The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-02-25

may oe made that some counties or local
YES nave received no benefit. II will be
nlaln that this IL attributable In large
measure 10 their failure to apply the ways
ana means advised.
FUTURE WORK or THIS DEPART
MENT.
Tho hill under which the present invcs-
tigaton has been conducted provided for
a study OF the BON wcevl primarily and
principally. During the progress OF these
studies It has been found that cotton is
seriously damaged by other insect pests.
one popularity called the sharpshooter, aud
the other the cotton lea or COTTON lis.
these pests have been frequently met with
ana II must be stated are doing tue cotton
crop an untold INJURY each Ncar me cot.
TON hea particularly is inenacing pest
ana IA neglected bids fair TO be MS uestruc-
tive to cation In South Texas us the hul
NevNii, II Is q more cosmopolitan species
aNd VIII spread more rnpldiy aud over Il
greater territory than the hoil wecvil.
Mueh the same applies TO the sharpshooter.
at large are doing the cotton crop as
great an injury rs the boil weevn In the
MceNll districts. This possibility certainly
Justihes the moot careful researches,
Then, too, the graSshorpcr pest is sc.
rious ono IN some sections. The chinch
bug IN the wheat section. The melon
louise and cabbage bugs harass the truck
growers. and these growers are constantly
calling for help and refer.
The fruit industry of our State is mo.
haccd IN some sectlops by several new
pests peculiar &c Texas, and the most
scrutiniztng studies are urgently needed.
Requests aud appeals have come 10 iuo by
tile hundreds from the fruit and truck
growing sections, but have been unable,
under the present law creating my official
duties, TO give them the attention they de.
serve. The State horticultural society and
the various truck growing associations
have passed resolutions urging Il cNntiuu-
n lan ne Il md Qssn Alf IN
for an enlargement OF Its duties ana ca
pacities What consideration should he
given these appeals must be decided hy
those In authority. Attention to these con
ditions Is called here, simply to Indicate
how much important work of this mature
yet remains TO he done, and how much
proper recognition of them. may mean for
the industrial future of the State along
the lines Indicated.
NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
Concerning these, report submitted TO
Colonel l.. l.. Foster, president of the
Agricultural and Mechanical college win
explain the situation. II Is included here
for more specific reference. In quoting II
let It he understood that the recommends.
tions for the further equipment nnd
Strengthening of this department are based
upon the conditions discussed Dotn In the
report and In this supplement, and which
clearly argue for such an establishment
RESOLUTIONS and requests from the various
agricultural and horticultural associations
me recommendations are made In the
spirit OF a citizen largely Interested In
Industrial development, and not from any
personal interest IN professional way.
Following is the report 60 President Foster
above referred too
at present, SO far az equipment and
facilities are concerned, this department
exists mostly IN name. You are aware
that since my appointment as cntomologist
under an act Of the legislature, | have ind
my official office, library, laboratory and
equipment either at my own business Of
ice at Hulen or IN my private room at
the college. Temporary provision for n
recitation room and laboratory were ar
ranged for me for the tail term of lS99
and the spring term of 1900 by the hortl-
cultural department Of the college This
department In Itself Inns been overcrowdcd
Hence. had II not been for my own pr.
v0tc library and working collection Of in.
sects, as well ms my extended personal eA-
pericncc In Texas for the past ten years,
should have been able TO accomplish but
little. You can best Judge OF the condition
Of this department from study OF what
! have designated below MS the actual and
customary equipments for this department
In other agricultural colleges.
81 Office room.
"2 chronological library.
49, collection OF known Insects, both
for reference by the entomologists and for
class work.
"A. Recitation rooms.
20 Laboratory.
sc Laboratory supplies.
~ An insectray.
80. Complete assortment OF spraying
outfits
40. Bacteriological apparatus and LAP,
oratory. for studying insect Diseases and
propGgntlng them.
II. An entomologist
40. An assistant.
81 can with substantial truthfulncss state
that our Agricultural and Mechanical col
lege chronological department lacks all
of them except the entomologist. WhaI
little equipment we have under each mum
Der is Of but little use until further equip
mcnt Is provided. Most OF the twelve
sections enumerated above readily explain
themselves. With reference to the insec
tary, however, | wish 10 state In further
detail that 1t is an especially designed
breeding house for the purpose OF rearing
Insects and studying their food habits. II
il here that beneficial insects are bred
and propagated for distribution. In this
most important equipment we are totally
lacking. My Investigations the present
season has convinced me that rhe Mexican
boil weeyil Of cotton has both natural
parasites and bacterial diseases. me study
of these diseases or the breeding of these
parasites Is impossible, exw't II be In u
well equipped inscctary., Hence, so far
MS our Agricultural and mechanical col
cognition as compared with other similar
institutions, we can only appear inslgnih'
can't and the department should be fully
official connection with this department,
find that almost every section OF the ngrl
cultural industries of this State are In
direct need OF special work upon injn'
rious insects affecting their branch. As
one who Is deeply and directly interested
IN the agricultural resources OF the state
and their development, | am in position
TO know the value and use which this
department Gun be made TO serve in those
connections, and induces me to strongly
urge perfecting II IN every detail
be necessary To make this department,
credible, together with the reasons for
same have been outlined. and the esti
mai al cost Of providing for these Is In
dicaied MS follows:
insect collections are expensive In that
many species frequently can never DC
replaced " lost or destroyed, Many Of
the most valuable reference books and
chronological proceedings will soon be out
Of print, Entomologicnl libraries are al
best expensive, II at all complete. These
facts argue for FIRE proof building. foi
Offices, laboratory, library. and recitation
rooms in connection with this building
the all-lmportant iBsectary can he bull
| ms an adjunct The most improved In
! sectarles are built at a cost OF not less
| than 5000. The department building ~
! above outlined can not properly he pro
| vlded for with less than $4,000 The In
! sect collections large enough ror present
/ needs can be secured Mt $500. The SAINT
| amount will furnish creditable library
| For insectary and laborat DRY equipment
] $1,000 VIII be required. This VIII fneludI
/ microscopes and accessory supplies. ant
/ general equipment for the department
/ For complete spraying outfits OF all tvpel
for experimental and class purposes $1,000