322 WEST VIRGINIA EXPERIMENT STATION. 



America. By September 24th I found that I could get through to New 

 York by the way of Liverpool, and I arrived in Morgantown on the 8th of 

 October with one thousand specimens of the bark beetle destroyer. 



As soon as possible after returning; I visited a pine woods near Morgan- 

 town and secured some of the pine bark beetles, which I placed in a bot- 

 tle with a live specimen of the introduced species. The European beetle 

 at once attacked and devoured the American species with evident relish, 

 thus proving that they are not fastidious in their tastes and indicating that 

 they will attack and destroy the American bark beetle as readily as they 

 do the bark beetles in their native woods. Therefore, as we have arrange- 

 ed to procure these beetles in great numbers from Europe next spring, we 

 anticipate some very beneficial results and a great saving of timber by 

 their proper distribution in our infested and threatened pine and spruce 

 forests. 



There is yet remaining $190.00 of the amount contributed to the ex- 

 penses of the experiment. This amount will be expended, unless otherwise 

 ordered, to the best advantage in paying fer collecting and shipping the 

 insects from Germany next spring. The collectors will be required to 

 send them as early as possible, and upon their receipt here, they will be 

 forwarded direct to those who have contributed to the expense. 



We cannot hope to do much, if any, good where the timber is nearly all 

 dead or dying, but must turn our attention to protecting that which is 

 now healthy or just commencing to die. 



I will visit your forest at as early a date as possible for the purpose of 

 giving instruction regarding the distribution of the insects in your forest 

 when they are received from us. Therefore it is important that you 

 should inform us as to the present character of the trouble in your best 

 tracts of timber, and be prepared to point out to me the portions which it is 

 most desirable to protect. 



At a meeting of the Washington Entomological Society to which I was 

 invited on Oct. 6th, I placed the following question before the society 

 "Is there a possibility of this introduced species ever becoming injurious?" 

 The question was discussed by Dr. C. V. Riley, U. S. Entomologist, and 

 other prominent Entomologists, and it was the unanimous opinion that, 

 from what was known of its habits, it could not be in any way injurious, 

 but would likely prove beneficial. 



The forest officials and entomologists in Germany and Switzerland were 

 very kind in giving me every assistance in their power towards carrying 

 out the object of my visit, and in addition to my success in finding the 

 desired insect, I gained much valuable information regarding the method 

 of forest culture and protection practiced there. 



A detailed report will be prepared at an early date in which an account 

 will be given of my investigations and observations. In the meantime, 

 any information or request regarding the experiment which you may de- 

 sire to communicate to us, will be thankfully received. 



Trusting that our success may continue and that the experiment, made 

 possible by your liberal contributions, will bring rich returns to you and 

 to the timber interests of our State, I am, 



Respectfully, 



A. D. HOPKINS, 

 Entomologist. 



THE IMPORTED SPECIMENS STORED FOR THE WINTER. 



Upon the approach of winter the bottles containing the re- 

 maining examples of the Clerids were placed in tin boxes and 



