PEEFACE. 



I am indebted to William Birnie, Esq., of Springfield, for the 

 use of tlie cuts of stock, whicli were drawn and engraved at his 

 expense for this Report. 



The cow " Betsie," No. 274 Ayrshire Herd Book, is a dark red 

 and white, calved August 6, 1862. She was bred and is owned by- 

 Mr, BiEXiE. Her sire, " Blossom," No. 10, and her dam, " Betty, 

 5th," No. 24. 



" Rob Roy " was also bred by Mr. Biekie. His pedigree will 

 appear in the forthcoming third volume of the Ayrshire Herd 

 Book. 



The illustrations of the able paper on Insects, by Dr. Packard, 

 are also new, and were drawn and engraved expressly for the Re- 

 port. Dr. Packard hoj^es that farmers and gardeners will take an 

 interest in informing him of the habits and injuries done by nox- 

 ious insects, and send specimens enclosed in pasteboard, or wooden 

 or tin boxes, or vials carefully packed, by mail or otherwise, of the 

 insects and portions of trees or plants injured. In this way mate- 

 rials for future reports can be collected. He will always be ready 

 to answer any inquiries regarding injurious and other insects, name 

 specimens or collections, and, if convenient, visit gardens or farms 

 peculiarly infested. Caterpillars, grubs, maggots, etc., should, if 

 possible, be packed in tight tin boxes (air holes are not necessary), 

 accompanied with leaves of their food-plants or other food. 



I must repeat the suggestion that I have already so often made, 

 that the Statements which appear in the Transactions of the sev- 

 eral agricultural societies are, as a general rule, too indefinite. 

 This applies to the statements of experiments and the cultivation 



