INTRODUCTOEY. 



To the Members of the 'Missouri State Board of Agriculture : 



Gentlemen: — I herewith present my first annual report on the 

 Noxious, Beneficial and other Insects of the State of Missouri, pursu- 

 ant to your instructions of April 1st, 1868. 



It is neither so full nor so valuable as I hope to make its success- 

 ors, should the office be continued. This is principally owing to the fact, 

 that but eight months have elapsed since my appointment, and that 

 the natural history of a number of the insects that received my atten- 

 tion during the summer, can only be given after they have completed 

 their transformations, which will require one, two and in some cases, 

 even three years. 



I have been exceedingly gratified at the warm reception which I 

 have met with from all quarters. Wherever I have been, from one 

 end of the State to the other, the cordial hand has been extended, and 

 I have found our farmers and fruit-growers thoroughly alive to the 

 importance of the work, for they know full well that they must fight 

 intelligently, their tiny but mighty insect foes, if they wish reward for 

 their labors. During the year 1868, insects injurious to our fruits have 

 been unusually numerous, but it may well be asked whether this in- 

 crease is not a meteorological effect, as was suggested by Mr. W. 0. 

 Flagg, in his ad interim report to the Illinois State Horticultural Soci- 

 ety, rather than one caused by the increase of our products. The 

 severe drouth of 1867, had a peculiarly injurious effect on many trees, 

 and it seems quite evident that certain insects increase more rapidly 

 in injured fruits and injured trees than in those which are healthy and 

 vigorous. The part, indeed, which insects principally have to play in 

 the economy of this world, is that of scavengers. They hasten the 

 decay and dissolution of unhealthy vegetable organism, the quicker 

 to convert it into mould, and make room for healthy plants; while 

 they multiply at such a prodigious rate, that whenever the conditions 

 are at all favorable to the increase of a particular species, that species 

 appears as if by magic, over vast districts of country, and commits 

 sad havoc to either orchard or field crops, as the case may be. 



With this view of the matter, we might materially check the in- 

 crease of some insects, by anticipating Nature in her operations, and 



