17 



losses occasioned bj' insects to agriculture have followed iu the wake of 

 Wal8h, who had stated a quarter of a ceuturj- ago, upon general esti- 

 mates, that the annual loss from injurious insects in America was 

 $300,000,000. Since his time the values in crops have greatly increased 

 and the proportionate injury should have also increased; but we must 

 take into consideration the advance in economia entomological knowl- 

 edge, which has greatly reduced the proportionate loss. The loss is at 

 most a relative thing, and we must always remember that with a 

 decrease in the amount of the crop its money value is correspondingly 

 increased. The present year is an exception, and we have abundant 

 crops in this country with high prices as a result of failure in other 

 j)arts of the world. He hoped that Mr. Osborn's motion, which he 

 seconded, would be adopted, and he felt sure that such a committee 

 would accomplish good results. 



Mr. Smith spoke of the unreliability of the testimony of farmers on 

 the question of insect damage, and adduced asau instance the fact that 

 this year the Melon Plant louse is very abundant in New Jersey, and 

 that all melon injury is attributed to this insect, but upon careful ex- 

 amination the main trouble is found to be a bacterial disease. 



Mr. Weed spoke in the same line, and stated that in Mississippi great 

 damage was attributed to the Boll Worm of Cotton, which was not 

 done by this insect, a number of species uniting in producing it. 



Mr. Popenoe had found a similar misapprehension with regard to af- 

 fairs in Colorado, and damage to the potato crop by the Colorado 

 Beetle was laid at the door of the locust so abundant there, Dissosteira 

 longipennis. 



Mr. Fletcher was of the opinion that the statistics should be gotten 

 up by the entomologists themselves by the most careful personal ex- 

 amination and without reliance upon the statements of fjirmers. 



Mr. Smith called particular attention, not to the confusion of the dam- 

 age done by difterent insects, but to the confusion of insect damage 

 with that brought about by fungus or bacterial disease. 



The motion was put and carried, and the President appointed Messrs. 

 Riley, Osboru, and Smith as the committee. 



On motion of Mr. Howard it was resolved that the committee be 

 authorized to publish their results in case sufficient data for publica- 

 tion should be collected before tlie next annual meeting. 



The Secretary reported that the minutes of the last meeting had been 

 published in No. 5, vol. ill. Insect Life ; that the past Secretary had 

 transferred the treasury to him with a deficit of 38 cents, and that he 

 had been at some expense for circulars, postage, and posters. 



On motion of Mr. Cook, a tax of $1 was levied on each member i)reseut. 



By vote of the Association, Dr. James Stimson, of Watsonville, Cal., 

 was elected a member. The credentials of Mr. H. E. Weed, of Missis- 

 sippi, were presented by Mr. Fletcher ; those of Mr. F. L. Washburn, 

 of Oregon, by Mr. J. B. Smith ; those of Mr. J. W. Toumey, of Arizona, 

 7911— No. 1 2 



