PREFACE. 
V 
shall have pleasure in forwarding copies of this circular to all 
applicants, and shall be greatly obliged for observations and 
specimens of maggots from the localities there specified. 
The subject of attention to insect-ravage has spread widely 
and serviceably during the last year both at home and in the 
Colonies; at Port Elizabeth in Cape Colony, in Australia, and 
also in the sugar-cane plantations of the West Indies and the 
coffee plantations of Ceylon, the agriculturists or the planters 
are learning the use of attacking the attacker themselves on the 
basis of their oivn knowledge from observation of its habits , 
instead of wasting time on specific descriptions only leading to 
its name, and the benefit is appreciable now, and we may hope 
it will be great. 
In our own country such an important example as to possi¬ 
bility of teaching all that is needed on this subject for common 
farm use has been given by the plan carried out at the Aldersey 
Grammar School, Bunbury, Cheshire, that, as enquiry is often 
sent me as to method of conveying instruction,—and I am sure 
such instruction may well be classed amongst “means of pre¬ 
vention and remedy,”—I, with permission, append the description 
of the plan followed in a note. 
The illustrations in the present Report are chiefly from 
electros of the blocks by John Curtis in his ‘ Farm Insects,’ the 
use of which I am permitted by Messrs. Blackie, of Glasgow, 
and acknowledge with thanks for their constant and courteous 
assistance. I also express my acknowledgments for the use of 
some figures by Prof. J. 0. Westwood and John Curtis, which 
are allowed by the proprietors of the ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle,’ 
and likewise for some from Newman’s ‘ British Moths,’ permitted 
by Mr. Allen. 
I again, with hearty thanks to all those who kindly favour 
me with information for publication, earnestly request their 
co-operation in the coming season. 
ELEANOR A. ORMEROD. 
Dunster Lodge, near Isleworth, 
March, 1884. 
