San
trees. It showed that it was so in CaHf<^^a * „* v^ "^''* ^'"^ discovered on fruit
_Stateson our southern borde. since i-^:S^Zr ^Z:']^^:^
m
I' ''I
i.!'-!
I
I!
16
JJJi. JAMES FLkTCHER.
IS- !
W
It'
it most, and particularly the Tnited States Entomologist, say that we shall prohably
never exterminate it any more thin tlie Oyster-shell Bark-louse, because there will
never be concerted action on the part of the fruit-giowers ; still, at the same time, by the
methods that are recommended, this pest, like that insect, can he kept down, within
reasonable limits. Of course, it has not done any appieciable injury in this country as
yet, but no stone must be left unturned to control it.
By Mr. Calvert :
Q. What effect has it on the trees ?
A. Judging hy the experience in California, trees once affected by this scale die
rapidly, in from one to three years.
Bi/ Mr. Sproule :
Q. What species of trees is it most natural to ?
A. It is most noticed on fruit trees, but it occurs on almost all deciduous trees,
that is, all tho.se trees that drop their leaves in the winter. It has most wonderful powers
of increase. I do not quite know how to explain the wonderful increase to you, because
the numbers are so enormous, but it has been calculated that one female would produce
three trillions of young in a year. How that was ever computed without error, I do not
know, but I know that one female will keep on producing young at the rate of ten a day
for six weeks. One female will produce about 400 youijg in 30 days. These again are
ready in a short time to produce young, and these continue growing and propagating
all the season. The wonderful calculation above mentioned was made by Mr. Pergande,
a man of remarkable accuracy and one of Mr. Howard's assistants at Washington. I
have been asked by a memb er of the committee to say something about the caterpillars
now in such numbers on the trees around Parliament Hill.
The trees are being attacked by the ordinary American Tent Caterpillar. They
are in extraordinary numbers 39 that not only have members of Parliament and others
frequenting the Parliamentary buildings noticed them ; but items have appeared in the
newspapers. When I went to examine the trc^s I found a gardner spurting a mixture
of Paris green and water over some of the trees near the walk around the top of the
hill; I pointed out to him that this was of very little use and recommended him to ask
his chief to supply him with a good strong force pump. A suitable pump can now be
got for 10 or 12 dollats. In this instance, as is frequently the case, a good deal of
money and time had been wasted to little effect, because the^erson whose duty it was to
look after the matter had not taken the little extra trouble to find out what was the
best way to treat these insects to prevent them from destroying the trees.
By Mr. Sproule :
Q. Ts this scale insect on a piece of apple branch the same as the San Jos^ scale
you were speaking of?
A. No ; that is the ordinary Oyster-shell Bark-louse.
Mr. Fletcher. — Before closing, Mr. Chairman, there is one other matter which I
should like to bring before the committee. It is a remedy which has proved very effective
for those only too-well-known pests of the farm and garden cutworms There are many
remedies which may be tried with more or less success ; but one in particular has been so
useful during the last few weeks thdt I wish to make it known as widely as possible.
What are known as poisoned baits are very useful where plenty of succulent vegetation
can be procured ; but in some places, as for instance near Calgary and Edmonton this year,
there is very little vegetation of any kind to make these with, and the new remedy
which consists of ;(. mixture of bran poisoned with enough Paris green to give the
mixture a green shade (about one pound of Paris green to fifty pounds of bran) has
proved most satisfactory. This mixture may be used either slightly moistened and
distributed in small quantities amon" ir along the rows of an infested crop, or it may be
applied in a dry condition. A plan > nich has been recommended is to fill the drum of
DESTRUOTIVB FRUIT PESTS.
Id97
a Planet Jr. seeder and run lines nf t\.^ a ■
for the cutworms and V. '^^^\^^^P- This mixture seem, J^ K ^ "'^^ ^ ••»" *<>
■fiyi^r. McMillan:
do yojdor.hjri" '"' ^~' "■■- "»^ '-nd ,« ,«„„hi, m.,e g„, „„„ ^^„
bar. .fte. thetiSJ 7Zr '""^ "'» ^'''p'"- •sr^^rsirLt
p«, 7 . JAMES FLETCHER
Jintomologtat and Botanixt /« /A. n • •
J^otantst to the Domtmon B^erimental Famu,.
i
II