120 LETTERS TO MR. BAILEY [CHAP. xiv. 



guidance of sound knowledge. I trust they will continue 

 their field work. With the increase of area under cultivation 

 or occupied by stock so may their insect pests be expected 

 to increase, and on sound knowledge of what really happens, 

 and what at a paying rate can be brought to our aid, our 

 hope rests of coping with the farmer's enemies. What I can 

 do to help them by advice, or by reply to inquiries, will be 

 gladly at their service. Whilst I congratulate those who 

 have won my little tokens of goodwill, and beg to offer the 

 same for the next prize day, I must say to all that in the 

 information and benefit they have laid up in their working 

 and observations they have each gained a prize far better 

 than anything I can offer them. 



May 29, 1894. 



It is with most sincere pleasure that I hear from you once 

 again this year of the good success of the Aldersey boys in 

 their studies and of their steadiness in work. The methods 

 by which serviceable instruction on this subject, namely, 

 Agricultural Entomology, can be given is often a matter of 

 difficulty and doubt, and I certainly think that the plan you 

 mention to me is so good, and meets the points of combin- 

 ing practical knowledge with so much scientific informa- 

 tion as is requisite, so well that I shall gladly draw the 

 attention of those who apply to me for suggestions on these 

 subjects to its serviceableness. You mention arranging the 

 observations of the boys who take up the study of crop and 

 fruit pests on a system which, though so simply worked, 

 really forms an excellently complete course. You say 

 that one week the boys bring samples of infestation 

 injurious to fruit ; in a second week attacks on garden 

 vegetables ; in another week on field crops ; in another on 

 timber ; in another living examples of the subjects figured 

 in the insect diagrams which my sister and I have had 

 the pleasure of contributing to your school collections, and 

 in yet another week you receive notes of serviceable means 

 of prevention and remedies. This plan appears to me so 

 sound and good that I hope I may be forgiven for intruding 

 a few minutes on your time in greatly desiring to draw the 

 attention of the influential visitors who will be present at 

 your meeting to how excellently this plan meets many diffi- 

 culties. A boy so taught knows his facts. 



June 2, 1895. 



Many thanks for your letter received yesterday morning, 

 which is very interesting indeed to me, and which I hope to 

 reply to very soon, but now I am replying to your note 



