﻿OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



possible — to the whole of the intellio'ent commnnity of the country to stop this indis- 

 crimiiiate use of metallic poisons on tlio soil until the whole subject has been investi- 

 gated, not by observers of the habits of insects, but by a properly constituted scientific 

 commission of chemists, physioloo:i*ts and entomologists, who will recommend a gen- 

 eral system of attack upon our insect enemies without danger to our future agricultural 

 prosperity. 



The food-producers have not been strong enough to effect the much needed reform* 

 Let the food-consumers now unite with them in demanding it. 



The paper, which was discussed by several eminent scientists, then 

 and there present, who conjured up all the possible cases of poisoning 

 from Paris Green they could think of, in its careless handling, use in 

 coloring wall paper, etc., provoked the following resolution : 



Resolved. That a committee be appointed to investigate and report upon the subject 

 of the use of poisons applied to vegetables or otherwise for the destruction of delete- 

 rious insects and other animals, and also the incautious use of poisons in the orna- 

 mentation of articles of food and destructive purposes generally, such, for instance, as 

 the coloring of paper. 



No one can hold that eminent entomologist, Dr. J. L. LeConte, in 

 higher esteem than does the writer; and so just and to the point do I 

 deem the remarks about our Department of Agriculture that I make 

 place for them in full. Yet the position assumed regarding the use of 

 Paris Green places my friend in the attitude of an alarmist, and sub- 

 sequent writers, prone to exaggerate, have played upon the tocsin 

 sounded by him till pictures of suffering and deatli from the use of 

 the mineral; of the earth poisoned with it and sown with danger, are 

 conjured up adUhitum. Quoth the Utica (N.Y.) Herald: "The eye 

 of science sees the horrible spectre of the demon bug stalking over 

 the patch where its body was struck down by the deadly Paris Green, 

 and laughing in fiendish glee over the terrible retribution that awaits 

 its slayer. * * * The chemical possibilities which may result in 

 the poisoning of the vegetation raised from the poisoned soil are fear- 

 ful to contemplate !" While, therefore. Dr. LeConte's object — which 

 was evidently to cause more thorough experiments and investigations 

 to be made than had hitherto been made — was praiseworthy enough, 

 I consider the attitude assumed neither commendable nor tenable ; 

 first, because it takes no account of an extensive past experience ; 

 second, because it is contrary to that experience, and what experi- 

 ment had already been made. 



The subject is one of vast importance, and as it was my lot to be, 

 perhaps, as instrumental as any one in causing the now general use 

 of Paris Green, both for the Colorado Potato-beetle and for the Cot- 

 ton-worm, I take pleasure in presenting the facts in the case, so far as 

 they are known ; for these facts will serve to dissipate much misap- 



