1896.] THREAD WORMS AND REPORTS 255 



did not wish published, and it is just possible (in case you 

 can spare time to run them through) that there may be 

 points of interest. 



What you say of inertness is just what is such a drag on 

 the advance of work here. Instead of getting information, 

 and acting on it, they (or many) propose to write to the 

 Board of Agriculture or possibly to another quarter, and 

 sometimes they follow advice, sometimes they do not. 



Just now I had an application about Strongylus filar la 

 (thread worms which produce husk or hoose) whioh is 

 doing great damage in one district. They thought of 

 writing to the Board of Agriculture. I suggested the 

 excellent account in your Dr. Curtice's book on " Sheep 

 Diseases," but it did not appear to have occurred to them 

 to teach themselves. 



June 24, 1896. 



It was with great pleasure that I received your first 

 Report about two days ago, and I must both very sincerely 

 and heartily congratulate you on this good work. It 

 seems to me quite an example of what a report should be. 

 Clear wording that all can understand, and a short sound 

 life history, with all requisite means of prevention of the 

 specially detailed " pest " attacks, with a deal of excellent 

 reading besides. Indeed, I congratulate you greatly on 

 taking your place so firmly, and I consider the Colony is 

 much to be congratulated also on securing your help. I am 

 glad to see that the Government gives you good paper and 

 printing. There is only one thing which I should much 

 like to see added, and that is pictorial illustrations. Could 

 not you have at least some figures ? I believe they are 

 available in the Government Stores. Sometime after the 

 publication of my little book on the " Injurious Insects of 

 South Africa," a request was made to me for a number of 

 figures, which with much pleasure I presented. If you 

 would like, besides those which could be looked up at 

 the office of the "Agricultural Journal," electros of some of 

 the figures which are my own, which I use in my own 

 publications, I would gladly send you out, say a dozen or 

 a dozen and a half, if the Agent General would (as I feel 

 pretty sure he would) kindly allow me to send them out 

 to you in the Government box. It would give me real 

 pleasure if I could be of any help to you in your good work. 



August 17, 1896. 



I have this morning had great pleasure in receiving your 

 letter, and I shall be very glad to send you electrotypes of 



