176 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 
By SrepHen Firzwitiiam. 
In the course of a conversation I recently had with the editor 
of the ‘ Entomologist,’ the subject of neglected work was referred 
to, and I alluded to the way in which much of the practical work 
of the late Andrew Murray seemed to be now neglected. At the 
wish of the editor I write the drift of my remarks. I am not an 
entomologist, but I have had occasion several times to write on 
the practical aspects of Mr. Murray’s work, and from the time of 
my first knowing him I gave him such help as my pen could give to 
forward his efforts to arrange some organisation (Government or 
otherwise) for checking insect damage to crops. I know how 
deep was his earnestness both in this endeavour and in forming 
the educational collection now at Bethnal Green Museum. 
I had frequent opportunities of discussing with him the 
American and continental organisations for arresting insect 
damage, and what should be done in this country. I was with 
him at the ‘‘ Exposition des insectes utiles et des insectes 
nuisibles ” in Paris in 1876, where we made full enquiries into 
the history of legislation in France on the subject, and I aided 
him subsequently in arranging the conference held at the rooms 
of the Society of Arts. In fact, nearly all I know on the subject 
of insect damage I have known from him, or from looking up 
records and histories in connection with him. What I have 
written on the subject has been on legislation with regard to 
it, or on the educational aspects of the question, such as the 
spread of a knowledge of how to recognise insect friends from 
insect foes, and how to deal with the latter. 
In now again writing on Mr. Murray’s work I still take it in its 
practical bearings, admitting that England perhaps possesses other 
men who could have done it as well; but.on this point I am not 
qualified to judge, for, as I have said, I am not an entomologist, 
though I am sure none could have worked more enthusiastically. 
I look at the matter in this light. Here was a portion of a life's 
work patiently and laboriously given to carrying out an object. 
The collection now at Bethnal Green is a memorial of much of 
that work; but the point to which I especially. ask attention is, 
what is the result of the energy which was expended in trying to 
