16 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



passed, we have been able to hold our own in the domain of science in North America 

 and to spread our publication, not only all over the continent but, we may safely say, to 

 the ends of the earth. We have correspondents and subscribers in every part of the 

 world, including even South America, Australia, India and Japan, as well as the diflferent 

 countries of Europe. I trust you will unite with me in expressing our thanks to Prof. 

 James. (Applause.) 



THE VALUE OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



Mr. James Fletcher, Entomologist of the Experimental Farm at Ottawa, spoke as 

 follows : 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, — It is my pleasure and honor on this 

 occasion to represent as well as I can a far better man than myself, namely, the Presi- 

 dent of our Society. After all the kind words which have fallen from the lips of our es- 

 teemed lecturer of the evening, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, it is difficult to 

 give a resume of the work and objects of the Entomological Society of Ontario without 

 repeating something which may already have been better said. Our Society stands in 

 the position of a Division of Entomology to the Department of Agriculture and Arts, 

 and it is the wish of every member of the council that our work should be of the greatest 

 possible utility to the country at large. The work done in the past has been of an ex- 

 cellent nature, the prosperity and utility of the Society having year by year increased, 

 and I am happy to be able to say that, at the present time, the Society is in a more 

 prosperous condition than it has ever been before. We have a body of active, enthusias- 

 tic workers and every equipment for good work — valuable collections of insects, as well 

 as a first-rate botanical collection, a magnificent library, and, in addition, active branches 

 working up not only entomology, but also many other kindred branches of science. The 

 condition of our library is rather remarkable. It is undoubtedly the best library of works 

 on natural history in Canada and one of the best in North America. Now. I am quite cer- 

 tain, Mr. Mayor, that the citizens of London are not aware of this fact ; they do not 

 know of the valuable collection of books on natural history and the grand museum of 

 insects and plants which are deposited here in their midst, but which specialists are glad 

 to come from all parts of Canada to examine. Some people may say, " What is the use 

 of these collections of insects and plants ? They are pretty, it is true, but what is the use 

 of them T In reply, I would remind such enquirers that these objects are but means to an 

 end. The main object of our Society is to prevent loss to the farmers of Ontario from 

 the attacks of insect pests. The enormous losses which take place in the crops of the 

 province every year from the depredations of injurious insects, can only be controlled by 

 specialists first studying up and understanding the habits of the insects which cause the 

 damage ; for this purpaie collections of various orders of insects for study and compari- 

 son are essentially necessary. Moreover, by collecting and studying all the members of 

 a family, we may frequently anticipate and prevent injury by one species from knowing 

 the habits of an allied member of the same family. We aim then to make our collections 

 as complete as possible and look forward to the time when some day we may have in 

 our cabinets representatives of all the injurious insects which have given trouble in Can- 

 ada. These are matters of interest to the citizens of London, which place has always 

 been the headquarters of our Society ; and my advice to those of you who have not yet 

 found out what treasures you have among you, is to go and find out aa soon as possible ; 

 it is worth your while, and I can promise you that you will at all times meet with a 

 courteous reception from our Curator, Mr. J. Alston MoSat, who will gladly show the 

 many beautiful objects in his charge to anyone who is interested enough to call upon 

 him. 



Some striking instances of the usefulness of the study of entomology have already 

 been well laid belore you by Prof. James, and there are numerous others which might be 

 cited. If any proof of the matter were needed, we have merely to think of the large 

 number of official economic entomologists employed by the leading nations of the world, 



