PROBABLE ORIGIN and DIFFUSION. , 3 
between many of the chinch bugs of his own locality and those found 
in any of the last-mentioned States, and will probably be able to 
satisfy himself of their identity only by the similarity of their vile 
odor. Again, he will probably be equally at a loss to understand 
why it is that his own timothy meadows are overrun by these pestifer 
ons insects and destroyed, while in other Localities, perhaps less than 
1(H) miles away, similar meadows are lefl untouched, the injury 
there being confined to the wheat and corn fields. 
If wondering leads to questioning, as it often docs among the 
constantly increasing number of educated and up-to-date 1 farmers, 
it will not satisfy him to receive an evasive or obscure reply to his 
query as to why such differences exist, for if he can not get a clear 
explanation he will want ideas, theories, or possibilities. lie wants 
the hot explanation possible to give until some one finds out a better 
one. realizing that had mankind been perfectly satisfied with the 
knowledge that a stroke of lightning would split a, tree or destroy 
human life, and had stubbornly refused to listen to possibilities or 
to anything hut facts, we would not now he able to understand and 
utilize electricity in the many ways that we do at the present time. 
Such men understand perfectly that the solution of most problems 
in natural science must of necessity commence with theories which 
musl he patiently tested and adopted or rejected as the results 
demand, while the 1 scientific man knows that the solution of one 
problem often opens up the way for the solution of another, the 
last not infrequently having an entirely different application from 
the first. 
The science of applied entomology is growing rapidly and becoming 
both broader and deeper, and it is not enough simply to tell the hus- 
bandman what an insect is and how to kill it. He must have some- 
thing along with that information to set his own mind to thinking, to 
work out problems or improve upon the solutions already given him, 
otherwise it is much like giving money to a professional beggar. If 
we can not give facts based upon demonstrations, then give the best 
explanation possible, even though it he a theory which is only ex- 
pected to stand until some one does better. It is for the thoughtful, 
progressive farmer, as well as the -indent of geographical distribu- 
tion, that this possible solution of the problem of the chinch hug has 
been prepared, and while the full practical value of the ideas ad- 
vanced ha- yet to \w demonstrated, this of it-elf can not he wv^nl as 
sufficient grounds for not -ending it forth for study and consideration. 
Thanks to the careful observations of Professor Sajo, on the Euro- 
pean species of chinch bug. Blissus dorice^ it is \u<\\ for the first time 
possible to compare the habits of tin- species with our own. 
