The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY MARCH 5 1912. INSECT PESTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 59, 5 March 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY MARCH 5 1912. INSECT PESTS.

The farmers and producers of Canada have their share of insect pests to contend against, as well as the farmers of this country. Dr. Gordon Hewitt, the Canadian entomologist recently gave an interesting account of these pests before a Philosophical Society in Britain, and explained the means his Government is adopting to combat them. The annual opening up to cultivation of .several thousands of square miles of land previously wild, destroys the balance of nature, and swarms of insects, {v '-,finding fresh stores of food available, devastate the new growths. These insects are ‘in some causes of native origin, hut are more frequently imported. Thus the Hessian fly was introduced in 181 G, the wheat midgo in 1828, the chinch bug in 1866, and the Colorado beetle in 1870. Up to that time field and cereal crops had been the only sufferers, but the immunity of fruit and forest trees was not to last long. The larch sawfly, only too well known in the Thirlmere district, reached Canada in 1882 via the New England States. So serious was this outbreak that in a few years the mature larches over practically the whole of Eastern Canada were completely destroyed. About .1887 Dr. Hewitt’s predecessor, Dr. James Fletcher, first received specimens of the pear-leaf blister-mite Eriophyes pyri, from Nova Scotia since which time it has spread over the entire breadth of Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and is increasing its ravages every year. The clover-root borer, the warble-fly, which attacks and weakens cattle and reduces their market value, the apple fruit miner, the apple maggot, the San Jose' scale, and other kinds were also alluded to. In the case of the last named it was found necessary to pass an Act, known as the San Jose Scale Act, which prohibited the importation of trees, plants, and other nursery stock from countries in which the scale was known to exist. Later, in 1901, restriction -was removed, but ■infected plants were subjected to fumigation iby prussic acid before being admitted. The latest of these “undesirable aliens” which has gained a footing in Canada is the brown tail moth, Enproctis chrysorrhoea, which ravages not only fruit trees hut the oak, elm, and maple. An active campaign is now carried on against it, the new foliage being sprayed over with an insectcido fatal to the young larvae. It had been supposed that the severe winters of Canada would have this result, but experience has shown that about 110 per coni of the larvae survive after being frozen in a block of ice for two

months. Hence attention is being given to the parasites of this ispec'ies, and it is hoped to reduce their numbers by this means. At a later stage the parasites may produce a havoc among the invaders equal to that which the latter now cause to orchards and plantations. The extreme economic importance of dealing with insect posts lias long been recognised in Canada, and legislation there is far advanced. A beginning was made by the Canadian Entomological Society in 186‘1, and in 1871 a. rtqxirt issued by the Society was published by the Provincial Gov-

eminent of Ontario. The Dominion Government ultimately took the matter in hand, and when the Dominion farms wore established, in 18SG, an official entomologist and botanist was appointed. Dr. Fletcher acted in the joint capacity till Jus death in 1908, and a year later the offices were divided, Dr. Hewitt taking over the entomological department. In order to encourage farmers and fruit growers to apply for advice in case of need all correspondence with the department is franked in the post and the best expert advice is available In every quarter. Educational work is also undertaken, agricultural meetings and associations being addressed on the means of prevention and control of outbreaks. In the Ontario Agricultural College men are trained to act as assistants and inspectors in this branch, and a similar work is carried on in other provinces.

CHINA’S DIFFICULTY.

The question of whether a republican form of Government in China could bo inaugurated with a sufficiently strong central power to hold the provinces together is very largely, writes Mr Archibald R. Oclquhoun in the “Fortnightly Review,” a question of personalities. He adds: Then arises the question: Where is the man who can replace, by virtue of strength, wisdom, and public confidence, the dynasty which has hitherto held its place as a semi-divine institution, the apex of the family life of the nation ? European publications have been busily canvassing the claims of one or two men to become “the father of the people.” Opinion (in Europe and .America) seems to bo divided between Sun-Yat-Sen, a devoted revolutionary propagandist, and Yuan-Shi-Kai, a clever and able opportunist. But it may he .safely .said that Yuan, regarded by the Manchus as their only remaining chance, because bo once before saved the Empress-Dowager at the expense of the reform movement, is neither a Washington nor a Bismarck. He is not entirely trusted by cither party in the State, and although his real ability is recognised, ho is not as universally acclaimed in China, as in the Western world. The panegyrics poured out on him have not always pleased Chinese readers, who are a little tired of hearing that ho is their “one strong man.” At the present time he is doing all he can to come down on the right side of the fence. As for Dr. Sun, it is no disparagement to an. earnest and nelf -sacrificing apostle of reform to say that he is neither a Garibaldi nor a Cavour. Whether lie is a Mazzini veamins to ho seen.