202 METHODS OF STUDY. 



meaning of these words, as thus, more Hkely thar^ 

 not, they will be put in possession of some special 

 point, some leading peculiarity of the insect or of the 

 division, be it genus, or family, or order, to which it 

 belongs. 



These names may or may not help us practically ; 

 but it often happens that the second name — the 

 specific name, as it is called, because it is used only 

 to one species — describes some point of marking or 

 colour, or of the kind of plant which the insect mainly 

 frequents, which is very convenient to know. In the 

 case of Aphides, for instance, they are often named 

 after the plant which they infest ; and with this tribe, 

 especially, running down the columns of an index for 

 the plant name often saves much time and trouble, 

 "where we are at a loss amongst the scientific insect 

 names. 



With regard to gaining information of serviceable 

 methods of remedy of attack when it is present, it is 

 of great use to benefit by the collected opinions of 

 many farmers (of practical and scientific men), and 

 their experience as to different methods of treatment 

 that answer on different soils, cannot fail to be of most 

 excellent service ; but still it should be borne in mind 

 that each man, by a little observation of the method of 

 attack, which is often only too plain, and a little quiet 

 thought as to what measures can be brought to bear, 

 might often help himself very eftectually. 



With a slight knowledge of the habits of insect life, 

 added to his own of the agricultural measures that 

 could be used to destroy the pest, or at least lessen 

 the effect of its ravages, each grower would be fairly 

 able to cope with attacks as they occurred ; whereas 

 if he depends only on advice, besides the damage from 

 delay, he is very likely to get suggestions not suited to 

 the particular circumstances. The farmer may not 

 know the history of the insect ; but, on the other 

 hand, the entomologist very seldom knows all the 

 practical workings of growing a crop, which it is 



