ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. NF 
lead to practical action that should be for the good of our agricul- 
turists and horticulturists ? It is all very well to say his work 
remains there at the Bethnal Green Museum. That is but a part 
of his work,—a means to an end,—a basis perhaps for action. 
Visitors to the Bethnal Green Museum are not those who have 
the practical control of our agricultural operations. Most visitors 
there take an equal interest in a collection of art furniture, bull- 
dog china, wrought-iron work, or pictures. Any addition to their 
knowledge is interesting, but they cannot all take action on that 
knowledge, and the number who would be led to take any practical 
steps from seeing the collection of “ Economic Entomology ” 
must be very small. 
As matters stand at present the chief practical use of that 
collection is as a typical collection, parts of which might be 
reproduced in museums or schools in agricultural districts. All 
his efforts to secure something being actually done seem to me to 
have been wasted unless some one continues what he began. 
In September, 1876, Mr. Murray took definite steps by 
memorialising the Lord President of the Council, pointing out 
what was done in other countries to extirpate insect foes, and 
suggesting that an experiment should be made to do something in 
England. He thought that compulsory legislation is probably 
premature, and at any rate could be more effectively demanded if 
the permissive action had been tried and failed. A central 
directing authority, he urged, is absolutely essential; if the 
experiment is to be tried let us use our best means. 
He suggested that in 1877 the attempt should be made in 
two or three counties to begin with. Cheshire, Lancashire, and 
Derbyshire had suffered greatly for some years past from the 
onion and carrot flies. He wrote, ‘‘ Let the diminution or extir- 
pation of these flies in these counties be the first experiment. 
A trial to that extent would neither be troublesome nor costly, 
and it would toa certain extent serve as a test and guide for 
further proceedings. All that would be necessary would be the 
circulation in these counties—through the clergymen, school- 
masters, municipal authorities, and local papers—of an appeal 
urging every one to pull up and burn his infected plants (which 
are easily distinguished) on a particular day about a certain date, 
and to get the parochial authorities to take some trouble to see 
that this is done. ..... Two or three years’ perseverance 
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