secretary’s report. 
443 
ing been driven out by the progress of improvement by 
which May-weed^ mullen^ thistles^ etc., take the place of the 
native plants. The time is now at hand when my collection 
will afford the only evidence of the former existence of many 
plants in certain counties of the state.” The “ progress of im¬ 
provement ” of which he speaks is going on more rapidly now 
than ever before, and if a few plants are now extinct, soon a 
large proportion of our once numerous and beautiful native 
plants will pass away and the future has no history to tell the 
tale of what covered the face of our earth. Accompanying, or 
.for the use of this survey, should be a room, where all the grasses 
and plants of the state and a memoir of the forest trees with draw¬ 
ings of the snme, and also the preservation of wild fruits in spir¬ 
its or otherwise, can be kept. Thus will the state be fa¬ 
vored with an herbarium, which will form when opened to the 
public, a complete history of the natural resources of the state, 
to be studic'i and visited by every student of the country— 
and growing of more and more interest with every advancing 
age, and especially so to all those who desire to acquire a cur¬ 
rent knowledge of those sciences. 
Of the advantages of the entomologist’s reports and his la¬ 
bors we can only judge by estimate or comparison as made in 
other states. By the best authority, and of those who have 
given the subject much thought, it is estimated that “ the in¬ 
jury done by insects to the various crops in the United States 
is three millions of dollars annually.” Our own state is no 
more favored than others. Benjamin D. Walsh is doing good 
service in the insect field in Illinois, and the results of his labors 
are felt to a certain extent everywhere. Missouri has the ser¬ 
vices of 0. Y. Eiley. New York calls to her aid the valuable 
services and experience of Br. Asa Bitch, and it is estimated 
by those “ familiar with the facts, that his labors in New York, 
by studying the character and habits of insects, thus enabling 
him to suggest remedies for the evils they produce have al¬ 
ready saved to that state annually, the handsome sum of 
$ 50 , 000 .” 
Should our state interests lag? Can we sit idly by and see 
