6 
them out they might have saved a loss of perhaps 75 per cent of their 
crop from the ravages of cutworms. In short, that by following the 
advice of entomologists, those who study the habits of what they had 
always called indiscriminately. ** bugs,” they might have saved much 
that had disappeared from under their very eyes. 
But I need not now pursue this thought further. Encouraged by 
the apparent interest taken in the subject by the audience, one is some- 
times tempted to speak too long; but we must be discreet. Farmers,as — 
a rule, prefer a few new thoughts at a time and to have these plainly 
put. Having finished, we perhaps sit down amidst applause and 
requests to go on, and perhaps hear such complimentary remarks 
exchanged as “I tell you what it is, there is something in what he 
says,” or, in a tone of surprise, ‘that bug man was pretty good.” No. 
Farmers and ordinary individuals throughout the country who are de- 
pendent upon them for food do not know, nor as a class appreciate, 
what they do now, might, and will in the future, owe to the labors of 
the entomologist. The consequence is that those who do take up the 
study are few and isolated from each other. Moreover, I maintain 
that there is no branch of natural science or practical agriculture to 
which it is second in importance. The amounts lost and the value of 
produce which might be saved every year in our staple crops alone, 
by following the advice of a competent entomologist, are so enormous 
and of late years have been so often proved, that before long the value 
of these studies must certainly be recognized. The chief hindrance is 
the widespread and incomprehensible ignorance on the part of both 
growers and consumers of agricultural produce of the present genera- 
tion. This ignorance is rapidly being dissipated by means of the vari- 
ous agricultural colleges and experiment stations all over the world, 
where the rising generation is being trained. © 
It will soon be seen that the scientific or accurate study of the habits 
of insects, by which we are enabled to prevent the injury or loss of ex-_ 
isting crops, of which we have already learned the use or necessity, con- 
fers far greater benefits on the community at large than the discovery 
or introduction of new products of which we have not as yet felt the 
need. But there is no natural study which presents so many different 
aspects, or which provides so many subjects concerning which its 
students, although they must know something, find it quite impossible 
to inform themselves thoroughly, which, in short, demands that its 
different branches must be taken up by several specialists bound to- 
gether by some bond, so that the knowledge gradually accumulated by — 
one may, at need, be available for all. Such a bond I believe we have 
in the Association of Economic Entomologists, where members have an 
opportunity of meeting once a year a large number of colleagues work- 
ing in the same field, but upon different lines, with whom they can com- 
pare experiences and particularly can discuss any difficulties which 
may have arisen in the prosecution of their work during the year. 
