198 Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



And here I might express the fear that otherivise will prevail, at least until 

 we have more nearly approached the millenium of earthly bliss. 



But seriously, Mr. President, I have viewed with no small degree of alarm, 

 the steady and onward march of our orchard pests; in spite of our science; 

 in spite of our boasted progress, until I have almost despaired. Entomology 

 has enlightened us on the subject of bugs and beetles; it has clearly defined 

 the differences that distinguish these two subdivisions of the insect tribes; it 

 has assured us that one sucks its food, while the other bites it; it has ex- 

 plained to us in high-sounding terms the metamorphosis of insects; it has 

 shed a, brilliant ray of light on cdeoptera, and (.rihoptera, and lepidoptem ; yet, 

 sir, the beautiful things have steadily encroached on our chosen domain, 

 until, like the Irishman, when the mule put his foot in the stirrup, I am 

 almost ready to exclaim, "be jabbers, if you are going to git up I'll git down." 



But when Ave retrospect the history of our race, and read the story of the 



GARDEK AND THE ORIGINAL PAIR, 



With the anathema pronounced upon us, for their sake, we fail to find that 

 insects were to figure in our everlasting torment, and hence we conclude 

 that quiet resignation to their ravages is no part of Christian virtue, so we 

 will, at least, take the matter of "unconditional surrender " under advisement 

 before giving up the ship. 



We have great consolation in knowing that the orchard that receives care- 

 ful culture and attention, like the well-fed flock, suffers least from insect 

 depredations. 



The scaly aphis, the borer, the canker worm, the codling moth, and their 

 kind, find but little comfort under the vigilant eye of the careful orchardist^ 

 while they literally revel in the orchard of the sluggard. 



Unfortunately, as we must to some extent share the sins of each other, and 

 as the sluggard predominates, we must help feed the hungry hosts of our 

 careless neighbor, since insects are endowed by nature with the powers of lo- 

 comotion. Here lies the chief difficulty in the way of effectual success. 



If we, as fruit-growers, can, by moral suasion, or through the terrors of the 

 Liw, possibly devise a way of enforcing the necessary diligence in this cause, 

 we will certainly have taken an important step in the direction of a so- 

 lution of the important question that stands at the head of this paper. Until 

 then we are destined to be goaded and harrassed, like Pharoah of old, by in- 

 sect pests. 



But insects are not all pests. Many of the tribes that infest our orchards 

 are friendly in their operations, and greatly aid us in our efforts to conquer 

 those of a noxious character. Upon these we must rely for assistance in 

 waging war on the jtests. 



To know and to protect our friends, therefore, becomes a duty. Entomolo- 

 gy, as a science, must aid us in recognizing our friends and our enemies. It 

 is to this science that we must look for information in regard to the effects of 

 wholesale applications of poisonous insecticides ; whether they are not more 



