The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-07-17

called for general expression OF tho plan,
objects, &C., of the Society. Messrs. Hovey.
Fell Roe and others briefly stated that it
was to concentrate and enlarge our re-
searches in the study Of the Natural History
of the State, to establish Museum at the
Normal University, containing specimens
from this and other States and countries,
illustrating all the departments Of Natural
Science--viz: Geology, Mineralosy, PIaon-
tology, Botany, Metero logy, Anatomy, Ply
siology and Zoology.
An interesting paper on Forest Trees was
read before the Society, by DIR. Frederick
Brendell, of Peoria after which the Society
adjourned.
SECOND SESSION.
Society met pursuant to adjournment
Letters were read from Dr. John A. kenni-
colt, c. Thomas, George Nasey and Z.
Atkinson.
On motion, the President Secretary, and
Treasurer were appointed an Executive
Committee
On motion, the thanks Of the Society were
rendered to &. Thomas, DR.. kennicott,
George Massey and VIM. BARLEY, for their
valuable contributions.
Prof j. 3. Turner presented paper on
1.-The microscopic insects destructive to the
grains" We make the following extracts:
lover the coarser forms Of matter-over
the trees Of the forrest, the beasts of tie
field and the fowls of the Altman con-
quest for both defense and for use may be
said to be nearly complete; ut beneath all
these, in form and size, III number and
power, lie an innumerabe host-a countless
million of millions of organic and living
forms of vegetable and animal life, with
which the wisest of men have as yet but
Jus. begun to scrape mere transient re-
quaint1uce."
at is not till we come among the insects
the microscopic and the fungi tribes and
races--that we reach the fountain heads Of
veal or woe, OF life and death TO the billions
Of men who are TO draw their daily food
from these fertile praiies. Ii is these alone
that are in future to tax to the utmost the
/ highest powers Of the philosopher, and en-
gage thu most serious attention OF patriot
and the phi'anthropist; for if one OF the
greatest benefar tors OF man i lie who ap-
: plies bubble Of steam 10 all i uses, the
other is lie who prevents a tiny insect, a
spreading niasm or a corroding fungi, from
all It's Iaischiefs.
"Who. for instance. is iusensible OF the
vast destructive importance Of the budding
chiuch bug, the immense phslanxes Of the
down aud consume the la0ors # man like
an all-deyouring fire: Then there are the
sixty varieties Of plant lice already known
so prolific that some single pairs viii pro-
duce five millions in a single year THIS Is
settling the prairie q little too rapidly for
our agricultural uses. We prefer vacant
lots to such rapid proximity of uncongs-
NAL n ighhoTs-for their IDEAS Of SquatteT
Sovereignty conform 10 no true Democratic
OF Repubi an pla,form-"j
oar so; and climate seem to be pecl
harry prolific in these minute forms Of both
vegetable and animal life. The mos: care
less observer finds traces OF fungi Of various
descriptions on almcs, all our trees, fruits
+ and grains. Several tina; iufeSt our wheat
and corn fields, and annually q minish anc
sometimes almost annih:late thousands o.
I. acres Of those great staples, are veil Known
to all. The various forms Of fungi that pro.
duce the rot in the grape and some forms o.
blight in the pear, render those most de.ici'
GUS fruits almost unknown to thousands d
families in the land, who, were it rot foI
these pests, might enjoy their grateful ard
hea!thfui use in all its various forms,
prepared and uapreTared, as fully as they
now do the potato or the apple, and With
far less manual labor and cost OF production
than the former requires"
One can hardly resist the conclusion,
rs be looks upon the various forms OF dis
case and discomfort IN plants. in animal and
in man, that there is an innumerabie host oi
living atoms sti,l unknown, and vast mum
her OF ~ hich 50 very little i known, that
our knowledge practically amounts 20 little
more than mere technica; ver6iace.
From whe.ce spraug these minute be
ings? Where do they 20 during the appa-
rent long years OF their absence and how
do they get back 20 their old harnts? How
10 they live during those years when IN
favorable heats or colds, rains or drouths.
seem utterly to destroy them: How do
they sevcraliy propa gate their spcciezSS On
what 60 they feed? What several species
prey upon one another: What other forms
of matter are hostile or offensive or destruc-
tive to them? These are questions OF far
greater and more curious interest to science
81 far greater use and hope TO man more
intensely disciplinary TO his mental as well
as his physical faculties and senses. than
sim lar questions about the grosser and
more palpabe forms Of matter"
The grand end to be aimed at in refer
encc TO most forms Of fungi and parasites OF
all sorts is their prevention or destruction
but a vast amount OF minute ant.cedent
knowledge is needed before we can hope tc
say. Thus far and no farther even to one
single race or tribe, much more to the Tas1
myriad Of races and tribes. For example
after some ssven years OF incess ut trial OF q
great variety OF things, found that spirit:
of turpentine applied moderately TO the
trunk Of the pear tree would eXtermnats
this pear insect, and when DR.. Fitch gives
J him his proper name, his viii be ehIisteneo
and doomed at one and the same time.
u : bera n
some Of cur western young men, Who vii
enter it We need ere score of the bes
minds in the country, under some centra
head like this Society or this Normal Uni
yersity, provided with the best French mi
croscopes and other needed apparatus TO-
, collecting and examining cabinet Of speci
mems, and the whole country niarshalec
, under them much as Lieutenant Maury pro
poses to organize on the science of meteor
! ology.
"Nho will lead and marshal US in the
great and good enterprise? We need mar
who has the eyes of an Argus, the brain o
Newton. the patience of Franklin, the pa
: triotism of Washington, and the energy 'f
. Napoleon; and if we could take all these
men and melt them all into one great man
supremely great, Supremacy good, he wouiG
here find great work in the single State 0
+ Illinois, taxing all his mind and manheou
f and in the end, if he completed his work. h
| would enrol himself above all these, in mine
and fame, and stand at least upon their levs
/ in beneiicence and good done to man. Fol
/. hore, prominently it is little causes tina
: work mighty results; and those tiny crea
/, lures have undoubtedly not only sent insa
f tate and gaunt famine through the densely
' populated lands. but have also bred civil
/, wars and discords, thrown whole nations
t ino anarchy or conflict, and deluged th'
1 earth in blood. And the Hessian fly is a
d this moment as likely to overturn the throne
h of Napoleon, perhaps more likely than any
a other known or anticipated cause, and in