IV 
PREFACE. 
insect propagation, and laying a foundation for the attacks 
which were found at work with the advance of the next year’s 
spring. This would apply also to the unusual amount of 
orchard caterpillars. 
To what extent crop insect-pests, not previously known or 
little known here, may be establishing themselves is a matter 
which appears to deserve some observation from agriculturists, 
and I would wish particularly to draw attention to the new 
Wheat-flour Moth (see pp. 66—72, and Appendix), and also that 
in case a pale sea-green fly maggot is found feeding in Wheat- 
stems (see p. 66) it would be desirable at once to report it. 
How far some of the extra-British corn-pests may be spread 
abroad by the use of broken straw, infested grain, &c., screened 
out of foul corn-imports, is also a subject to which I have 
ventured to draw attention in the paper (pp. 56—66) headed 
“ Screenings,” and I have to express my sincere thanks to the 
Firms or personal friends who have been good enough to favour 
me with the information there given. 
Warble prevention has advanced much during the last 
season, and it is still more clearly shown than before that where 
the maggots are destroyed (as may easily be done) the attack 
may be for all practical purposes stamped out. 
For the statistics of loss on hides I offer my very best thanks 
to the Societies, Companies, and others who have done me the 
great favour to give me the returns published in my paper, and, 
whilst referring the reader to details in the reports (and 
estimates) quoted, by which he can judge for himself of how 
the matter stands, I may be permitted to note that in a country 
such as this it appears an evil crying for removal that the 
ignorance of the uneducated should be allowed to cause, year by 
year, such a demonstrable loss to the nation. 
Besides my debt of thanks acknowledged as above, I have 
also cordially to express my obligation to Dr. E. L. Taschenberg, 
of Halle, Germany, for examination of the Corn-ground Beetle 
attack hitherto unobserved in this country, and to Dr. Jul. Kuhn, 
Director of the Agricultural Institute of Halle, for replying to 
my enquiries regarding the new Wheat-flour Moth ; likewise to 
Dr. Fr. Thomas, of Ohrdruf, for drawing my attention to a 
Gall-mite infesting Bed Currants,—a matter that might prove of 
