164 . ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



studies of the Tent-caterpillar, the Codling Moth, the Fruit-tree 

 Bark-borers, Grape Pests and other injurious insects, as well as 

 mice, rabbits, hawks and owls, sparrows, reptiles, toads, etc. These 

 investigations are not completed, but will be continued, and the 

 results published in due time. Our office work, however, is so vol- 

 uminous as to prevent very much personal scientific work of an 

 original nature. It is to be hoped that this can be remedied by 

 the appointment of the help we need. 



(4.) DEMONSTRATIONS: 



We have had a great number of calls, especially from the fruit- 

 growing regions of this State, for our services in demonstrating 

 to growers the methods of making and applying insecticides, 

 which have not previously been used. This is especially 

 true for the application of the lime-sulphur-salt wash for the 

 San Jos6 Scale. Our oflfice work has been so urgent, however 

 that we could not well undertake such important demonstrations 

 upon an extensive scale, but we have gone to several places, 

 and have met the orchardists in field sessions, and have endeavored 

 to show them how to make and apply the most approved modern 

 remedies. At the numerous public meetings where we have spoken, 

 we have generally exhibited some kind of spraying apparatus for 

 the purpose of showing in a practical manner the difference between 

 spraying and sprinkling, and the necessity for the former rather 

 than the latter. 



There is no better means of serving our citizens than to teach 

 them the best methods in this practical work. They hesitate to 

 apply the methods which we have found best, because these rem- 

 edies are new to them, and they fear that they will make mistakes 

 and be unsuccessful in making such applications. One demonstra- 

 tion in each township in the State would give our agriculturists and 

 horticulturists practical aid to the value of hundreds of thousands 

 of dollars. It is to be hoped that arrangements can be made to 

 enlarge the work of this oflfice, and equip us with a field assistant 

 for such useful services, or with a permanent competent oflfice as- 

 sistant, that will enable your Zoologist to go into the field to do 

 the work. 



(5.) COLLECTIONS: 



As has been said above, there were no specimens in this office 

 when we entered it, and we are receiving hundreds every month, 

 with the request that we identify them and tell the inquirers what 

 practical measures should be taken in connection with them. A 

 professional naturalist is unwilling to risk his reputation by basing 

 his communications upon conjecture, or by being forced to do im- 



