28 THE REPORT OF THE [19 



Dr. Howard has published in the year book of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

 for the year 1898 an important paper on the insects affecting the tobacco plant, which is 

 admirably illustrated by a new series of cuts, and three new pests are treated of But 

 by far the most interesting and important work which has been recently accomplished by 

 Dr. Howard and his assistants is the successful introduction into California of the insect 

 named Blastophaga Grossorum. 



Hitherto it has been found impossible to grow in that state any figs which would 

 compare with the Smyrna fig of commerce, which is grown about the eastern end of the 

 Mediterranean Sea. The Smyrna fig tree had been started in California but the flowers 

 were sterile and the figs invariably dropped to the ground before attaining the size of 

 much more than three-quarters of an inch in diameter, but in its native home the flowers 

 are fertilized by this minute insect know as Blastophaga Grossorum, which normally 

 inhabits the flowers of the wild fig commonly known as the caprifig. These figs 

 growing on the mountain side are broken off by the inhabitants and are tied to the 

 branches of the Smyrna figs at the proper season of the year. The insects issuing from the 

 caprifigs and covered with pollen crawl into the Smyrna figs, pollenizing the flowers and 

 bringing about the ripening of the fruit and the production of the seeds upon which the 

 flavour of the Smyrna fig largely depends, and it was decided that the only way in which 

 a fig pqual in quality to the Smyrna fig could be grown in California was to introduce 

 the Blastophaga into that state. Private attempts to do this failed and the government 

 was appealed to for aid, and Dr. Howard, after laying the matter before the Secretary of 

 Agriculture, was authorized to make the attempt and succeeding in introducing living 

 specimens of these useful little insects among the Smyrna figs and caprifigs of Fresno, 

 California. The introduction in 1898 was unsuccessful, but this year success crowned 

 the efforts and not only have two generations of the insects developed but many Smyrna 

 figs have been successfully fertilized. 



Work is being continued by the Washington Staff on the study on the geographical 

 distribution of injurious insects ; the bibliographical work also continues and it is intended 

 to publish another supplement to the Bibliography of Economic Entomology bringing the 

 list down to January 1900. 



That the importance of entomology continues to attract increased attention is shown 

 by the appointment of a state entomologist for Texas. The lamented death of Mr. H. G. 

 Hubbard early in the year interrupted the completion of his elaborate work on insects 

 affecting the citrus trees, and caused a great loss to American entomology. He was an 

 able entomologist, a wonderfully good collector and a truly lovable man. 



Last year I had the pleasure of announcing the approaching publication of Dr. W, 

 J. Holland's Butterfly Book. Shortly after our meeting this work was issued and re- 

 ceived a hearty welcome from the entomological world, and up to 1st of July last 

 upwards of 3500 copies had been sold, which is certainly remarkably encouraging. 

 Among other important works which have appeared during the year may be mentioned 

 the Monograph of the Species of Acronycta and certain allied general with nine plates of 

 moths, four plates of larvae and nine plates of structural details, by Drs. John B. 

 Smith and Harrison G. Dyar issued in the proceedings of the United States National 

 Museum, and which is a very important and useful work. About the same time in 

 December last appeared Dr. Hpnry Skinner's Synonymic Catalogue of the North 

 American Rhopalocera replacing Mr. W. H. Edwards's catalogue of 1884 which had been 

 out of print for some time. This work was much needed and will be of great assistance 

 to lepidopterists. Dr. Dyar's proposed check list to which I referred last year has not 

 yet appeared as the author informs me that he is waiting for Prof. Fernald to complete 

 his revision of the Tortricidas. Dr. Ottolengui has not yet completed his monograph of the 

 Plusias but expects to issue it during the coming year. 



I am glad to say that we are likely soon to have a monograph of the Sesiidse. The 

 late Henry Edwards who had done much work in this group and had described a very 

 large proportion of the known species contemplated the publication of such a monograph 

 but was not able to do so, but after his lamented death his mantle fell upon Mr. Beuten- 



