THE NECESSITY OF A STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 131 



species of insects which prey upon our cereals and grasses, and as many which. 

 infest our field crops. Some thirty well-known species ravage our garden veg- 

 etables. There are nearly fifty species which attack the grape vine, and their 

 number is increasing. About seventy-five species make their annual onset 

 upon the apple tree, and nearly an equal number may be found upon the plum, 

 pear, peach, and cherry." Quoting from Prof. Cook's report, "the really dam- 

 aging ones affecting the fruit and fruit trees of our own State, may almost be 

 counted on the fingers," and the same is true of those attacking our grass and 

 cereals, those preying upon other field crops, and those pillaging our gardens. 

 The onion fly, the currant slug, the grape weevil, and perhaps others are even 

 now just entering our State, as yet but just plundering the confines, while the 

 cabbage butterfly, the asparagus beetle, are nearing us, and will, with scores* of 

 other marauders, enter in and occupy our State, unless vigorous measures are 

 taken to stay their progress. Now, with a State Entomologist to rouse the 

 people, warning them of these sure dangers, we may incite that concerted 

 action which can alone save us from these prospective devourers. It were far 

 easier to keep these enemies at bay, than to vanquish them when once among 

 us. Give us one to enlighten our people, and the easier course is sure of 

 adoption. 



We also need concert of action. One man or neighborhood may extermi- 

 nate every insect jDest, but if a neighbor or adjacent community are heedless, 

 the evil is but temporarily removed; all live pomologists can bear witness on 

 this point. Can a State Entomologist induce this united action ? We answer, 

 Yes. Dr. Trimble, State Entomologist of New Jersey, has so aroused the uni- 

 versal vigilance of the great fruit-growing sections, that it is said that the 

 noxious insects of some large regions, especially about Vineland, are almost 

 wholly vanquished. 



But what is the testimony where the system has been tried ? 



New York appointed Dr. Asa Fitch State Entomologist in 1853, and have 

 sustained him in the position ever since. Senator A. B. Dickerson stated, at 

 one of the meetings of the State Agricultural Society, that Dr. Fitch saved to 

 the State the large annual sum of $50,000, which opinion met the acquies- 

 cence of all the members. 



Illinois appointed Dr. B. D. Walsh State Entomologist in 1867, with a sal- 

 ary of $2,000 ; and the high appreciation of the office in that State was prac- 

 tically demonstrated two years later, when, by the greatly lamented decease of 

 Dr. Walsh, the office becoming vacant, Dr. Le Baron was immediately 

 appointed his successor. 



Prof. Riley was appointed State Entomologist of Missouri in 1868. His 

 salary has since been raised to $3,000. 



Dr. A. S. Packard was appointed State Entomologist of Massachusetts in 

 1870. 



Dr. Trimble has acted for several years as Entomologist of New Jersey, 

 — whether or not as a State officer we are not informed. 



Ontario, Canada, pays, by act of the Legislature, the Canadian Entomolo- 

 gical Society, for investigating and annually reporting on the insects of 

 Canada. 



Europe has long been awake to the wisdom of fostering the science of 

 applied entomology. Especially wise and provident Germany has issued, at 

 Government expense, most elegant treatises, written by men of world-wide 

 fame, and whose influence for good cannot be over-estimated. 



