INSECTS. 33 



farm crops, to the stock, afld. to his own house — concerning 

 their ameliorating influences on the temperature, on the purity 

 and healthfulness of the atmosphere, on the electrical conditions 

 favorable to animal and vegetable life, on the amount of rain 

 and dew; hut, alas, in this age of haste, an enlarged and 

 enlightened policy, which takes into consideration the wants of a 

 life-time, and plans with reference to the needs and comforts of 

 years yet in the distance, is almost whoUy lost in thoughts of 

 immediate advantage. " Oh, I shall never live to reap the 

 benefits of all this outlay and care,'' is a sufficient answer to all 

 such suggestions, just as though man lived for himself alone. Is 

 it nothing to have left behind you the impress of youi enlarged 

 views upon the acres your children shall till? Is it nothing to 

 have laid foundations broad and deep, upon which those who 

 come after you may build, and bless the forethought and wisdom 

 with which you provided for their comfort and health 1 Is there 

 not a pleasure more rich and sweet than that which centres in 

 self? But enough. Some coming generation may plant and 

 plan with reference to the permanent value of farms and home- 

 steads ; we are too busy. 



ESrSECTS. 



Every cultivator of the soil has need to study carefuUy the 

 character and habits of insects. Not a farmer but has sufiered 

 more or less &om their ravages, and the losses of the farmers of 

 our Dominion from the destructive habits of these little creatures 

 can only be counted in millions of doUars. Indeed, that General 

 Superintendent of Education will deserve the lasting gratitude of 

 his countrymen who shall make the habits of insects one of the 

 branches of Common School education. 



There are many insects which prey upon the foliage of our 

 fruit trees, and some upon the fruit. Only those can be described 

 here which are most widely distributed throughout the country, 

 and whose ravages are most serious. The Entomological Society 



