118 THE REPORT OF THE [19 



The field of its operations is very little known, and we hope that in coarse of time the 

 society will be in possession of a collection of rarities from districts hitherto unex- 

 plored, which will be contributions to science. We hope, through our members, to ex- 

 tend our researches farther north and north-west next year, and to gradually increase our 

 field, and any discoveries made will be recorded in one common centre and published from 

 time to time. There are very many boreal and arctic insects whose life histories are 

 unknown, and these as far as possible the society will endeavour to work out. Of course 

 at present we are a small body, but everything must have a beginning, and we hope and 

 believe that, with loyal and earnest members, the Society we now are is but the nucleus 

 of one which will be of much use both to science and to the Canadian farmer. 



Percy B. Gricgson, 



President. 



THE USE OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



By The Rev. Dr. Bethune, London, Ont. 



Everyone interested in the cultivation of the soil, whether for profit or pleasure, 

 every farmer, gardener and fruit-grower, will require but a short experience to convince 

 him that he has a hard and never-ceasing battle to fight in order to reap a due reward 

 from his labour. After he has duly prepared his ground and put in his crop, of whatever 

 kind it may be, he is sure to find, before it comes to maturity, that there are many 

 enemies who will try to rob him of a large portion of the fruits of his toil. Oftentimes 

 there will be no visible token of their presence until the ingathering reveals a diminished 

 or damaged return ; in other cases injury will be apparent, but the enemy who wrought 

 the mischief cannot be seen, the mysterious foe is working by night, or contrives to hide 

 himself so completely from observation that only the destructive results are apparent, 

 while the culprit keeps out of sight. 



It will readily be guessed that the enemies I refer to are injurious insects. Their 

 name is legion and their numbers are as the sand of the sea shore. Every plant that 

 grows, whether great or small, is liable to attack — it may be in the roots underground, in 

 the stem or trunk, in the bark or wood, in bud or leaf or branch, in blossom, seed or fruit, 

 and after the grain has been safely housed or the fruits and vegetables stored for the 

 winter's food, there are still foes to be fought, insect enemies to be guarded against. 



With such myriads of minute creatures to contend against, working in such diverse 

 manners, the contest might seem a hopeless one, and indeed it would be were it not that 

 nature has imposed her own limitations, and no single insect foe is long allowed to pur- 

 sue its way unchecked. Where we have to deal with species native to the country, we 

 may feel sure that however much the injurious kind has been allowed to multiply and 

 spread, it will not be long before the balance is restored and the damages reduced to an 

 average amount. But when we are invaded by species introduced from a far distant land, 

 especially those brought from across the seas, the case is usually very different. The 

 enemy arrives in our midst, unaccompanied by the predaceous insects, parasites or 

 diseases that keep down his numbers in his place of origin, and he rapidly increases and 

 multiplies without let or hindrance, until artificial means are employed for his subjection. 

 In such cases the farmer or fruit-grower may suddenly find himself confronted with a 

 mischit f worker whom he has never seen before, and with whom he has no idea how to 

 wage a war. His plight may be a serious one, and bis losses more than he can bear; he 

 knows not what to do nor where to turn for relief. Hitherto, in Alberta, there has been 

 no help at hand, but now we may rejoice that measures have been taken to give assis- 

 tance and advice wherever they may be needed. The North west (Canada) Entomological 

 Society has been organized mainly for the purpose of doing good to all the dwellers in the 

 Territory who are employed in the cultivation of the soil. It is their business, and also 

 their pleasure, to study the insects that dwell in the land, to trace out their lif a histories, 

 watch how they work, learn their habits, whether they are noxious or beneficial, or simply 



