4 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. vi. 



6480,000. These facts become startling and alarming when we 

 consider that very little phosphoric acid in any form is being 

 applied to replace this enormous waste. Yet so great is now the 

 demand for these manures that super-phosphates to the value of 

 $8,750,000 are annually manufactured in England from mineral 

 phosphate of lime, beside the extensive importations of bones and 

 guano. Third — Canada is especially rich in natural mineral phos- 

 phates, as yet little utilized, and might supply her own wants, 

 and those of half the world beside, if industry and skill were 

 directed to this object. 



Putting these three classes of facts together, as they are pre- 

 sented by Mr. Broome, we have before us, on the one hand, an im- 

 mense abyss of waste, poverty and depopulation yawning before 

 our agricultural interests ; and on the other, inexhaustible sources 

 of wealth and prosperity lying within reach of scientific skill, and 

 the conditions necessary to utilize which were well pointed out in 

 the paper referred to. It is true that these facts and conclusions 

 have been previously stated and enforced, but they remain as an 

 illustration of scientific truths of important practical value still very 

 little acted on. 



Naturalists are sometimes accused of being so foolish as to chase 

 butterflies, and the culture of cabbages is not usually regarded as 

 a very scientific operation ; yet any one who reads a paper on the 

 Cubbjge butterfly read at one of our meetings by the late Mr. 

 Kitche, may easily discover that there may be practical utility in 

 studying butterflies, and that science may be applied to the culture 

 of the most commonplace of vegetables. A valuable crop, worth 

 many thousands of dollars, is hopelessly destroyed by enemies not 

 previously known, and appearing as if by magic. Entomology 

 informs us that the destroyer is a well known European insect. 

 It tells how it reached this country and that it might have 

 been exterminated by a child in an a hour on its first appearance. 

 But allow it to multiply unchecked, it soon fills all our gardens 

 and fields with its devastating multitudes, and the cultivators of 

 cabbages and cauliflowers are in despair. But Entomology pro- 

 ceeds to show that the case is not yet hopeless, and that means 

 may still be found to arrest its ravages. 



Unfortunately, we have as yet no public oflacial bureau of En- 

 tomology, and therefore we must be indebted for such information 

 to men who, like our late associate Bitchie, snatch from arduous 

 business pursuits the hours that enable them thus to benefit their 



