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preparation, but the Society should undertake it if the expenses of the work were 

 borne by the Government. 



I venture to make another suggestion in connection with this one, which is 

 that a " Hand-book of Economic Entomology " should be prepared and published 

 by the Government for the use of the schools, the farmer, the fruit grower and the 

 vegetable grower. This book would explain the sets given to the normal schools, 

 and at the same time would be a compendium of information in the identification 

 and control of injurious insects. 



An excellent text book on Economic Entomology has just been published by 

 Wiley & Sons, New York. It is the work of Professor Sanderson, of West Virginia 

 Agricultiu-al College, late of New Hampshire, and is entitled, " Insect Pests of 

 Farm, Garden and Orchard." It has been carefully compiled from the most recent 

 publications, and is very fully illustrated. It will serve a useful purpose as a text 

 book for classes in agricultural colleges, and as a ready reference work for the man 

 who desires to inform himself regarding the insect pests of his crops. 



In this connection I may also call your attention to the excellent publications 

 of the International Institute of Agriculture, more especially to the " Bulletins of 

 the Bureau of Agricultural Intelligence and of Plant Diseases," which summarize 

 the most important publications of the world relating to diseases of crops induced 

 by fungi and insects. These summaries, prepared by experts, are most valuable to 

 the scientific worker, inasmuch as they enable him to find out readily what his 

 co-workers in foreign countries have done. 



PROGRESS IN THE STUDY OF PLANT DISEASES 



Great progress has also been made during the last few years in our knowledge 

 of plant diseases. Not only have the causal factors been ascertained for most of our 

 more common plant diseases, but also some of the factors that predispose plants 

 to disease. The causal factors are usually either bacterial or fungal; and their life 

 history must be left to specialists to work out. The control of the predisposing 

 factors is to some extent, at least, a matter of good cultivation and careful breeding. 

 For example, it is well known that unfavorable conditions for the normal growth 

 of a plant render it liable to attack by fungous organisms. Such unfavorable con- 

 ditions are frequently too much moisture, poor drainage and aeration, etc. Growers 

 of plants have long been aware of these'facts, but a mistake was made in confusing 

 these conditions with the real causes. The fungous organisms frequently can do 

 nothing until the arrival of these unfavorable conditions. " If the farmer and 

 gardener gives special attention to the fertility and drainage of his land, procures 

 the best seed, and by proper planting and cultivation secures vigorous plants from 



