892 Agrieultural Entoynology. [August, 



At tlie late meeting of the National Agricultural Society, Hon. T. 

 Glover, of N. Y., read a paper on the subject of Entomology as applied 

 to Agriculture, from wliich we select tlio following wise and well- 

 worded thoughts : 



" The subject of entomology, as applied to the use of agriculture, or 

 Agricultural Entomology, if it may be thus termed, is of the most vital 

 importance to every planter or farmer, especially if the destruction 

 effected by the myriads of insects annually to the staple crops of the 

 United States is considered. The caterpillar, ball worm, and red bug 

 too often destroy the Southern planter's hope of a cotton crop. The 

 minute joint worm commited such ravages in the once fine and flour- 

 ishing wheat fields of Virginia, that the culture of wheat in several 

 places has been abandoned. The almost microscopic wheat midge has 

 lately proved so destructive in the fertile fields of Ohio, that a friend 

 from that State assured me, a few days ago, that during the last year 

 he has seen fields so utterly destroyed as not to be worth harvesting, 

 and cattle had to be turned in 'to prey upon the poor remains' the 

 midge 'had left behind.' In New York, Massachusetts, etc., the cur- 

 culio causes ofttimcs a total failure of the plum crop. From North, 

 South, East, and West we hear of nothing but complaints of the 

 ravages committed by our insect foes, and it would be impossible to 

 enumerate them on this occasion, as their name is ' legion.' 



"It will, therefore, be plainly perceived that a close study of the 

 habits and transformations of any one of these pernicious insects by the 

 practical and intelligent farmer, would prove not only a source of great 

 pleasure, as leading him to a keener sense of the beauteous and 

 wonderful works of nature as exemplified in the singular transforma- 

 tions insects undergo, before they assume the perfect or fly state, but 

 also a source of great profit, as, by experimenting upon them in all the 

 stages of their existence, he might perchance discover some practical 

 method by which their extermination could be effected. Indeed it is 

 absolutely necessary, that a farmer should be able to recognize the 

 insects that destroy his crops, in all their various and wonderful 

 transformations, before any effectual remedy can be applied; as in one 

 Btage of their life they may be suffered to live and enjoy themselves, 

 nay, even sometimes be protected, whilst in another stage we persecute 

 and destroy them by every means in our power. Take, for example, 



