INTRODUCTORY. 49 



Therefore, under present circumstances, it is absolutely neces- 

 sary that the enterprising husbandman should be fully ac- 

 quainted with the teachings of the science of entomology, or 

 in other words, with the natural history and habits of the 

 insect pests which destroy his property. 



Another inquiry may be made : Why has the study of this 

 science been neglected? Until within the last few years the 

 orchards in this State were free from codlin moth and scale m- 

 sects ; the vineyards were free from phylloxera, vine moths and 

 flea beetles ; the vegetable garden from cabbage worms and 

 cabbage bugs ; the granaries and storehouses from the gram 

 weeviC etc. ; therefore our educators introduced such studies 

 as thev thought best for the requirement of the times. Besides, 

 there were obstacles in the way of introducing this science not 

 easily overcome, viz : the text books relating to entomology 

 were generally written in technical or scientific language, with 

 which the masses of the pupils attending the public schools 

 were unacquainted. In many cases mechanical accessions have 

 to be employed, such as the pocket lens and microscope to 

 detect the presence of these creatures, they being amongst the 

 minutest works of creation, and seemingly endowed with an 

 instinct to avoid the enquiring eye of man. Again, the stu- 

 dent who attempted to make insect life a study was treated as 

 a mere trifler and a dabbler in childish i)ursuits. It may there- 

 fore be readily imagined why the study of this science has 

 been neglected in the past. 



In order to promulgate information in relation to the natu- 

 ral history, etc., of injurious insects, it must not be treated as 

 a matter of only local importance. The damage done to prop- 

 erty by injurious insects is not confined to any one locality, 

 but extends from the valleys to the hillsides and mountain 

 tops, from th,e northern line of the State to the southern line, 

 and from the Sierras westward to the sea ; so that the promul- 

 gation of information in relation to their natural liistory and 

 habits must necessarily be general. 



This requirement can only be attained by introducing the 

 study of economic entomology into the pubHc schools, and by 

 discussing its teachings in the family circle. 



Among the results that will follow, the husbandman will 



