CHAPTER IX 



COMMENCEMENT AND PROGRESS OF ANNUAL REPORTS OF 

 OBSERVATIONS OF INJURIOUS INSECTS 



IN the spring of 1877 I issued a short pamphlet of seven 

 pages, entitled " Notes for Observations of Injurious Insects/' 1 

 in which I suggested how much a series of observations in 

 relation to insect ravages on food crops was to be desired ; 

 this not merely for scientific purposes, but with a view" to 

 finding means of lessening the amount of yearly loss which 

 tells so heavily on individual growers, and also on the 

 country at large. I pointed out shortly that many insect 

 attacks could be remedied, if attention were directed to the 

 subject ; and also that many would probably be found, if 

 reliable information could be procured, to be coincident 

 with multiplication or diminution of insect life. On the 

 way in which this increase and decrease were affected by 

 surroundings, such as plants, &c., suitable for food or 

 shelter ; by agricultural conditions, such as drainage, nature 

 of the soil and of manures ; and also by the state of the 

 weather I gave some guiding notes, and requested in- 

 formation from agriculturists and entomologists, who were 

 both practically and scientifically qualified to aid in the 

 matter. I also added some short remarks as to the nature 

 of the entomological observations desired ; as of date, 

 and amount of appearance of larvae (grubs) ; amount of 

 injury caused ; and any other points of use and interest that 

 might occur to the observer. And further (as some sort of 

 assistance in the commencement of the plan of campaign) I 

 gave a list of about eighteen of our commonest crop, fruit, 

 and forest insects, with short descriptions in the very plainest 

 words I could use, in most cases accompanied by illustrations. 

 As my name was then little before the public, although 

 I had worked on entomology for a good many years, 



1 Miss Ormerod had been a contributor to scientific literature for 

 some years before this date. Writing in 1900 she says : " My first 

 regular paper was printed in the Journal of Linn. Soc., vol. xi., No. 56, 

 Zoology, July 18, 1873, on The Cutaneous Exudation of the ' Triton 

 cristatus.' I think it is sound and unusual ! " 



