UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 BULLETIN NO. 16. 
 
 Entomology in the College of Agri- 
 culture. 
 
 The study of Entomology has been gradually 
 given a place in the College of Agriculture as a 
 matter of necessity, to meet the pressing needs 
 of the State. Several years since, numerous 
 inquiries from those engaged in various branches 
 of agriculture showed the want of a more def- 
 inite knowledge of insects and their habits, 
 and of methods of combating those which are 
 noxious. These wore met as fully as could be 
 by correspondence, and by publications in pam- 
 phlet form, or in newspapers. 
 
 In this direction h we been Professor Hilgard's 
 pamphlet on the "Phylloxera," with full illus 
 trations, published in 1880, and the writer's 
 contributions to the First Report of the Board 
 of State Horticultural Commissioners, 1882. 
 Mr. F. W. Morse, Analytical Assistant for the 
 College of Agriculture, has for several years 
 made a special study cf the Phylloxera, and has 
 been repeatedly employed by the Board of State 
 Viticultural Commissioners to examine and 
 report upon the 3pread of that pest in California. 
 
 The various members of the College Faculty 
 have also, from time to time, prepared papers 
 and addresses upon entomological subjects, for 
 presentation before horticultural and viticul- 
 tural societies and conventions, and by con- 
 versation with individuals visiting the Univer- 
 sity, or met during expeditions into the country, 
 have done what th^y could to disseminate 
 knowledge upon this important subject. 
 
 Instruction to Students. 
 
 Seeiug the importance of a close acquaintance 
 with insects, injurious and beneficial, to the 
 coming farmers of California, the writer under- 
 took, in addition to the work for which he was 
 engaged, to give a limited course in General 
 and Economic Entomology to students in the 
 College of Agriculture, and such others as might 
 wish to join the class. This was at first experi- 
 mental, but it so far met the approval of the stu- 
 dents, and of the Faculty of the University, that 
 the study was made one of the regular require- 
 ments for Junior year in the College of Agri- 
 culture. Our experience up to this time has 
 shown that more extended work should be done 
 in this department by a professional entomolo- 
 gist. 
 
 Contributions Received. 
 
 The College of Agriculture acknowledges 
 valuable aid in time past from public spirited 
 citizens, who have contributed liberally to 
 strengthen its entomological resources. The 
 Ricksecker collection of several thousand speci- 
 mens of beetles was purchased at a cost of $400, 
 donated by Capt. J. M. McDonald, of San 
 Francisco, Mr. Matthew Cooke, of Sacramento, 
 and Mr. Cutler Paige, of San Francisco. Con- 
 siderable clerical work. etc. . was paid for by 
 
 various sums given during the years 1881 and 
 '82 by the following named gentlemen: R. B. 
 Blowers, J. D. Stevens, A. T. Hatch, John 
 Rock, Jas. Shinn, W. W. Smith, W. H. Jessup, 
 M. T. Brewer & Co., and E. T. Earl. 
 
 Preparation for Teachers. 
 
 There is a very strong feeling growing up that 
 some instruction in the elements of entomology 
 should be given in our public schools. Until 
 there is a more general understanding of the 
 nature of insects and the ways in which they 
 are spread from place to place, there can be lit- 
 tle hope of that general co-operation which is 
 essential in all successful efforts to keep them 
 within bounds. 
 
 At the State Fruit Growers' Convention held 
 in San Francisco in November, 1883, the follow- 
 ing resolution was adopted : 
 
 "Whekeas, The fruit and vine interests bid fair 
 to become the leading industries of this State, 
 
 "Resolved, That we, in convention assembled, as 
 representing the fruit growers of this State, do 
 urgently and earnestly request, pray, and by right 
 demand, the introduction into our public schools of 
 the study of Economic Entomology." 
 
 Endowment of a Professorship, 
 
 The tillers of the soil are by no means the 
 only class of our citizens who are beginning to 
 realize the immense losses which yearly take 
 place through the ravages of insects. Dealers 
 in animal and vegetable products, raw or manu- 
 factured, have these tiny robbers too often 
 brought to mind. Considering the enhanced 
 cost of things which they attack, we may safely 
 claim that every one is interested in the ques- 
 tion of their control. 
 
 At the convention above mentioned the writer 
 presented a paper upon "The Need of a General 
 Knowledge of Insects," and proposed that the 
 want should be met by providing the funds 
 necessary to enable the Regents of this Univer- 
 sity to fill the Chair of Entomology, which they 
 established several years ago. The following 
 words were used: "We ought to have a thor- 
 ough entomologist to teach entomology to our 
 horticulturists and agriculturists generally, and 
 to those who are to become teachers them- 
 selves, as a large number of graduates take that 
 course." "We want the very best man that 
 can be had, * * * who is in the prime of 
 life, so that he has many good years of valuable 
 service to give us, and who will come here with 
 the understanding that he is to be an instructor 
 in entomology as his great work. * * * 
 and who will devote himself in every way to 
 advancing t ntomological instruction and will 
 act for the good of the whole State, beginning, 
 of course, at home. * * * The State has 
 done a great deal for the University of Califor- 
 nia, and I believe it is a proper thing just at 
 ! this juncture for those who specially want 
 1 generalinformationon thesubjectof entomology, 
 to be used in the line of their business, to put 
 
their hands in their pockets, and it is 
 probably a very serious question whether it 
 would not be the very best investment they 
 could make, and put a few hundred, or a thous- 
 and, or five or ten thousand, according as they 
 have been prospered, into an endowment of 
 this chair." "I see gentlemen here who 
 could well have afforded to have done that 
 ten yearB ago." "It would have been thous- 
 ands of dollars in their pockets, and I do not 
 think they will question my figures." "I 
 have known of their spending §1,500 in a 
 month, apiece, in fighting their pests, which 
 they and their neighbors ought to have known 
 all about, and to have stamped out in their 
 incipiency." "Now, this is a serious matter, 
 and I hope that you will give it the most seri- 
 ous consideration. * * * I bring for- 
 ward to you, gentlemen, a practical proposition 
 for the good of the State, not only in future 
 generations, but within your own time." 
 
 The proposition was strongly approved of by 
 Prof. fi. W. Hilgard of the State University, 
 Mr. Matthew Cooke, Dr. S. F. Chapin, and 
 others, and indorsed by vote of the convention. 
 
 The following committee was appointed to 
 consider the proposed endowment, and to solicit 
 contributions towards it; C. H. Dwinelle, Uni- 
 versity of California; Hon. William Johnston, 
 Richland; Dr. S. F. Chapin, State Inspector of 
 Fruit Pests; Matthew Cooke, fix-chief Horti- 
 cultural Officer; A. T. Hatch, Cordelia; E. J. 
 Wickson, Editor Pacific Rural Press. 
 
 The committee estimate the sum needed at 
 fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), a small amount 
 when the interests affected arc considered. 
 
 Enough money has already been promised to 
 to make a respectable nucleus, and all who are 
 inclined to help on the good work, should report 
 at once to some member of the commitee. 
 
 C. H. Dwinelle. 
 
 Berkeley, Sept. 11, I884.