284 AKN"UAL BEPOET 



as such at our universities aud colleges, but is treated only as a small 

 part of general zoology. There are ver^ few of our institutes where 

 entomology has yet been recognized as a distinct subject of study, or 

 where even the first principles of the subject are taught. I am confi- 

 dent that I do not claim too much when I say that entomology is a 

 subject as distinct as any other of the natural sciences. It has alight 

 of its own. It is a field that will never be recognized nor properly 

 cultivated as long as it is only a part of general zoology. Let, there- 

 fore, our higher institutes of learning first recognize entomology as a 

 distinct subject of study. It is their privilege and duty to do so. Let 

 it receive its place along side with the other natural sciences, and its 

 care put in the hands of a proper and qualified person. The time 

 will then soon come when it will no longer be in the hands of a few, 

 but as it will gradually widen out under the fostering care of such in- 

 stitutes, it will soon come to include not only our colleges and acade- 

 mies, but in due time also our common schools. When thus the first 

 principles of entomology will be taught in our scho;)l8 and as much at- 

 tention given to this as to kindred subjects, will this great indiffer- 

 ence under which we now labor gradually die out, and our people will 

 have learned not only to know but to feel the importance of ento- 

 mology. 



This has been the case with botany. As a science it has developed 

 far in advance of ejitoniology, and has now for years been recognized 

 at all our institutes of learning, and been in the hands of qualified 

 persons. The interest for the study has continually been on the in- 

 crease, until at present it includes not only our colleges, but also a 

 good part of our common school system, and we have such a delight- 

 ful book as Gray's first lessons in botany to put in the hands of the 

 children, which has already begun to be loved so much by the children 

 of our country. What the bexiefit of this study has been and will be 

 to our people it is not for me here to state. It will be enough to say 

 that entomology will not stand back of botany in this respect. 



ENTOMOLOGY AND HOfiTTCULTURE. 



If I do not misjudge, I think that you as a horticultural society are 

 under somewhat the same condition of things. What is the greatest 

 diflBculty that you have had to contend with as such a society to reach 

 the high aim you have before you, and for which you have worked with 

 so much success and energy ? Is it not that the general opinion has 

 been against you, and that there is yet too much of indifference 

 among our people on the subject? 



