1913 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 39 



There is a difference of opinion as to the best method to pursue in discussing 

 the chief injurious insects in an elementary class. For some years I discussed 

 them according to tlie orders to which they belong, after the manner of J. B. 

 Smith's " Economic Entomology/' and I obtained fairly satisfactory results. By 

 this method the relationships of the forms discussed are kept constantly before the 

 minds of the students — a matter of some importance, I admit, for students who 

 may wish to pursue their studies further in the third and fourth years. 



The other method is to discuss the insects according to the host after the 

 manner of Sanderson's " Insect Pests of Farm, Garden and Orchard," and 

 Saunders' " Injurious Insects of the Orchard," and Weed's " Insects and Insec- 

 ticides." The advantage of this method is that tlie student's attention is con- 

 stantly directed to the crops that arc injured. 



Personally I am in favor of the latter method for the class of students we have 

 to deal with. 



Third Year : In the Third Year, however, the students are preparing them- 

 selves to become investigators, teachers, etc. ; hence more attention should be 

 given to entomology as a science. Some familiarity with the families and chief 

 genera is demanded, and this can be best acquired by practical work in the labor- 

 atory. Comstock's Manual is perhaps the best book to use in this connection, 

 although Sanderson and Jackson's " Elementary Entomology " with its many 

 keys is also an admirable work. Its lower price will tend to make it more popular 

 with students. 



My plan for the Third. Year class is to devote the fall term to a more detailed 

 study of the anatomy of some typical insects, and to a study of the chief families 

 and common genera, and the winter term to a more detailed study of the economic 

 forms. Sanderson's "Insect Pests of the Farm, Garden and Orchard" makes an 

 excellent text-book for the winter course, but it is unfortunate that the price is so 

 high. According to this plan both of Sanderson's works are necessary for the 

 year's work, but the cost of two such books is to some extent prohibitive. 



For the same reason, the introduction of Sanderson's larger book for the 

 Second Year class meets with disapproval on the part of most students. 



Fourth Year : The entomology of the Fourth Year is of necessity taken by 

 students who are specializing. Special problems are assigned for study and dis- 

 cussion, and methods of work and a knowledge of the literature are emphasized. 



A New Book Needed: From what I have already said it may be inferred 

 that there is a pressing need for a textbook or handbook of entomology that will 

 serve the needs of the students during the Second and Third Years, and that will 

 at the same time keep the cost within moderate bounds. 



I venture here to suggest a plan of contents of such a book, which would be a 

 handbook rather than a textbook. Part I would deal with anatomy, metamorphosis, 

 and reproduction, and would contain laboratory exercises. Part II would contain 

 host-keys for the identification of the injurious insects according to the manner 

 of injury done to the root, stem, leaf or fruit. 



Part III would contain concise descriptions of these insects arranged accord- 

 ing to order and family; and simple keys might be inserted to enable the student 

 to identify them. 



Part IV would deal with methods of control. Part V with general entom- 

 ology; and Part VI with collectins: and preservinsr insects. By a system of cross- 

 references full information resrarding the life-history and methods of control of 

 each insect could be readily obtained. 



