Vlll FOREWORD 



in regard to insects are correct, while nearly every 

 incident mentioned has at some time or other come 

 within the experience of the authors. 



The articles are action stories and the figures as 

 far as practicable represent action. It has been 

 the aim to make each story sufficiently complete 

 to give the reader a clear view and a working 

 knowledge of the subject. The same plan of pres- 

 entation is not adhered to in order to avoid mo- 

 notony. Plans for investigating insects have been 

 embodied in a few of the articles to enable the 

 child to understand how the facts were obtained. 



The boys and girls constitute the greatest asset 

 in our national life. There is no greater force on 

 earth available by which we can induce parents to 

 adopt better practices than the boys and girls. In 

 shaping our agriculture for the future the progress 

 made will be in direct proportion to the extent to 

 which we can interest them. 



In the preparation of these stories we are in- 

 debted to the work and writings of entomologists 

 past and present. Especially helpful has been the 

 work of the Sections of Southern Field Crop In- 

 sects, and Cereal and Forage Crop Insects, Bureau 

 of Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture ; 

 Dr. W. E. Hinds, Entomologist, Alabama Experi- 

 ment Station, and Dr. S. A. Forbes, State Ento- 

 mologist of Illinois. A number of the illustrations 



