l2 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



ment of the scope of the work of the organization so as to bring it more 

 in harmony with the investigations of the Department relating to the 

 adulterations of foods. 



For the coming year it is proposed to continue the work of investigat- 

 ing the adulteration of foods, the experiments in the manufacture of 

 sugar, and the miscellaneous work. 



ENTOMOLOaiCAL DIVISION. 



The importance of the study of economic entomology becomes every 

 year more and more apparent. Scarcely an agricultural or horticultural 

 meeting takes place but that the subject of injurious insects and the 

 best means of counteracting their ravages occupy a large share of at- 

 tention. The losses occasioned by destructive insects to the farmers of 

 the country aggregate an enormous sum, and there are few directions 

 in which the Department can do more good than in researches having 

 for their object the prevention of a portion of these immense losses. The 

 valuable results already obtained in the work of the Entomological Divis- 

 ion under its present efficient management are a sufficient promise of 

 good work yet to be done. 



The work of this division has greatly increased during the year, sev- 

 eral new lines of investigation which promise valuable results having 

 been entered upon. 



The appearance of the so-called '' seventeen-year locust " or periodical 

 cicada, in May aud June, over a large extent of country, enabled the En- 

 tomologist to make many interesting investigations in regard to it, and 

 a bulletin (No. 8 of the present series) was prepared and issued, giving 

 a full account of the habits aud life-history of the species, and a revised 

 edition is being prepared. 



Two other bulletins have been issued, one (No. 5) treating of certain 

 parasites of injurious insects, and the other (No. 6) of the imported elm- 

 leaf beetle. This last is a practical treatise of an insect that has of 

 late years proved very injurious to the elms throughout the Eastern 

 States, and shows clearly and plainly how it may be satisfactorily dealt 

 with. 



Destructive grasshoppers have been exceptionally abundant during 

 the summer. One species {ALelanoplus destructor), peculiar to the Pacific 

 slope, has done much damage in California, aud special study has been 

 given to it on the spot. 



Eemembering the fearful devastation caused by the Kocky Mountain 

 species between 1873 and 1877, the people of the West have felt very 

 keen anxiety as to tlie future on account of the increased injurj- the pres- 

 ent year. The entomologist has given this subject very careful attention, 

 and, from the reports of special agents and a full consideration of the 

 subject, he concludes that there is some danger of increase in the next 

 two or three years should the weather prove favorable to the insect. 

 But, as an encouraging oliset to tliis rather gloomy prospect, he also 



