202 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



study of the relations of electricity to agriculture ; and in 

 Bulletin Xo. 16 of our station he has given a brief account 

 of the results of the work of others in this direction, as well 

 as of a few experiments of his own in this field. He finds, 

 both in the results ol)tained by others and in those of his 

 own work, encouragement to believe that in electricity the 

 farmer and gardener may yet find a willing assistant, power- 

 ful in its influence for good, both in promoting vigorous 

 growth, and in })rotccting from the various blights and mil- 

 dews which attack our crops. 



The entomological department is provided with a small 

 building known as the insectary, and connected with it is a 

 small plant-house. This establishment is a busy place, espe- 

 cially during the season when insects are active. Here at 

 that season you will find innumerable insects, in cages and 

 gauze-covered l)oxes, whose life-history is being studied. 

 Several assistants are kept busily employed in feeding and 

 tending them, and in taking and filing away careful notes 

 upon their peculiarities. No innocent caterpillar can even 

 make a change of clothing but it is recorded in the book of 

 fiite, to be opened, — not perhaps on the day of judgment, 

 — but when a bulletin is to be published which shall so care- 

 fully set forth his every peculiarity that every farmer who 

 reads shall know his weakness, and, knowing, strike at the 

 opportune moment which comes some time in the life of 

 every insect. Only when we know our enemies can we 

 cope with them to the best advantage ; and the object of all 

 this faithful observation and note-taking is to make us 

 acquainted with insects. 



Not all are enemies however, far from it ; some are 

 among our best friends, and to distinguish friends from foes 

 is important. This the work of the station will enable us 

 to do ; and as further important means to that end may be 

 mentioned the ])reparation of a complete collection of in- 

 flated caterpillars, which is being })ushed as rapidly as 

 possil)le. 



Among very destructive insects which have received a 

 large share of attention may be mentioned the gypsy moth 

 and the cranberry insects. The work in the attempt to ex- 

 terminate the former is generally known. It may not be as 



