EARWIGS AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION.

Evening Star, Issue 19795, 20 February 1928, Page 10

EARWIGS AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION.

TO TH IS EDITOR.

Sir, —Regarding the above caption, an American friend, in describing to me the work of a certain university in the States which included among its activities a correspondence department, regretted that this institution had. since the war, been swallowed up by a larger neighboring institution. In pre-war

days it was a regular part of the work of this university to place its staff at the service of the ordinary citizen, who was entitled to write to the university in any difficulty—agricultural, sanitary, mechanical, or otherwise—provided, one understands, that the subject was of sufficient importance. If the information was immediately available it was supplied forthwith; if not, an effort was made to obtain it even at cost of considerable effort. Around our local University and lor a considerable area beyond the amount of devastation wrought for the last twelve or fifteen years by the earwig alone would, if saved, have been almost sufficient to endow a chair in one of our university colleges. One winders what kind of reception the ordinary citizen—the man who foots the bill—would meet were ho to write a letter of inquiry on this subject to the Registrar of the University or to the biological department. Would the men wdio are “ above the battle ” be interested to know' that many hours that ought to be devoted to _ actual gardening arc devoted to trapping and collecting the energetic earwig? Not content with depredations in the garden, this creature often enters the house via the drain pipe or even the weekly wash. It penetrates into the larder, until one often wonders whether one is supping soup or concentrated extract of earwig. This last fear has to some extent been removed in my own case, since the luscious lettuce and the tasty viands provided by more expensive plants have proved a greater attraction to the invaders. Lately we have read with interest and appreciation of the work of Dr Tillynrd. Is it too much to ask it the doctor or another worker at the Cawthron Institute has given any attention to this persistent and intelligent creature? Could be tell us if the present earwig is removed or caught away Irom home whether a foster mother can hatch its eggs? In view ot the somewhat wide area affected, is the laying of traps and arduous collecting of the insects of any use? Will the contents of the homely kettle be as swift and certain to destroy the eggs as it docs the parent? Lnst y, is there any hope of a pension lor those who wag© war on these Huns? If so, the writer, who has destroyed not battalions, hut whole armies, looks forward to a peaceful and carefree Old .Age. February 18.