242 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



charged with such pammony as this course would imply. But a stronger objec- 

 tion is in the fact that but little advantage would be gained from distributing such 

 documents. But a very small proportion of the people would ever see them, and 

 especially would this bf^ true of the class most needing the information they 

 contain. Farmers, as a rule, pay but little attention to insects or their depreda- 

 tions till they are upon their crops and are multiplying and feeding with rapidly 

 increasing numbers. Then they want to know what the things are, and what to do 

 to destroy or drive them away, and they want to know who to write to to give them 

 this all-important information. It is too far to send to Washington. It may be a 

 week before a reply would reach them, and in that time great and irreparable 

 damage will have been done. They have no right to address the entomologists of 

 Illinois or Ohio ; so nothing remains but to write the editor of their agricultural 

 paper. He may know what the insect is, and he may not. He will give the best 

 advice in the shop, but he is not authority. What is wanted is a competent ento- 

 mologist in the employ of the State, to whom any citizen is at liberty to send for 

 any desired information regarding insects that may be depredating upon his crops. 

 The State can employ such a man, with heatlquarters at Indianapolis, in the rooms 

 of the Stale Board, at from S2,000 to §3,000 per year ; or if the smaller of these 

 sums seems too high, they may secure the services of the entomological profes8«r at 

 Purdue University, for perhaps one-half the amount, allowing him to receive par- 

 tial pay as professor in the institution for a stipulated portion of his time. 



It may be regarded as one of the duties of this body to recommend to the Legis- 

 lature such laws as they deem important to the agricultural interests of the State. 



At present there is no law on our statute book against insects of any kind. In 

 view of such considerations as have been suggested it seems time that we should 

 have provision made for appointing a State entomologist, and, in addition to this, 

 that some such legislation as that adopted in California should be enacted. In that 

 State an act has been passed appointing a State Board of Commissioners in the 

 interest of the horticultural industry, with power to act in any proper way to pre- 

 vent the importation and propagation of noxious insects. The law allows the peo- 

 ple in any section to combine to destroy insect pests, and empowers the majority 

 with the right to constrain the minority to join in the battle. 



This Delegate and State Board would do an incalculable service to the agricnl- 

 tural interests of the vState if, by their petitions to the Legislature and influence with 

 that body, they should secure the passage of some such enactment against the insect 

 enemies of our crops of fruit and grain. 



