presioknt's address. 19 



Cottony Cushion Scale, aroused an interest in applied entomo- 

 logy, in Sydney in particular. 



The creation of each of our Departments of Agriculture 

 brought about the appointment of an Economic Entomolo- 

 gist, to study the habits and the methods of dealing with 

 insect-pests. Victoria took the lead, and Mr. Charles French, 

 who for some years had been assistant to Baron von Mueller, 

 was our first ofl&cial entomologist. He took office in the new 

 department in 1889; and only retired last year, after 22 

 years' service. Though French has done little scientific 

 descriptive work, he has issued, in five parts, a "Handbook of 

 the Destructive Insects of Victoria," containing a popular 

 account of introduced and indigenous insects, illustrated with 

 many coloured plates. Though not a prolific writer, he has 

 done a very great deal of work in popularising entomology, 

 and other branches of natural history ; and was one of the 

 founders of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, in 1882. 

 Mr. Charles French, Junr., his eldest son, Assistant Ento- 

 mologist for some years, has now been appointed to carry on 

 the work. 



In 1890, the Agricultural Department of New South Wales 

 was formed, and Mr. A. Sidney Olliff, entomologist at the 

 Australian Museum, was appointed entomologist on the 

 agricultural staff ; and the first paper, in the A gricultural 

 Gazette, was one upon Codlin Moth, written by him. Mr. 

 Olliff, though more a systematic than an economic entomolo- 

 gist, contributed a number of valuable reports and papers to 

 the A r/ricultural Gazette, but after a protracted physical 

 breakdown, died in the early part of 1896. On the regrading 

 of the Service later in the year, I received the appointment, 

 which I have had the honour to hold up to the present time. 

 After a number of vicissitudes, and being located in very 

 unsuitable buildings, and cramped for space, the Entomolo- 

 gist's Branch is now housed in very serviceable quarters in the 

 Mining Museum, Lower George Street, with a modern insec- 

 torium in the Botanic Gardens, and an Experimental Station 



