PRACTICAL ENTOMOLOGY. 



BY GEO. E. BRACKETT, BELFAST, ME. 



Introductory. 



In -writing this short essay on Entomology, for the use of the 

 farmers of Maine, it has been my aim, so far as possible, to be prac- 

 tical, uniting brevity with simplicity, and making remarks and 

 directions comparatively free from scientific terms and names, so 

 that young farmers and farmers' boys and girls may become acquain- 

 ted with the simple outlines of the science, and by following the 

 directions, may secure valuable collections of native insects, become 

 interested in the subject, and thereby incited to the further study of 

 the science, which, once entered upon, will never fail of interesting 

 and instructing — a science so replete with subjects that the study of 

 a lifetime might fail to exhaust them. Entomology, or the science 

 that treats of insects, is one of the most interesting and instructive 

 departments of Natural History ; and, to the farmer, one of the most 

 important divisions, for insects are his natural and hereditary ene- 

 mies. In the prosecution of his profession, he is annoyed and beset 

 by myraids of insects, of diversified forms and varieties, which devour 

 his substance, rob him of his possessions, and in many cases drive 

 him vanquished from the field. He can only expect to cope success- 

 fully with such assailants by being fully acquainted with their 

 weapons, mode and time of attack, &c.. and this can be accomplished 

 only by close observation and study of their habits and lives, and to 

 induce and assist young farmers to commence making such observa- 

 tions, these few remarks have been prepared. 



Every farmer is necessarily, to some extent, a practical entomol- 

 ogist. He is almost daily brought in contact and opposed to insects 

 under some of their various forms, and is obliged to devise ways and 

 means to best prevent or counteract their injurious influence. There 



