In association with this side of the question also were the careful forestry laws of many countries, which, by growing the right trees in the right places, had increased the supplies of timber. Scientists given careful thought and study' to the habits of various insects responsible for damage to fruit trees and valuable plants and had devised protective measures. The life history of the destructive gipsy moth showed that it was {preyed upon by the grub of a certain beetle. Accordingly the beetle was introduced in districts which had suffered from the moth and the beetle did the work of extermination which man had been unable to accomplish A similar battle is now being waged on the fruit trees of California, the growers in that state having enlisted the services of the humble ladybird in the destruction of scale blight. Many insects were of economic value in other ways, such as the Chinese wax insect and the cochineal.
Mr. Sowerby also dealt at some length with the experiments of Eurbank in the crossing of various kinds of fruit and cereals, with re-sultan improvement 1n both quality and quantity. Then, too, there was Meyer, who was drowned some time ago in the Yangtze, who hank many years in ina experimenting with fruits, several of which he sent to America, that country thus gaining many varieties which it had not known before.
Regarding the philosophical side, Mr. Sowerby spoke of the influence of Darwin, Heakel, Mendell and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.