OF WASHINGTON. 269 



of the station. Some hours were spent in the laboratory of the 

 latter discussing entomological matters and examining methods 

 of work, and also arranging with him to assume charge, if de 

 sired, of the collection of predaceous beetles for shipment to this 

 country to prey upon the gypsy moth. It was learned that all 

 of the expenses of the office are limited to 2,000 francs per annum, 

 which, of itself, is sufficient illustration of the meagreness of the 

 opportunities for original work or necessary equipment. The 

 methods followed in the rearing of insects and studying the life- 

 histories are very similar to those employed in Washington, but 

 rather simpler and on a very much smaller scale. There is little 

 opportunity for field investigations. This entomological station 

 is of comparatively recent origin (1894), but owing to the condi 

 tions which prevail in France, as in other portions of Europe, in 

 the matter of comparative freedom from insect damage, it will 

 probably never assume great importance. All information sent 

 out from this station in reply to correspondents is given gratis. 

 Occasionally posters are prepared on some special insect outbreak, 

 and are displayed conspicuously in public buildings throughout 

 the infested territory. The results of the work of the station are 

 published in the various scientific journals of France, and some 

 times in the bulletin of the Minister of Agriculture. 



The necessity of a central entomological bureau is not very 

 great in France and this is also true, to a degree, of other Euro 

 pean countries from the fact that throughout the republic there 

 are agricultural stations and school farms, with which are often 

 connected professors of entomology and zoology who give imme 

 diate information to their respective districts about any local 

 matters that may arise. Such information or advice is not, how 

 ever, gratis, but a fee is taken therefor, as would be the case 

 with any other professional man, such as a doctor or a lawyer. 

 This applies to a man like Professor Noel, Director of the 

 Laboratoirc Regional cT Entomologie A.gricole at Rouen, and 

 Professor Valery Mayet, in charge of the department of ento 

 mology of the Ecolc Nationalc cT Agriculture at Montpellier. 

 The number of stations, laboratories, or schools in the interest of 

 agriculture in France is very great, perhaps over 50 all told, and 

 in many of them information about insects may be gained. 



All the requests for information addressed to the Minister of 



