Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-24

working entomologists but of space for breed
ing the different insects Injurious to plants
and those that make war on these
plant enemies; and for the proper preserva-
ton, exhibition of prepared specimens, and
their distribution TO the different State insti-
buttons for purposes of instruction" Until
within s. few years we on this coast have felt
no immediate interest in this division of the
department, for the reason that insects in
furious to agriculture and horticulture
had not made their appearance among
us. But now that our crops are
being threatened in every branch
of agricultural production; that our vineyards
are unsafe from the phylloxera; that our
apples and pears are being deroured by the
larvae of tie codling moth, and that our Or
ange groves ere being injured by the scale
bug, we feel a lively interest in having this
division of The department made as effectual
as means aud skill can make it. The present
ineffective condition of this division may be
seen from the following statement of the
Commissioner. He says in his communica-
ton to the committee:
But few days since I received letters from
North Carolina complaining of an eruption
of new insect-a sort of grasshopper-ex-
ceedingly small, but which is rapidly destroy
ing tle young wheat. 1t is an insect hitherto
unknown there. Now, our funds available
for the purpose are so low that to send an
entomologist there to investigate the matter
l am compelled to beg railroad passes, 10 en-
| - onoo,.ar,lich fra Of +fa do
partment. The entomologist of the depart
ment is now in Florida making an examine
| ton of the scale insects which are affecting
the orange trees of that State. / obtained
railroad passes for him in order to save that
expense, and he has been SO Hospitality re-
eeived by the people of the South that he will
be able TO prolong his stay another month.
Think OF United States officer charged
with so important matter as the investiga-
ton of a cause that is threatening one of the
most important agricultural productions of
the country being obliged to beg passes from
private corporations to enable him to travel
from point to point while engaged In such in
vestigation, and being dependent upon the
hospitality of the people whose crops are
being ruined, for something to eat while
prosecuting his work. The Commis sioner
goes through all the divisions ofthedepartment,
showing the specific defects and needs of each
in so plain and Straightforward a manner as
to convince all who may read his communica-
ton; that he fully appreciates the pres
ent inadequacy of the department to the
wants of the country, and the great value to
the same of the prospective work of the de-
partment, when the needs he suggests shall
have been supplied by the Government He
chooses his communication with this strong
appeal:
All of these needs might be summed up in
single phrase, to wit: The department
needs opportunity opportunity through en-
larged accommodations opportunity through
the expansion of existing divisions; oppor
tunity through the creation of new divisions
This opportunity afforded, and it is safe to
say no other one department of the Govern
ment viii more rebound to the common veal
Alone of all the departments, the Depart
ment of Agriculture can be inadeto reimburse
to the country, if it has not already done so,
ten, twenty, aye, an hundred-fold any ap-
preparation made to it.