Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-02-14
INTERESTING LETTER FROM PROF,
RILEY.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. %, 1884.
Mr. @. c. Bracket, Secretary Of State HOTticULtlrdL
Society, Laurence, Kansas:
DEAR SIR:-I learn with pleasure that
there is some prospect of the Office of
State EntOmolOgist being created for the
State of Kansas. AS you, by your studies
and Iabors, have probably a full appre-
citation Of the important work which
such an officer may do in a State like
Kansas, 1 take the liberty Of addressing
you these lines in order to urge you, in
the interest of economic entomology, to
do all that you can to bring about the
creation Of such a State officer.
The injury which insects do to all the
chief crops is so well known that it
scarcely needs insisting on and have
shown so often IN earlier publications
heW much larger the average annual loss
is than most persons would suppose who
have not paid particular attention to the
subject, that I will not in this letter en-.
large upon it. The most careful compu-
tation would place the average annual
loss in Kansas alone at several
millions of dollars and the his
tory of economic entomology, espec-
tally during the past ten years,
has shown most COnClusively that a large
portion Of this loss can, by proper and
Intelligent warfare, be saved to the peO-
pie. l know Of no way IN which the
people of the State can be more effect
ually instructed in intelligent and sue
cessful treatment of their insect enemies
than by the labOrs Of a State officer
especially devoted to such work. Every
State suffers from insects peculiar to it,
or that act differently to what they act
in other sections of the country, and in
no branch of agriculture or horticulture
is there greater need of exact and reia-
BILE information than in that which per
tains to their proper protection from in
sect ravages. Successful warfare does
and viii require much original and com
petent investigation IN the field, as well
as nice and discriminating work in the
laboratory, for it is a prOverbial fact that
blunders easily committed and which
result from insufficient knowledge often
cost the farmer the more or less complete
loss of a given crop.
The value of the IabOrs Of a State En-
tOmOlOgist viii depend very largely on
the liberality of the State in eqUipping
such officer. He should be well paid
and have abundant means not only OF
thorough investigation Of anyneW depre-
datO<s, but also ample means of dissem-
mating among the people correct infOr-
nation already obtained and matter Of
record.
AS United States Entomologist I have
/ deeply felt in my work, the need. Of In
/ teIligent cooperation In the several
/ States. In some instances, and in so faI
as the mems afforded by the National
! Government wiz permit, have en-
/ pIoyed field agents in some Of the States
/ but / hope to live TO see the day when
( all those States whose chief wealth yei
/ depends on agriculture VIII have a per
/ manent and competent State EntomOlo-
+ gist with whom I can cooperate In pro
noting work in applied entomology In
al its branches. L am fully convinced
/ that no investment would pay the State
/ better than a few thousand dollars an
nually spent for such a purpose.
/ would state, in conclusion, that the ap
/ pointment of such an officer should bs
made by the Governor only on the
recommendation of the President of eX
isting institutions interested, such as the
State University, the State Board of Agri
culture and the State Horticulture
! Society. Very truly yours,
Q. V. RILEY, EntOmolOgist.