14 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OP 



dollars in a single county, and of spreading from the island into the 

 adjoining country. Quite recently a weevil (Bruchus. granarius) 

 which does immense damage to peas and beans and some other 

 plants in Europe, was introduced into New York in some pods which 

 a certain gentleman presented to the New York Farmers' Club, and 

 if the proper steps are at once taken, it may yet be prevented from 

 spreading through the country. 



In Europe vast sums have been expended in founding professor- 

 ships of Economic Entomology in the various agricultural colleges, 

 and in conducting elaborate experiments on the best means of check- 

 ing and controlling these tiny foes. But the entire sum expended by 

 Congress or by our various State Legislatures for this purpose, from 

 the Declaration of Independence to the year of our Lord 1869, can- 

 not exceed ninety or one hundred thousand dollars, or about one 

 thousand dollars a year. Yet the annual damage done by insects 

 within the limits of the United States cannot be less than three hun- 

 dred million dollars. Indeed, it is but quite recently that the people, 

 from necessity, have awakened to the importance of the subject. 

 We now have an Entomologist connected with the Department of 

 Agriculture at Washington, and, with proper care, he can be of in- 

 estimable service to the country, in preventing the introduction of 

 noxious insects. It is not noxious weeds alone, such as the Canada 

 thistle, which are sent broadcast over the land by the distribution of 

 ■uninspected seeds ; but noxious insects are very frequently distri- 

 buted in the same way. We have the highest authority, Dr. J. L. 

 LeConte, of Philadelphia, for the statement, that before the Entomol- 

 ogist received his appointment, a noxious beetle, Rhizopertha pusilla, 

 which has now become naturalized here, was originally introduced 

 into this country in wheat from the Patent Office. 



Therefore, there can be no doubt that much may be done at 

 headquarters. That government aid cannot be of any avail in the 

 great majority of instances, however, is equally apparent to those 

 who have studied this question ; and we must trust to a more 

 thorough dissemination of such information as will enable each in- 

 dividual to protect himself. Much is being done in this direction by 

 means of State Reports, through the American Entomologist, and 

 through our various agricultural and horticultural journals ; but much 

 yet remains to be done. We must bear in mind that by enlightening 

 our neighbors, we are helping ourselves, and, as horticulturists, we 

 should urge that more attention be paid in our colleges, and es- 

 pecially in those of an Industrial nature, to the study of the Natural 

 Sciences. 



In my First Report, I have shown how the Oyster-shell Bark- 

 louse, though perfectly able to live in the northern part of this State, 

 is yet unknown there ; and I tremble, lest some one in carelessness or 

 ignorance should, introduce this dreaded plague of the apple grower 

 into that section, from some Eastern or Northern nursery. Every 



