10 



number of 12,163 articles issued since 1860. This estimate includes 

 not only newspaper articles, but also most, if not all, of the reports 

 and bulletins published by American entomologists, and at the same 

 time it probalily omits a number of articles worthy of enumeration in 

 this list. Undoubtedly some of the articles are practically duplications 

 of others, and yet, after making all due allowance, we can hardly 

 admit that less than 10,000 minor articles have been prepared for the 

 public press by American entomologists during the last forty-two 

 years. This is an enormous number, and despite the fact that some 

 consider newspaper entomology as of little importance, the speaker 

 can not help feeling that this mass of literature represents a very 

 important part of the work of the economic entomologist. Reports 

 are issued for the public, bulletins are prepared for the general dis- 

 semination of information, but the man who wishes to learn concern- 

 ing an insect pest is much more apt to read his agricultural or local 

 paper than to go to his bookshelves and search for some rej^ort or 

 bulletin which may contain the desired facts. In other words, the 

 speaker is inclined to believe that our newspaper and minor articles 

 are much more generally read than the more detailed notices given in 

 reports and liuUetins, and on this account he considers newspaper 

 entomology a very important factor in developing our work, and 

 believes that all articles prepared for the press should receive careful 

 attention and be adapted to the readers of the periodical. The atten- 

 tion of scientific men is not infrequently called to ridiculous state- 

 ments concerning scientific facts in daily or sveekly papers. Such are 

 not calculated to inspire respect for the publication, and 3^et do they 

 not indicate an opportunity of which we may avail ourselves? They 

 show that the publishers recognize the demand for scientific informa- 

 tion. The paper attempts to meet it in much the same wa}- as it sup- 

 plies information concerning many more familiar things. The reporter, 

 who is of value in working up the account of a railway wreck, may 

 fail when he discusses the life history of an insect ; and we, as eco- 

 nomic entomologists, should undertake, so far as possible, to supply 

 this demand with concise popular accounts, giving the facts which the 

 people wish to know. We can never entirely suppress sensationalism, 

 but we can exert a strong influence toward moderation, and the 

 speaker is of the opinion that most agricidtural journals of America 

 have already come under its influence, and as a rule sipply to repu- 

 table parties for information, father than rely upon unknown sources. 

 The Avork begun with the agricultural and horticultural press can be 

 gradualh^ extended till most of the reputable weekly and dailv publi- 

 cations of our country recognize the necessity of securing accurate 

 information regarding various phenomena in natural history, and insist 

 upon placing such })efore the public. This desiral)le end, however, 

 will be brought about gradually, and will be fastened in proportion as 



