subject every part of them which was accessible to a jet of steam. It was found 

 that when the caterpillars were disturbed they would let themselves down by a 

 silken thread and again return after the disturbance ceased, but that when the 

 disturbance was of a moist nature, the silken thread was not made. The means 

 I have suggested in Canada for stamping out this pest are, to brush down the mill 

 as thoroughly as possible, and then subject every portion to a spraying of kero- 

 sene emulsion or gasoline. This latter is, of course, a very inflammable substance, 

 and great care must be taken in its use ; but judging from statements made by 

 those who have used this liquid as an insecticide in similar instances, the results, 

 I believe, should be satisfactoiy, and if proper care be taken, there should be no 

 danger in its use. 



Amongst the important aids to the work of the economic entomologist, special 

 notice is demanded by that most useful publication, " Insect Life," which is issued 

 from the division of entomology by the United States' Department of Agriculture. 

 This magazine is under the able joint editorship of Messrs. C. V. Riley and L. O. 

 Howard, and owes its great utility alike to the skill the editors exhibit in present- 

 ing the information they have to impart to their readers, as to the exceptional 

 opportunities they have for obtaining it from authoritative sources. In this pub- 

 lication we have prompt notice of serious outbreaks of injurious insects wherever 

 they may occur in the United States or Canada, and also suggestions as to the 

 best remedies. We have, too, articles and monographs upon various subjects con- 

 nected with the work of the entomologist. A series of articles upon spraying 

 apparatus gives, in a concise form, much valuable information by which a great 

 deal of useless trouble and expense will be saved to farmers and students experi- 

 menting in the selection and use of these necessary instruments. 



A subject of particular interest to our members is the lately formed Associa- 

 tion of Economic Entomologists, which was organized during the late meeting 

 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in this city. 



The association will, it is hoped, be a means of bringing together at least once 

 a year most of the entomologists who study particularly the practical application 

 of the science, so that they may become acquainted personally with each other, 

 and may hear of the investigations which each is carrying on, to exchange experi- 

 ences and discuss the best methods of work so as to obtain as quickly as possible 

 efficient, simple and cheap remedies for controlling the operations of the many 

 injurious insects whose attacks so materially reduce the revenue of the country. 



The circumstances which led up to the formation of this association are briefly 

 as follows : While it is true that the investigation of all the natural sciences on 

 this continent has always had a more practical turn than in Europe, this is par- 

 ticularly true of entomological studies, and the literature of American economic 

 entomology has now become so large as to make a bibliography an urgent 

 necessity. 



The cause of practical science has lately received a great impulse from the 

 passing, by the United States Congress of the " Hatch Experiment Stations Act." 

 This Act provides that an annual sum of $15,000 shall be set aside for each State 

 in the Union for the promotion of agricultural science. By virtue of this Act 

 there have already been organized upwards of 60 government experiment stations 

 in various parts of the Union, and of these no less than 27 have their entomolo- 

 gists. There is no doubt that before long the directors of many of the other 

 stations will see the advisability of appointing entomologists on their staff. The 

 effect of this measure will be, that there will be a large number of trained ento- 

 mologists scattered over a large area, and all working at the same important 



