272 LETTERS TO MR. MEDD [CHAP. xxn. 



I make no doubt that they contain both valuable information 

 and suggestion. 



Although I am sure that plain and interesting information 

 on subjects of their daily surroundings would be gladly 

 received by the boys, I do not in the least see my way to 

 complying with your flattering suggestion of my pen being 

 useful in the matter. You know how I am situated ? There 

 is a constant stream of applications sent me for advice 

 regarding prevention of insect pests, which though chiefly 

 about British troubles, involves much correspondence both 

 with the Entomologists of our Colonies, the Continent and 

 the U.S.A. and to meet which I have no staff. I could not 

 find time to write papers such as you desire ; but if you wish 

 I would send you copies of such leaflets as I have in which 

 some of the ordinary crop pests are treated of very plainly ; 

 and from these I make no doubt that you could get passages 

 arranged for your readers which the boys would like to read. 



July 9, 1900. 



It gratifies me very much that you should think my leaflets 

 and " Manual " likely to be of use ; and you have only to 

 express the wish, for me to send another hundred of the 

 " Manuals " as soon as they could be bound. I have been 

 reading and much appreciating your observations in " Our 

 Programme," * of which you have kindly given me a copy, 

 and it has occurred to me whether, now that I understand 

 the scope of your work better, I might arrange a very simple 

 paper on our commonest Live Stock attacks. I enclose a few 

 pages as a sample of what is in my mind, just giving what 

 could be taken in (and I think is needed) with addition of a 

 little more life history, and the exceedingly simple methods 

 of prevention. I have quantities of first-rate illustrations, 

 but now I just submit the enclosed to you, hoping you will 

 be kind enough to let me know at your convenience what 

 you think of my idea. 



July 14, 1900. 



I am personally truly grateful for your letter of this morn- 

 ing, for I was very uneasy lest I should be, to put it shortly, 

 giving sad offence. I certainly think the " Water-baby" 2 

 leaflet is a great mistake, but, as you judiciously remark, if it 

 is to be issued we must make the best of it. 



I will think over to the best of my power what appears 



1 One of the leaflets issued by the Agricultural Education Committee. 



2 Another leaflet of the series issued by the Agricultural Education 

 Committee, but one which Miss Ormerod did not appreciate. 



