178 ANNUAL REPORT 



It is considered by some a good plan to place sulphur upon the 

 pipes, but there is nothing so good as thoroughly spraying the 

 plants, as these pests cannot endure moisture. 



The worst pest which we have to deal with is perhaps the ver- 

 bena mite, its mischief is not alone confined to the verbena, but 

 its ravages may be seen on the petunia, pelargonium, heliotrope, 

 and on many outside plants and trees as well as a great variety of 

 Greenhouse plants. It is so insidious, that it is almost impossible 

 to cause its surrender, Tobacco might be effectual, but the crea- 

 ture buries itself so into the substance of the leaf or bark, that the 

 fumes of tobacco seem to have no effect. We are inclined to the 

 opinion that dipping the plant into a weak decoction of fir oil 

 and water would very materially aid in their depletion. 



The carnation twitter, mealy bug, scales, etc., as well as the 

 black aphis that so injures the buds of our chrysanthemums, and 

 a host of other insects which we will not attempt to describe, can 

 be kept in check, more or less, by the various remedies that are 

 advertised for the purpose, and notably fir oil. 



We cannot close without again referring to the fact of the vast- 

 ness of the subject of entomology and the benefits to be derived, 

 and the pleasure and entertainment to be had from the study and 

 practical application of the results to the uses of humanity. 



.Permit us again to raise our voice in favor of having the sub- 

 ject taught in our schools, yes, in our common school. Let the 

 teachers who go out to take charge of our common country 

 schools be required to be well versed in entomology and let the 

 county superintendents backed by our legislature, require that 

 entomology be one of the studies to be taught, and no teacher be 

 permitted to receive a certificate entitling him to be teacher, un- 

 til he can stand a fixed examination on the rudiments of this 

 science. 



President Elliot. I think we owe a vote of thanks to these three 

 gentlemen for these very instructive papers. They are very useful 

 and give us a line of thought that I hope we shall not soon forget. 



Mr. Grimes. I move that we pay our debts. 



President Elliot. I think that we will all do that heartily. 



The motion was seconded and carried. 



President Eliot, We have with us here to-night a friend from 

 Dakota, who quite a number of the older members of the society 

 would recognize in the person of our former secretary, Oliver 

 Gibbs. He has presented his credentials formally, and I wish to 

 give him a hearty welcome and introduction to the members and 

 audience here, and I hope he will favor us with a few remarks. 



REMARKS OF MR. GIBBS. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 



I thank you for the cordiality of your greeting. I have come a 

 long way to meet again with this old Horticultural Society, and I 



