276 LETTERS TO PROFESSOR WALLACE [CHAP. xxm. 



places, and had not heard of the washing, and this point, to 

 me at least, seems a very important one. When I have 

 gone carefully into the subject, and had the different kinds 

 of screening sent in bags they do not seem to me to have 

 been wetted. If they can wash at one mill they can at 

 another, and we might have a chance of getting these pest- 

 bearing extras neutralised as to evil qualities. I should 

 greatly like to show you my set of screenings from Hull, 

 labelled with their uses. 



Do you happen to be aware of its being a regular business 

 to supply weed seed, &c., &c., to deteriorate imports that 

 is of course exports of Russia, &c. ? I had an interview 

 with one of a firm who used to take orders for this at 

 Samara ! I believe these foul screenings most likely 

 brought Hessian fly, and I rather think from a larva I saw 

 in the spring Merpmyza is come too. 



It appears to me a deplorable thing that everything should 

 be so absolutely arranged to import these nasty pests amongst 

 us. If you will come I will show you my " pieces demon- 

 stratives." I have not a book like yours to reciprocate your 

 kind thought, but will you give the enclosed " Manual of 

 Injurious Insects" a place in your collection. With kind 

 remembrances from my sister. 



November 12, 1889. 



About a text-book on Injurious Insects it is not well to 

 recommend one's own work, but I most earnestly wish that 

 I knew of any better English book for plain work than my 

 own " Manual." I formed it because there was no other book 

 that met the everyday needs of Agricultural Entomology, 

 excepting my own Annual Reports, and the Reports of 

 the Department of Agriculture, which are formed in great 

 part from my work and revised by myself. I do not know 

 of any work on Agricultural Entomology which I can 

 recommend. 



If you want something very good about the lower crea- 

 tures up to date I suppose you could not mend " Text Book 

 of Zoology," by Dr. Glaus, translated by Adam Sedgwick. 

 This is a grand book, but I would not put it in my students' 

 hands without a strong observation that I consider Dar- 

 winianism, &c., of this nature perfectly unproved and 

 baseless. I certainly think that presently this view will 

 follow " spontaneous generation." I But to go on, Curtis' 

 " Farm Insects" is an excellent book up to date of publica- 



1 Miss Ormerod did not latterly oppose Darwinianism, but we are not 

 aware that she ever accepted it. (Eo.). 



