170 STATE EOAKD OF AGKICULTUKE. 



A vote was taken, resulting in five for the fat cattle and fifteen for the lean 

 stock. 



Prof. Cook then said this was his own impression, as a boy, that the scrawn- 

 iest cattle were more likely to be attacked by the fly, but shice taking careful 

 notes of the cases he had changed liis opinion. 



Next in order was an essay by James Satterlee, of Eureka, 



SHA.LL WE FIGHT OUK INSECT ENEMIES? 



Among the sciences that man has been turning to his own practical use within 

 the last fifty years, is tliat of entomology. By this we mean the science that 

 treats of the various forms of insect life. But what is there interesting or val- 

 uable in the study of such uncouth forms, such " horrid bugs" as are included 

 in this the greatest division of the animal kingdom? I do not mean the greatest 

 in the size of its members, but in the number of its species, for in that it excels 

 all others. Is there nothing of interest in the cliange that transforms the loath- 

 some tomato-worm, with its reputed deadly horn, into the graceful sphynx that 

 gatliers sweetness from your petunias and evening primroses in the twilight of 

 an August day? Is there nothing wonderful in tlie transformation that changes 

 the ragged willow caterpillar into the beautiful Vanessa butterfly that remains 

 with us during our long winters and gladdens our eyes the first warm days of 

 spring? Is there nothing worth studying in the natural history of the bee, or 

 even of the ant, to whom the wise man has referred us? 



But the scope of my paper will not permit me to speak further of tlie more 

 interesting part of this subject. I will take for granted that you concede tliere 

 is something of interest in the general history of insect life, and proceed at once 

 to the practical part of the topic assigned me, that is : shall we fight our insect 

 enemies? Why do we speak of our insect enemies? Are there insects that prey 

 upon the crops of our fields, orchards, and gardens to any appreciable extent? 

 To answer this question, I have only to allude to the well known fact that our 

 wheat is preyed upon by two S2:)ecies almost too small to be seen by the naked 

 eye, yet seriously afiiecting the crop many seasons. Our corn is cut off as it 

 makes its appearance, and the roots eaten and destroyed in many cases. The 

 leaves of all our garden vines are eaten to skeletons and the last drop of sap 

 sucked from the roots by insatiable pests that are always vigilant. Our potato 

 tops are a certain prey to tlie untold millions of hungry mouths tliat are on the 

 march toward the sea. Our apples are bored through and through, the trees 

 denuded of their leaves, their young twigs sapped, and bodies girdled and per- 

 forated, all by different members of the insect world. Our plums are a total 

 failure on account of the little Turk that leaves his crescent mark upon the fruit, 

 and we find the same mark inflicting more or less injury to the cherry, peach, 

 and other fruit. It is said that every plant that grows has its enemies. Our 

 forest trees are a constant prey to them. Even the sturdy oak is not free from 

 their attacks ; and I miglit cite further evidence that we have many insect 

 enemies, but I trust this is sufficient. 



An enumeration of some of the species that work this injury may be of inter- 

 est. I will only speak of a few of the most important. Among these is the 

 Hessian fly, which lays its eggs upon the wheat in September. The egg hatches 

 in three or four days, when the larva passes down the leaf and takes possession 

 of the base of the stem, from which it sucks the juice, thereby Aveakening the 

 plant. It remains in the same position to become a pupa, and in the spring 

 hatches into the perfect fly, which again lays its eggs upon the wheat, becomes 



