15 
them with a paper on some scientific subject, he 
was sure it would be highly valued by the members 
of the Athenaeum (applause).—Miss Ormerod, in 
replying to the various speakers, said she did not 
know whether insects had taste in the way we 
understood it, but it was certain that they had 
discrimination. Sparrows were terrible pests. 
They had been introduced into America and 
Australia, and now the people there wished they 
could get rid of them. YVith reference to the rapid 
growth of plants, of course they must be careful 
not to push on the growth so quickly as to create 
bad tissues. They wanted to know more about the 
causes of the visitations of insects, but the appear¬ 
ance of the lady bird was one of the most useful 
that they had, for it was a destroyer of the green 
fly, which appeared on the hops in Kent. This 
fly was usually followed by the lady bird. Much 
that was done in America by the state in this 
matter was done in England voluntarily. She had 
hundreds of correspondents who sent her their 
observations on injurious insect life, and the 
methods of prevention which they found would 
act at a paying rate. Several references had been 
made during the evening to the work of wom^. 
She did not know whether they would all agree 
with her, but she believed that if a woman’s work 
was to do good she must do it under the direction 
of men (applause).—In proposing a vote of thanks 
to Miss Ormerod, the Chairman referred to the 
eulogistic remarks of the Principal of the Royal Agri¬ 
cultural College at Cirencester, who, in proposing a 
similar resolution after her lecture there, said— 
This year, Miss 0<merod informed him, about a million of 
money had been lost by the turnip fly alone. Surely at all 
times, and especially at a period of agricultural depression 
like the present, it was of the utmost importance to arm 
themselves with weapons to meet and overcome a pest like 
that, and it was their duty, as connected with that college, 
considering their important position, to endeavour to make 
such observations as should assist Miss Ormerod in her 
labours. 
—In reference to this quotation and the valuable 
work of the reader of the paper that evening, and 
the scientific members of the Athenaeum, he (the 
chairman) would say, “go thou and do likewise.” 
—The vote having been heartily adopted, the meet¬ 
ing terminated. 
E. King, “Times” Steam Printing Works, Richmond. 
