188 1.] Editors’ Table. 303 
appropriated sums amounting from $15,000 to $30,000 for the - 
investigation of injurious insects, with results of the greatest and 
most obvious importance. 
Until the formation in 1877 of the U. S. Entomological Com- 
mission, not a dollar was ever appropriated by the General Gov- 
ernment for the investigation by experts of injurious insects, nor 
for the study of the rust, smut, mildew and other injurious fungi 
by which millions of dollars are lost to agriculture. Abou 
year after the establishment of the commission, Professor Riley, 
the chief of the commission, was appointed Entomologist to the 
‘ Department of Agriculture, and during the short time he held 
the position, by his personal efforts obtained from Congress a 
special appropriation of $5090 to place his Division upon a more 
practical basis, and also another appropriation of $5000 for the 
investigation ofthe cotton worm. The readiness with which these . 
appropriations were granted, shows that Congress appreciates 
capable effort in applied entomology. The first-mentioned appro- 
priation has since been made annually to the Department, while 
others have also been made for continuing the cotton worm inves- 
tigation under the direction of the U. S. Entomological Com- 
mission. These appropriations were the immediate result of the. 
labors and example of this Commission and not of the Agricul- 
tural Department itself. 
men attracted the attention of Congress, and Professor Baird was 
appointed a Commissioner to investigate the causes. The first 
appropriation was $5000, we believe; the one last year ungrudg- 
ingly voted by Congress was about $140,000 in the aggregate. 
It is needless to state that the practical results of these investiga- 
tions have been immediate and many-fold the amounts appro- 
priated, and the benefits conferred on American biology enor- 
mous. It should be said that the value of our fisheries by the 
census of 1870 was only $11,096,522, though the estimate is only 
approximative and imperfect, 
Turning to our geological surveys ; within the last twenty-five 
years sums aggregating several millions of dollars, in some years 
Over $200,000 per annum, have been wisely appropriated by Con- 
gress for the surveys of the public domain. Owing to the fostering 
spirit shown by Government, American geology stands preem!- 
nent, and ranks as high as in the governments of Europe; and 
yet compared with the agricultural products of: the country, the 
mineral products of the United States are inconsiderable. By the 
census of 1870 the mineral products of this country amounted to 
$152,598, 994. This amount is only approximative, as it was 
