oS E. A. OEMEROD — ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 



known as the "mustard-seed beetle" of the Fens. Last year it 

 did damage estimated in one case at £1000 to a single proprietor, 

 this year it has been widespread in its attack. Here and 

 genei-ally we want much more information as to the reasons of 

 intermittent appearance. "We want observations telling the life 

 history of the insects, and the circumstances favourable to their 

 production, or rather, those which accompany and precede their 

 appearance when in the great numbers in which they are a serious 

 evil. In some cases the eggs must have lain in the soil (here we 

 want to know how long their vitality endures, and why they 

 should have hatched in that particular season), in others the 

 appearance of the springing crop is the signal for the appearance 

 also of some special insect to eat it down — where did it lurk the 

 while, and where will it lay the eggs which are to perpetuate the 

 race ? "We know a very little about certain insects appearing with 

 a certain succession of crops, which is one of the points which 

 needs amplifying in every direction ; and the characteristics of the 

 particular season, the soil, manure, infected seed sown, infected 

 fields in the neighbourhood, transportation by wind (sometimes a 

 very important point), require attention, and thoroughly careful 

 attention, extending over many years and many districts, before 

 the requisite information suitable for general use can be obtained. 

 But we benefit by the labours of those before us, and may well do 

 our part where we can, and one most important point, in which all 

 might aid, is in keeping attention alive to the living reality of 

 insect agency in connection with our most important crops. 



The grain of wheat, or the insect that feeds in it, are each, 

 taken by themselves, of small importance, but in them taken 

 collectively lies the cause but too often of the full or empty sack, 

 and the corresponding returns to the owner and to the country at 

 large. 



