216 Revieivs. — Insects of New England 



REVIEW. 



Art. I A Treatise oji soj7ie of the Insects of New Eng- 

 land^ which are injurious to Vegetation. By Thaddeus 

 William Harris, M. D. 1 vol. 8vo. 459 pages. Cam- 

 bridge, 1842. 



As the season is fast approaching when the creeping and 

 flying things of the earth are leaving their subterraneous 

 retreats and warm winter quarters to emerge into active 

 life and to commit divers and multifarious injuries, we 

 have thought that some notice of the late work of our friend 

 and correspondent, T. W. Harris, might be acceptable to 

 our readers. Dr. Harris was instructed to report on the In- 

 sects of Massachusetts injurious to Vegetation, and the 

 method he has exhibited in this difficult task can only be 

 appreciated by those who are somewhat acquainted with 

 the habits of the insect tribes. 



To the successful pursuit of almost any branch of useful 

 industry, the natural sciences are related. To scarcely 

 any to such an extent as to Agriculture are they applicable ; 

 and to that precise department of skill and enterprise, Hor- 

 ticulture, they are peculiarly so, especially in two instances, 

 that of Botany and Entomology. With the former, equally 

 the fruit-grower and the vegetable cultiirist, and the florist, 

 is concerned ; in ways and modes too, which they hardly 

 yet seem to understand : but, when a wider and more libe- 

 ral view of their several pursuits is apprehended, it will be 

 seen that an accurate knowledge of its principles would 

 most materially assist their eflTorts. With the latter, who- 

 ever has met with disappointment by some noxious worm, 

 or insidious insect, attacking his favorite flower, or mar- 

 ring the beauty of his plants, or ravaging his fruits, will 

 know to his sorrow how intimate such studies, which ex- 

 pose his liabilities, are to his interests. 



The day has happily passed, when a spirit of derision at 

 such studies was the spirit of the age. In the meaner 

 things of creation, a more general knowledge is teaching 

 mankind to see subjects of concern and of interest. Yet 

 even in these subjects, the world has not yet learned to per- 

 ceive their highest and best aspects. With direct utility 



