PREFACE 



THE edition of the writer's "Insects Injurious to Staple 

 Crops/' first published ten years ago, having been exhausted, the 

 publishers requested a revision. It was found, however, that the 

 advances in economic entomology during the past decade were such 

 that it was necessary practically to rewrite the book. At the 

 time it was first published two other books were projected; one 

 to deal with the insects affecting garden crops, and the other to 

 discuss those affecting fruits. Pressure of regular work pre- 

 vented the author from completing the manuscript for these 

 works and in 1907 Dr. Chittenden issued his excellent book on 

 " Insects Injurious to Vegetables," so that there seemed to be 

 no immediate demand for another volume on that subject. At 

 the same time two other well-known entomologists were work- 

 ing upon books which would cover fruit insects, so that the 

 writer abandoned the field to them. Subsequently, the work 

 of one of these friends was cut short by his sudden death, and 

 the other abandoned the task, at least for the present. 



Under these circumstances, it seemed that there was a distinct 

 place for a book to cover all the insects affecting the crops of 

 farm, garden and orchard, and having leisure to devote to it, the 

 author developed the work in its present form. 



It has been the author's effort to discuss all of the more impor- 

 tant insects of farm, and garden and orchard at sufficient length 

 to give a clear idea of their life histories and habits, and also the 

 best means of control, so that the book may be used as a reference 

 work both by the student of economic entomology and by 

 the practical farmer, gardener, or fruit-grower. Insects of minor 

 or local importance have been purposely omitted. The insects 

 of practically all of the leading crops are considered, except the 

 citrus fruits. With these the author is unfamiliar, but it is 

 hoped to add a chapter upon them by a competent authority 

 in a subsequent edition. In general, the discussion of insects 



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