THE PEA- WEEVIL 279 



inexhaustible variety is, for the observer, the great 

 attraction of the entomological world; for nowhere 

 do we gain a clearer sight of the wonderful way in 

 which the processes of life are ordered. Thus regarded 

 entomology is not, I know, to the taste of everybody ; 

 the simple creature absorbed in the doings and habits 

 of insects is held in low esteem. To the terrible 

 utilitarian, a bushel of peas preserved from the weevil 

 is of more importance than a volume of observations 

 which bring no immediate profit. 



Yet who has told you, O man of little faith, that 

 what is useless to-day will not be useful to-morrow ? 

 If we learn the customs of insects or animals we shall 

 understand better how to protect our goods. Do not 

 despise disinterested knowledge, or you may rue the 

 day. It is by the accumulation of ideas, whether 

 immediately applicable or otherwise, that humanity has 

 done, and will continue to do, better to-day than 

 yesterday, and better to-morrow than to-day. If we 

 live on peas and beans, which we dispute with the 

 weevil, we also live by knowledge, that mighty kneading- 

 trough in which the bread of progress is mixed and 

 leavened. Knowledge is well worth a few beans. 



Among other things, knowledge tells us : ^' The 

 seedsman need not go to the expense of waging war 

 upon the weevil. When the peas arrive in the granary, 

 the harm is already done ; it is irreparable, but not 

 transmissible. The untouched peas have nothing to 

 fear from the neighbourhood of those which have been 

 attacked, however long the mixture is left. From the 

 latter the weevils will issue when their time has come ; 

 they will fly away from the storehouse if escape is 



