2 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIED EXTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 



style and were invested with a personal tone wliicli gave them a very 

 live interest. 



The exjjeriences of the last few years have turned men's thoughts 

 more to the practical aspects of life and this is bound to be reflected in 

 our views on education. I think one result of the war will be that educa- 

 tion will take on a much more live aspect, and that the study of living 

 phenomena will be greatly increased. And I venture to predict that a 

 new era is arising as regards the study of biological questions. Entomo- 

 logy is bound to come into greater prominence in the future. 

 Already on the medical side men are talking of the next great war as the 

 war of man against insects. 



On the side of Agricultural Entomology with which we are more 

 ps.rticularly concerned the war being waged by you against the depre- 

 dators of our agricultural crops is no less important. It is of little avail 

 that improved agricultural methods should give us higher yielding crops, 

 if annually the ravages of insects can be calculated in millions of pounds 

 sterling. In time of war the mobilisation of our food supplies is almost 

 as important as the mobilisation of our fighting men and any efforts of 

 science which will assist in ensuring to us the full fruits of the earth or 

 their jDreservation, when garnered, are of incalculable value to the nation. 

 To the creation of such a position of security the labours of our Entomo- 

 logical workers contribute. It is quiet, inconspicuous work, in which, 

 I fear, the public as a whole take little interest. But it is none the less 

 valuable that it is unobtrusive and unpretentious, and all honour is due 

 to the small body of zealous and earnest workers, who are content to 

 make its pursuit their life work. " Science is * * * like virtue 

 its own exceeding ereat roward." 



I cannot, however, but feel that the time is coming when there will 

 be an awakening to the vast importance of the subject in India. The 

 popularity of these small conferences indicates that there is an increasing 

 interest. Much has been done by Mr. Bainbrigge Fletcher to impress 

 on Government the importance of the subject and his views on the expan- 

 sion and centralization of Entomological work in India have been cordially 

 endorsed by the Indian Industrial Commission. The future therefore 

 seems full of promise. 



I trust that the results of your labours will be to j^our own profit 

 and advantage and to the benefit of the agriculture of this vast Empire. 



Address by the Chairman. 

 I am sure that we are all much indebted to Mr. Mackenna for coming 

 here today and opening our Proceedings, and that we all appreciate the 



