, 1862-06-30

From Our Own Correspondent
BLooM1NGroN. June II, 1862.
Interesting papers were read before the Nat
ural History Society, among which may be es-
pecially noticed that Of Dr.. George Vasey, en-
titled " Remarks on some of the nnturalized
plants and weeds Of the State OF Illinois," An
interesting discussion ensued, upon the vexed
question between scientific men and farmers,
Does wheat change to cheas2 Il resulted, as
the discussion always does, In the conclusion
that as a matter Of theory it waa impossible
for the thing to happen, bat that as matter
Of fact and observation 1t did take place
TO EATCRAL1sTs.
Dr.. Frederick Breudel OF Peoria ls preparing
paper upon I. The r. Woods In Winter, and tho
lneans Of recognizing the trees by the buds,
branches, bark, etc" he wishes for sid from
natura1lsts; that those In the eouthern portion
Of the State md IN the most northern part
Will collect and send to him specimens Of |
woody plants which do not grow III the VI !
elnity OF Peoria. He deslrea specimens from
every season, with flowers, fruits, and branch |
let's collected IN uinker;; also small cuts OF |
wood with tho bark In this manner can be
completed the observations, which may lead |
to the Identification Of our trees and shrubs
in their winter state. Those who are willing |
to did in this project can correspond with Dr. /
Breudel upon the subject
TEE HABITs OF INSECTS.
The lecture by Dr.. Walsh. before the Natu-
ra1 History ssn;yo Society," is deserving Of
self to make. He commenced by saying that
Sidney Smith speaka on one occasion Of an
"fnsect with eleven legs, noudescript with
eleven wings, caterpillar with dozen eyes
In his belly" and those whose business 1t il
to know, know that every insect has Just bix
when they have any, their eyes invariably
affixed to their heads. It serves as an Mnstra-
ton q the total popular ignorance In regard
to" bugs The natural history Of the higher
animals is known, In its rudimeuts, even to
children, while that of the lower animals, such
as inaects, is sealed book to almost eue.y per
son. And yet their habits and organization
| are equally full Of interest, and sWarms Of
| species are always present; while the number
Of mammals. birds oT M reptiles, Is exceedingly
| Insects are regarded as contemplate crea-
/ lures, and yet God has used his power to create
| Dyriads upon myTiads in such perfection th1t
| Solomon, In ali his glory, Was not arrayed like
the very meanest Of them 1t is, therefore,
beneath the dignity Of none TO study them IN
| ali their intinitesimal perfections- Great and
email Gre but SO by comparison. The earth to
the zane is but 4 mustard seed to melon;
and the eame einks into insignifcance By the
side of the hosts Of starry suns in the sea Of
space. There is no reason for the popular
opinion that cntomology-or the "pur6Qit Of
bugs''-is frivolous pursuit..
What is the utility OF this pursuit.? Amod-
crate Eno1ledge Of insects oils the wheels Of
ssahowen OF blood" bringing flight and dread
They came from the red coating Of Q butterfly
--ssfhc painted ladg''-several allied species OF
which are found in illinois and maya any time
give rise to similar phenomena Another
J | buttcrfy-the mourning clock, so-called from
| its being black With cream .colored border
was introduced into this country from Europe
with some Lombardy poplars. In New Eng
) land the people somehow thought its larVa
, Was poisonous, and groves Of poplarf
around dwellings were destroyed in conse.
, quence Of the mistaken notion. A woody OF
) plant louise rayaged the apple orchards Of 10
: calitiea in England. A similar looking louse
! appeared on the poplars, and it was thought
! that the orchards destroyed came from popu
+ lars, and go all the poplar6 were cut down
| The two moths were OF different species ant
d the proceeding was an outrage, doing i'm
q mense injury, working no good The fenlals
Il of some moths has no wings and has to crau
a up the trees. Tarred baudages properly ap
b piled to the trunks prevent harm from these
Q but this proceeding as against the canke
t WORMS is only humbug, and Jet thousand
4 of dollars have been spent in placiBg the mos
}, approved leaden troughs filed with oil, &c.
# to guard against the latter. These are men
e toned out Of q long catalogue OF instances a
IT hand Of q similar character.
e When it Was determined to plague tn
, Egyptians, lions, tigers und 'that lk - Wer
L not sent, but flies, lice and locusts. Th
3. g1eat American plague, appearing aanaaI5'
It "tht land Of insects ~ The annual destrus
2i ton Of wheat in New York by one Insect
i. The wheat midge-is calculated at Sl5, ,00o, ,00(
Of For every dollars worth Of wheat the Ne
N York farmer haryests, this midge takes
al dollars worth, being 'one-half Of the croI
% This nidge comes from England, but there
e. is recorded that in the worst year OF the ra7
i'd ageB, only destroyed. Of the crO]
+ And yet while Europe invests regularly an
er constantly vast sums for q knowledge Of Il
50 sugering more, is a niggard in this regar'
Us mainly becsnse it does not know and appr
pi | clate the value Of such knowledge, and Il
valuable results flowing therefrom.
Mr: Walsh then pointed out the manner =
sh tie means OF checking the 1ayages Of insect
II. ana urged IN RtrAng taz1ns the necessity Of
~ system fostered Under the auspices Of sta
le- researches in regard TO the army worm, a,
og tile means he had ascertaiued OF guardil
by against it successfully and fully. he referr
IL to the fact that as the lines Of temperature
an rot conform to the locations Of insects, t
ne but little benefit OF the chineh bug,
. common here, Dr.. Fitch, in his twenty i
ng yeara' study. had met with only three
ne tie State Of New York, and Or. HArris OF
re- found one in the State Of Massachusetts.
m The lecture was listened to BY o 1ar
lu- audience. The time consumed seemed sho
q eo great was the interest taken. Mr. Wal
ID has the rare ability Of presenting scienti
len matters clearly, and popular. With the exct
up ton Of Aga6iz, he Is probably the best POI
to lar scientific lecturer in this country.
eae lectures not to "get up lecture" and 6:
the applause but to impart information, and
ent earnestness carries conviction because
ore believes every word be says and believes d
BY that the subject he il talking about is the N
ade Important subject in tho world. 4 lect
Was from him is always eagerly sought for and
~ ways received IS treat aud luxury.
~ ~ NORMAL UNIVERSITY.
and The exercises Of examination have clos
erv and as send TO you the commencement
erciaes are progressing Their order will
for seen from the following programme
al ORDER or ExERc1sEs.
lay- PnArER-Rev. J. II. C. Coe.
be- The Possession Of 4rrcspoueible Power not
nal vorable to Excellence OF Character.-sarah E
tsbe obedienee io IsSsmes Frederick Rid
,f1s fhe Tie Power q Verse to Perpetuate-uelen F
a s~ DJ~ SsRss W sssss9 Human
AXE s6aEesPSa1e q : Tsasheros History-Enna
!; to T1iiHbls, TazeWen County. @ r,+z x.-; ozr,
yet r:,S SacK m 20 your a1tn -~bs'nel Atnt" opfa
,oes ,oes Thu Power Of Exanple-Losan Holt Ro
end Vledic,oIy- Elizabeth Carleton, Pike Coup
sist- CLASS SoEG-(Selected)
ure AWARDING D1rLoaAs
II PRAY EK-RcV. /. Il. Pitner.-
Of The Board of Education hold their last
1pa- siors the latter part Of to-day. This eVe1
8 IN there will be 4 graduates reception held st
r 81 University.
s. In closing tomorrow my reports Of
ceedings, shall, as the best manner of Sal
th14 space, mass together the matter which ag
h;s gate around each, and after the course l
ava adopted heretofore, present results intel
fri,f Ing to the public RATHER thsn enter into de
ar If which have but 8 momentary and q lin
tha local and personal interest.
the PROF. TURNER'S LECTURE.
4ha I ought to more than mention the IA,
,enI the lecture upon The dud2ancts Of the 6
= ~ and its relation TO the dir, Earth ard Ssa.
-+ba; reputation OF Prof Turner, and his thoro
thaT. manner Of Investigating and presenting any
his J} 49, 49, ~ - ~ "Sit anomn suet e as
20 be asnoe1 s* ~ tepue unnsses3y nIt W
,arti- gseas ~ si a@aheaeu tsat " ts1s tecsuI
with ne .nas " VEL ~ IL a1YH
a. sn0 following brief abstrsct:
The discourse assumed all the facts of +
ita9 geography as reported by Lieut.. II
s62. and others and Illustrated In our best char
the oceanic currents, and accounted for
field, on the ground of Whist was called for VIA
best better name the II s4,ulancAe Of the OK
ener. Or the perpetual and inevitable sliding doV
end ~ rt~-$