REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 361 



breed so rapidly that it seems impossible to exterminate them. 

 No State function is more useful or necessary than that which 

 employs the best ability of science to exterminate these pests. 

 Why, the entire grape culture of France was threatened with 

 destruction by the grapevine phylloxera — which you in this 

 country know something about, I dare say — and the French 

 government has not only spent nearly $200,000 for investigations, 

 but has also offered a reward of $60,000 for the discovery of an 

 effectual remedy. The successful ravages of this little animal 

 (which is not nearly as big as the head of a pin) in this State 

 would mean a loss of over $5,000,000 a year. Surely a State 

 would be remiss which was unwilling to appropriate a few thou- 

 sand dollars for experiments to prevent such a catastrophe. 

 When it is considered how many farm plants, grains and fruits 

 are endangered by injurious insects of one kind or another — 

 wheat, hops, potatoes, peaches, currants, cabbages, cherries, 

 plums — indeed nearly all varieties of plant life — it would seem 

 of the highest importance that the State relax no effort- to over- 

 come these public enemies. Prof. Lintner estimates that with 

 our present scientific knowledge and with the means now at our 

 command, we can, if we will, lessen insect depredations to the 

 extent of at least one-half of their present magnitude. That, 

 indeed, would be a remarkable triumph, but it is only an assur- 

 ance of greater results in the future. Scientists are learning to 

 depend not alone on poisons to destroy these insect enemies, but 

 they are enlisting in their efforts the aid of other insects — para- 

 sites which prey upon the injurious species and drive them from 

 the field. I read the other day in the Albany Argus that Post- 

 master-General Bissell had issued an order allowing the importa- 

 tion of lady-bugs through the mails from Australia, because they 

 were of such value in destroying insect enemies. Scientists give 

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