208 LETTERS TO DR. FLETCHER [CHAP. xix. 



almost of a lifetime, dear old Professor Westwood, is not 

 there, and yet ex-officio as Hope Professor of Zoology he 

 lectures on Entomology (to the best of my belief) regularly 

 at Oxford. And what work Dr. Lindeman does ! It would 

 be a great help over here if we had some such Society. My 

 work is so very solitary, but I do what I can. 



Dr. Fream's lectures. [Steven course in Edinburgh Univer- 

 sity] have been quite a success. This delights me. Professor 

 Wallace has been exceedingly pleased with the sound manner 

 in which he built up his Agricultural Entomology in the 

 students' minds, and I think the course has given great 

 satisfaction. He is a very sound worker, and I should 

 greatly like him to be my collaborates at the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Society of England. I have not brought the subject 

 forward yet, but if there were an Assistant Entomologist 

 who might present my Reports instead of my personal 

 attendance being necessary in all the business hurry of that 

 great number of gentlemen, it would relieve me of a very 

 distasteful part of my work. 



March 23, 1891. 



We have just got a full stream of applications for gratui- 

 tous distribution of " Paris-green " pamphlets, so we are 

 very anxious to keep all in hand. I greatly hope that this 

 will take hold. We broke through many objections last 

 year, and now we can point to saved crops, and no disas- 

 trous massacre of gardeners not even a sparrow defunct ; 

 also a lessened amount of Winter moth in autumn, and a 

 glorious promise of flower bud on trees which have been 

 reported on. Last year we did not know where to turn for a 

 proper sprayer ; now, on the day before yesterday there was 

 to be a " contest of sprayers" at the Crystal Palace. I think 

 this shows of itself how the matter on insecticide sprayings 

 has come forward. I am fairly broadcasting the P.G. pam- 

 phlets. Many years ago when a railway bridge on a new 

 method of construction was made over the Wye (plate xxvi), 

 near my old home, the natives were " afraid for their lives" 

 to go over it, but the ingenious plan was struck, of running 

 any one gratuitously over and back all day long the trains 

 of trucks were crammed, the people shouted for joy, and the 

 victory was won ; and now I am carrying out the same prin- 

 ciple. Gentle and simple, wise and very unwise, are wanting 

 " Paris-green " pamphlets, and I hope that by the sheets of 

 advice, &c., that have to be sent accompanying, that the very 

 silliest souls will not do harm ; and meanwhile we are getting 

 the subject popularised. You will think that I am tete montee 



