The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-07-10
Entomology.
To the Editor of the Dallas Herald:

The science OF entomology ha
heretofore been of lit.lc practica
benefit to the industrial world; on
thusiasts have spent their time an,
money in gathering specimens o
the insect tribes for themselves o.
the museums Of scientific institu
tions; they have employed all tn,
resources of ingenuity and patience
in studying whatever pc, tains t.
the habits, propagation, etc, O
every variety OF inscals, and Us
signed TO them their generic and
specific names; yet. in these utiita
rian times, it may be well asked
"CM Bonof"
Tho visitatons of the voracious
locusts during the past two years
have certainly afforded entomolo.
gists n glorious opportunity to ex
hibit to the world some evidence
that their favorite science is capable
of more practical results than to
stock museums, or to afford the
means of amusement and a livelihood
to college professors. All the labors
and publications of the entomolo-
gist in the pay of the State of Mis-.
souri, have furnished no means to
arrest the march of the countless
grasshoppers, and but for Provi-
dence and according to some) the
proclamation of the Governor of
Missouri, this pest would today be
still ravaging the vast and fertile
lands Of the West and Northwest.
desire, however, to make one
exception in favor Of Il gentleman
who, year and u half ago, came
from Switzerland and made his
home here, surrounded by his chill
dren and numerous and most
worthy relatives, refer to Prof
Jacob Boil, an enthusiast in ctymol-
ogy. A few months ago he carried
with him to Europe very large
collection Of insects, destined for the
museums of Berlin, Dresden, Wen
ma, st, Petersburg, and other cities
where he was greatly comp.imented
for the skiIlful and scientific mode
of preserving and arranging his
specimens.
1t is well known that the vine
yards of France, Germany, Switzer-
land, and other countries have II foe
which, beginning about ten years
ago, has threatened to sap and to
destroy the means of u livelihood of
Of people. | refer to the
or grapelouse, an insect
which lives about the root of the
vine, and by boring into it accom-
plishes its final destruction. France
has u standing reward Of
\ half million Of francs for
m effective mode of destroy
ing this pest. During Mr.. Boll's
extensive travels, his philosophic
mind, thoroughly familiar with the
habits of this insect, approached, rs
he thinks, the solution Of this diff
cult problem. He had observed
that the owners of orchards and
in the vicinity of towns
and cities, using stone coal for fuel,
often employed coal ashes around
,he roots of their fruit trees and
,rapevines as a fertilizer, or as a
destroyer of insects; and as far as
his observations extended, vine
yards thus treated were exempt
rom tho devastations of the phyllo-
EZRA. Before this he had become
thoroughly conTinced that to make
var upon the insect after its pres
,nce is demonstrated by the sickly
appearance of the vine, would be
,ut locking the stable after the
lorse has been stolen; and that the
,nly effective mode would be to
'ender the soil about tho roots OBJ
loxiols to the insect. No doubt,
many chemical substances would
accomplish that object; but these
would also be deleterious to the
liant, which while stone-coal ashes
ave rather tendency to stimulate
Is growth. He attributes their
fleet on the phyllocera to the fact
hat ashes are powerful absorbents
# moisture, and that this insect, us
5 well known, can exist only in a
amp soil.
Mr.. Boil accordingly addressed
communications to the governments
f France, Prussia and other wine-
rowing countries, and also im-
'arted his theory to many of the
rst scientists of Europe. He has
lready received most gratifying
roofs of the high valae placed upon
is researches, and has also been as
ured by the highest authorities
hat his theory shall be thoroughly
ested in the coming season, and
hat he will be duly Informed of the
esult.
Prof Boil desires to furnish, at the
roper time, TO the public, a CON-
'lete outline of his important dis.
ovcry, the successful establishment
f which will place his name by the
ide of tho greatest benefactors of
lis race, and may impart an impulse
o the investigations in this branch
f science, leading towards more
PRACTICAL and beneficent results than
heretofore.
After listening to his profound
easoning and shrewd observations,
ne cannot but admit that his deduc-
ions are correct, and that the result
Vill fully justify all bis expecta-
ions. H. W. A.
Dallas, June 80, 1876.
PIANQ DarITN COTTNTy l |