2, PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 
the meeting my personal regret at not having the pleasure of seeing 
them and my best wishes for the success of their deliberations ?’ 
‘‘ There is a general feeling that in addition to the ordinary meetings 
of the Board of Agriculture, which are held every second year, it will 
be of the greatest advantage if workers on particular subjects can have 
more frequent opportunities of conferring with each other. The 
Government of India propose to adopt the policy of sectional meetings 
in years in which a.fuil meeting of the Board of Agriculture is not 
held. As you are aware, Mr. Bainbrigge Fletcher two years ago held a 
meeting of entomological workers and as the working out of the details 
of sectional meetings will take some time, it was felt that the wishes 
of the Government of India could best be given effect to by a develop- 
ment of this idea and by calling meetings of two branches which, though 
of great importance, are not particularly strongly manned. 
“Tt seemed desirable that this handful of scattered workers should 
be called together to discuss their difficulties and co-ordinate their work. 
‘Tn addition to some questions of general policy which will be 
discussed by the two sections sitting together, Dr. Butler and 
Mr. Fletcher will arrange for the discussion of subjects of a technical 
nature connected peculiarly with their own branches of science. J am 
very glad to see such a representative gathering of mycologists and 
entomologists. I trust that you will have a very pleasant time at Pusa 
and that the results of your deliberations will not only be of great 
advantage to yourselves, but of very great assistance to the Government 
of India. Mycology and entomology are represented in India by a mere 
handful of workers, but I think I may safely say, that proportionate to 
their numbers their achievement has been great. In both branches you 
are battling against enormous difficulties and innumerable pests. The 
labourers in these fields of science are indeed few, but I think you have 
every cause to congratulate yourselves on the impression which has 
already been made on the suppression and control of fungoid and insect 
pests. I trust you will have very successful meetings and that as a 
result you will return to your respective provinces equipped with new 
ideas with a new stimulus to increased endeavour.” 
Dr. Butler and Mr. Fletcher explained the programme of work for 
the meetings and the sections then adjourned to take up special subjects. 
A combined Entomological and Mycological Committee met on the 
afternoon of 8th February, with Mr. Mackenna in the chair, to consider 
the Madras Agricultural Pests and Diseases Act. 
On the afternoon of 9th February a combined meeting of the Ento- 
mologists and.Mycologists was held to consider the Rome Phytopatho- 
logical Conference. 
