Chapter I: Preface

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The idea that Miss Ormerod should write her biography originated with the present writer during one of many visits paid to her at St. Albans. Miss Ormerod had unfolded in charming language and with admirable lucidity and fluency some interesting chapters of her personal experiences and reminiscences. The first working plan of the project involved the concealment of a shorthand writer behind a screen in the dining-room while dinner was proceeding, and while the examination of ethnological specimens or other attractive objects gave place for a time to general conversation on subjects grown interesting by age. Although the shorthand writer was selected and is several times referred to in letters written about this period (pp. 304-307), Miss Ormerod, on due reflection, felt that the presence, though unseen, of a stranger at these meetings _in camera_ would make the position unnatural, and dislocate the association of ideas to the detriment of the narrative.

She then bethought herself of the method of writing down at leisure moments, from time to time as a suitable subject occurred to her, rough notes (p. 318) to be elaborated later, and when after a time a subject had been exhausted, the rough notes were re-written and welded into a narrative (pp. 304-321). Some four or five of the early chapters were thus treated and then typewritten, but the remainder of the Autobiography was left in crude form, requiring much piecing together and editorial trimming. Had the book been produced on the original plan, it was proposed to name it “Recollections of Changing Times.”[1] It would have dealt with a number of subjects of general interest, such as the history of the Post Office, early records of floods and earthquakes, as well as newspapers of early date. The introduction of Miss Ormerod’s letters to a few of her leading correspondents was made necessary by the lack of other suitable material. The present volume is still mainly the product of Miss Ormerod’s pen, but with few exceptions general subjects have been eliminated; and it forms much more a record of her works and ways than it would have done had she been spared to complete it. From the inception of the idea the present writer was appointed editor, but had Miss Ormerod lived to see the book in the hands of the public his share of work would have been light indeed. Armed with absolute authority from her (p. 318) to use his discretion in the work, he has exercised his editorial license in making minor alterations without brackets or other evidences of the editorial pen, while at the same time the integrity of the substance has been jealously guarded.

As in Miss Ormerod’s correspondence with experts only scientific names for insects and other scientific objects were employed, it was found expedient to introduce the common names within ordinary or round brackets. Much thought and care have been given to the arrangement of the letters, and a sort of compromise was adopted of three different methods that came up for consideration, viz., (1) according to chronological order, (2) according to the subjects discussed, and (3) grouping under the names of the individuals to whom they were addressed. While the third is the predominant feature of the scheme the chronological order has been maintained within the personal groups, and precedence in the book was generally given to the letters of the oldest date. At the same time, to complete a subject in one group written mainly to one correspondent, letters dealing with the subject under discussion have been borrowed from their natural places under the heading of “Letters to Dr. ——” or “Letters to Mr. ——.” While Miss Ormerod’s practice of referring to matters of minor importance and of purely personal interest in correspondence dealing mainly with definite lines of scientific research, has not been interfered with in a few instances, in most of the other groups of letters on technical subjects editorial pruning was freely practised to prevent confusion and to concentrate the subject matter. The chief exceptions occur in the voluminous and interesting correspondence with Dr. Fletcher, in her specially confidential letters to Dr. Bethune, and in the very general correspondence with the editor. It was felt that to remove more of the friendly references and passing general remarks to her correspondents would have been to invalidate the letters and show the writer of them in a character alien to her own.

The figures of insects which have been introduced into the correspondence, to lighten it and increase its interest to the reader, have been chiefly borrowed from Miss Ormerod’s published works; and among them will be found a number of illustrations from Curtis’s “Farm Insects,” for the use of which her acknowledgments were fully given to Messrs. Blackie, the publishers.[2] The contents of this volume will afford ample evidence of Miss Ormerod’s intense interest in her subject, of the infinite pains she took to investigate the causes of injury, and of the untiring and unceasing efforts she employed to accomplish her object; also that her determinations relative to the causes and nature of parasitic attacks upon crops, give proof of soundness of judgment, and her advice, chiefly connected with remedial and preventive treatment, was eminently sensible and practical. Mainly by correspondence of the most friendly kind she formed a unique connecting link between economic entomologists in all parts of the world; and she quoted their various opinions to one another very often in support of her own preconceived ideas.

The three biographical chapters, III., XI., and XII., were added to the autobiographical statements which she had left, with the object merely of supplying some missing personal incidents in an interesting life. Other deficiencies in the Autobiography are made up by Miss Ormerod’s correspondence, and the history of her work is permitted to evolve from her own letters.

A strong vein of humour runs through many parts of her writings, notably in the chapter on “Church and Parish.” The reader will not fail to notice the splendid courtesy and deference to scientific authority, as well as the fullest appreciation of and unselfish sympathy with the genuine scientific work of others, which pervades all she wrote. Prominent among these characteristics of Miss Ormerod should be placed her scrupulous honesty of purpose in acknowledging to the fullest extent the work of others.

The work of collecting material, sifting, and editing has been going on for nearly two years, and could never have been accomplished but for the kindly help rendered by so many of Miss Ormerod’s correspondents, all of whom I now cordially thank for invaluable sympathetic assistance. Special acknowledgments are due to Sir Wm. Henry Marling, Bart., the present owner of Sedbury Park, and to Miss Ormerod’s nephews and nieces, who have been delighted to render such assistance as could not have been found outside the family circle. Besides Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. Janson, Dr. Stewart MacDougall, Professor Hudson Beare, and Mr. T. P. Newman who read the proofs critically, last, but not least, do I thank Mr. John Murray, whose friendly reception of the first overtures made to him as the prospective publisher of this volume brightened some of the dark moments near the close of Miss Ormerod’s life. I have had as editor the much appreciated privilege of drawing, in all cases of difficulty, upon Mr. Murray’s great literary experience.

In making these pleasing acknowledgments I in no way wish to shift the responsibility as Editor from my own shoulders for defects which may be discovered or for the general scheme of the work, which was, with slight modifications, my own. If it be said in criticism that the Editor is too little in evidence, I shall be all the more satisfied, as that has been throughout one of his leading aims.

ROBERT WALLACE.

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH,

1904.

LIST OF ERRATA.

Page 70, line 31, for “Tenebroides” read “Tenebrioides”.

Page 130, line 11, for “Ceutorhyncus” read “Ceuthorhyncus”.

Page 130 in description of Fig. 14, for “CEUTORHYNCUS” read
“CEUTHORHYNCUS”.

Page 144, line 7, for “importad” read “imported”.

Page 185, line 1, for “Lucania” read “Leucania”.

=Transcriber’s note:=

These errata have been applied to this Project Gutenberg text.

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CONTENTS

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CHAPTER I

PAGE

BIRTH, CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION: Born at Sedbury Park, May, 1
1828—recollections of early childhood—First insect
observation—Girlish occupations—Education of the
family—Eleanor Ormerod’s education at home by her
mother—Interests during hours of leisure.

CHAPTER II

PARENTAGE: Localities of Sedbury Park and Tyldesley, the 7
properties of George Ormerod—Roman remains—The family of
Ormerod since 1311—Three George Ormerods of Bury—Reference
to “Parentalia” by George Ormerod—The alliance of the
family with the heiress, Elizabeth Johnson of
Tyldesley—“Tyldesley’s” experiences during the Stewart
rebellion in 1745—Descent from Thomas Johnson of
Tyldesley—George Ormerod, father of Miss Ormerod—John
Latham, fellow and president of the Royal College of
Physicians, London, maternal grandfather of Miss
Ormerod—Connection with the Ardernes of Alvanley and
descent from Edward I.—The right of the Ormerod family to
the “Port Fellowship” of Brasenose College.

CHAPTER III

REMINISCENCES OF SEDBURY BY MISS DIANA LATHAM: The Ormerod 14
family of ten—The father and mother and their respective
interests in literature and art—Sedbury Park and the
hobbies of its inmates—Paucity of congenial
neighbours—Annual visit to London—Drives and
Excursions—The elder and the younger sections of the
family—Eleanor Ormerod’s favourite sister,
Georgiana—Interest in natural history and medicine—Miss
Ormerod at twenty-five—Routine of life at Sedbury—Drawings
by Mrs. Ormerod—The Library—Music—Models—Separation of the
family.

CHAPTER IV

CHURCH AND PARISH: Tidenham parish church—Leaden font—The 20
Norman Chapel of Llancaut—The history of Tidenham
Church—Curious practices in neighbouring churches—The
church as schoolroom—Pretty customs on special
occasions—The discomforts of the usual service—The choral
service on high days—No reminiscences of precocious
piety—Impressions of sermons by Scobell and
Whately—Clerical eccentricities in dress, &c.—The Oxford
Movement—Dr. Armstrong—Raising the latch of the chancel
door with a ruler—The woman’s Clothing Club of the
parish—Lending library instituted and successfully managed
by Miss G. E. Ormerod—Her accomplishments and merits as a
philanthropist.

CHAPTER V

SEVERN AND WYE: “Forest Peninsula” between Severn and 33
Wye—Ruined chapel of St. Tecla—Muddy experiences—Scenery
on the Severn—Rise of Tides—Colour and width of the
river—Sailing merchant fleet to and from Gloucester—A
“pill” or creek—Salmon fishing from boats—“Putcher” or
basket fishing—Disorderly conduct by fishermen—Finds of
Natural History specimens in fishing baskets—Severn clay
or “mud”—A bottle-nosed whale—Seaweeds—Fossils from
Sedbury cliffs—Saurian remains—Dangers of the cliffs.

CHAPTER VI

TRAVELLING BY COACH, FERRY, AND RAILWAY: Many coaches 43
passing Sedbury Park gates—Dangers of travelling—View of
the Severn valley—The Old Ferry passage of the
Severn—Swamping of a sailing boat in 1838—A strange custom
when rabies was feared—Window-shutter-like ferry
telegraph—The ferry piers—The first railways—Curious early
train experiences.

CHAPTER VII

CHARTIST RISING IN MONMOUTHSHIRE IN 1839: Chartist rising in 47
Monmouth under John Frost, ex-draper of Newport—Home
experience—Defenceless state of Sedbury house—Trial and
sentence of the leaders—Reminiscences of
troubles—Attorney-General’s address to the jury—Physical
features of the disturbed area—Plan of the rising—Prompt
action of the Mayor of Newport—Thirty soldiers stationed
in the Westgate Hotel—Advance of 5,000 rioters—Their
spirited repulse and dispersal—Arrest and punishment of
Frost and other leaders.

CHAPTER VIII

BEGINNING THE STUDY OF ENTOMOLOGY, COLLECTIONS OF ECONOMIC 53
ENTOMOLOGICAL SPECIMENS, AND FAMILY DISPERSAL: Beginning
of Entomology 1852—A rare locust—Purchase of Stephen’s
“Manual of British Beetles”—Method of
self-instruction—First collection of Economic Entomology
specimens sent to Paris—Facilities at Sedbury for
collection—Aid given by labourers and their children in
collecting—Illness and death of Miss Ormerod’s
father—Succession and early death of Venerable Thomas J.
Ormerod—Succession of the Rev. G. T. B. Ormerod—Miss
Ormerod’s brothers—Especial copy of “History of Cheshire”
presented to the Bodleian Library—A family heirloom.

CHAPTER IX

COMMENCEMENT AND PROGRESS OF ANNUAL REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS 59
OF INJURIOUS INSECTS: Preliminary pamphlet issued in
1877—Explanation of the objects aimed at—Approval of the
public and of the press—Changes in the original
arrangement of the subject matter—Classification of facts
under headings arranged in 1881—Sources of information
stated and fully acknowledged—Adoption of plain and simple
language—Illustrations of first importance—Blackie & Sons
supply electros of wood engravings from Curtis’s “Farm
Insects”—The brothers Knight assist—Accumulation of
knowledge—General Index to Annual Reports by
Newstead—Manual of Injurious Insects and other
publications—Notice of the discontinuance of the Annual
Reports in the Report for 1900—“Times” notice of “Miss
Ormerod’s partial retirement from Entomological Work,” in
Appendix B.

CHAPTER X

SAMPLES OF LEGAL EXPERIENCES: First employment as an expert 68
witness in 1889—Case of Wilkinson _v._ The Houghton Main
Colliery Company, Limited—Form of subpœna—Rusty-red flour
beetle infestation in a cargo of flour transported from
New York to Durban—Report on insect presence—Confirmed by
Oliver Janson and a Washington expert—A compromise
effected—Case of granary weevil infestation in a cargo of
flour from San Francisco to Westport—Letter of thanks from
William Simpson of R. & H. Hall, Limited.

CHAPTER XI

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH BY THE EDITOR: Reasons for changes of 73
residence—Intimacy with Sir Joseph and Lady Hooker at
Kew—Interesting people met there—Appointed Consulting
Entomologist to the Royal Agricultural Society of
England—Insect diagrams—Serious carriage accident—Methods
adopted in doing entomological work—As a meteorological
observer—Professor Westwood as friendly
mentor—Appreciation of work by foreign correspondents.

CHAPTER XII

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH BY THE EDITOR (_continued_): Public 83
lectures at the Royal Agricultural College—Reasons why
lecturing was ultimately discontinued—Lectures at South
Kensington and other places—The Economic Entomology
Committee—Simplicity of Miss Ormerod’s home life before
and after her sister’s death—Programme of daily
work—Welcome guests—Intimate friends—Sense of humour—Story
of a hornet’s capture—Proofs of courage—Historical oaks at
Sedbury—Fond of children and thoughtful of
employees—Charity—Public liberality—Subsidiary employments
and amusements—Made LL.D.—Fellowships of
societies—Medals—Treatment of letters.

CHAPTER XIII

LETTERS TO COLONEL COUSSMAKER AND MR. ROBERT SERVICE: 99
(_Coussmaker_) Insect diagrams Royal Agricultural
Society—Surface caterpillars—Wood leopard moth—Puss moth.
(_Service_)—Paper by “Mabie Moss” on hill-grubs of the
Antler moth—The pest checked by parasites.

CHAPTER XIV

LETTERS TO MR. WM. BAILEY: Mr. Bailey’s letter to H.G. the 109
Duke of Westminster on Ox warble fly—Letter showing the
destruction of Ox warbles by the boys—R.A.S.E.
recognition—Annual letter and cheque for five guineas for
prizes in insect work—Looper caterpillars—Mr. Bailey’s
method of teaching agricultural entomology—Economic
entomology exhibit at Bath and West Society’s Show, St.
Albans—Examinership at Edinburgh University—The royal
party at the show—Cheese-fly maggot—Copies of Manual for
free distribution—Presentation slips—LL.D. of the
University of Edinburgh—Discontinuing colleagueship.

CHAPTER XV

LETTERS TO MR. D. D. GIBB: Great tortoiseshell butterfly 128
infestation—Charlock weevil—Gout fly—Forest fly—Structure
of its foot—Great gadfly—Horse breeze flies—Deer forest
fly in Scotland—Sheep forest fly—Hessian fly and elbowed
wheat straw—Bean-seed beetles—Millepedes—American
blight—Brickdust-like deposit on apple trees—Insect cases
for the show at St. Albans—Specimens of forest fly
chloroformed—Death from fly poisoning—Looper
caterpillars—Diamond-back moth—Corn sawfly.

CHAPTER XVI

LETTERS TO MR. GRIMSHAW, MR. WISE, AND MR. TEGETMEIER 149
(_Grimshaw_) The Red-bearded botfly—Deer forest fly—Ox and
deer warble flies. (_Wise_) Case of caddis worms injuring
cress-beds—Enemies and means of prevention—Moles—Black
currant mites—Biggs’ prevention—Dr. Nalepa’s
views—Attack-resisting varieties of currants from
Budapest—Dr. Ritzema Bos’s views—Mite-proof
currants—Woburn report on gall mites—Narcissus fly—Lappet
moth caterpillars. (_Tegetmeier_) Scheme of Miss Ormerod’s
leaflet on the house sparrow plague—Earlier
authorities—Enormous success of the free distribution of
the leaflet—Miss Carrington’s opposition pamphlet—One
hundred letters in a day received—Unfounded nature of
opposition exposed, including Scripture reference to
sparrows—Fashionable support—1,500 letters classified and
100 filed for future use—“The House Sparrow” by W. B.
Tegetmeier, with Appendix by Eleanor A. Ormerod.

CHAPTER XVII

LETTERS TO MR. MARTIN, MR. GEORGE, MR. CONNOLD, AND MESSRS. 169
COLEMAN AND SONS: (_Martin_) Elm-bark beetle—Ash-bark
beetle—Large ash-bark beetle—Galleries—Preventive measure.
(_George_) Mason bee—Roman coin found near Sedbury—Samian
cup—The family grave. (_Connold_)—Pocket or bladder
plums—Professor Ward describes the fungus—Dr. Nalepa’s
publications. (_Coleman and Sons_) Attack of caterpillars
of the silver Y-moth—Origin of the name.

CHAPTER XVIII

LETTERS TO PROFESSOR RILEY AND DR. HOWARD: (_Riley_) Flour 179
moth caterpillars—Differences of mineral oils—Trapping the
winter moth—Orchard growers Experimental Committee.
(_Howard_) John Curtis, Author of “Farm Insects”—Advance
of Economic Entomology—C. P. Lounsbury, Cape Town—Sparrow
Leaflet—Shot-borer beetles—Fly weevil—Lesser
earwig—Handbook of Orchard Insects—General Index—Flour
Moths—Snail-slug—Flat-worm—Tick—Degree of LL.D. of
Edinburgh University.

CHAPTER XIX

LETTERS TO DR. J. FLETCHER: Dr. Voelcker’s gas lime 195
pamphlet—Honorary membership of Entomological Society of
Ontario—Ostrich fly—“Silver-top” in wheat—The
“Crowder”—Mill or flour moth—Shot-borers—Progress of
Agricultural Entomology—Paris-green as an insecticide—End
of Board of Agriculture work—“Manual of Injurious
Insects”—Fruit-growers’ associations—Lesson book for
village schools—Entomology lectures in Edinburgh—Stem
eel-worms—Miss Georgiana’s insect diagrams—Mr. A.
Crawford’s death in Adelaide—Diamond-back moth—Insects
survive freezing—Resigned post of Consulting Entomologist
of R.A.S.E.—Finger and toe—Baroness Burdett-Coutts—Gall
and club-roots—Currant scale—Mustard beetle—Professor
Riley.

CHAPTER XX

LETTERS TO DR. J. FLETCHER (_continued_) AND TO DR. BETHUNE: 217
(_Fletcher_) Foreign authorities in correspondence—Dr.
Nalepa’s books—Silk moths—Red spider—Formalin as a
disinfectant—Professor Riley’s resignation—“Agricultural
Zoology” by Dr. Ritzema Bos—Ground Beetles on
Strawberries—Timberman beetle—Proposal to endow
Agricultural lectureship in Oxford or Cambridge—Legacy of
£5,000 to Edinburgh University—Woburn Experimental Fruit
Grounds—Insects in a mild winter—Index of Annual
Reports—“Recent additions” by Dr. Fletcher—Proposed book
on “Forest Insects” conjointly with Dr. MacDougall.
(_Bethune_) Proffered help after a fire—Eye
trouble—Locusts in Alfalfa from Buenos Aires—Handbook of
Orchard Insects—Rare attacks on mangolds and
strawberries—Pressure of work—Death of Dr.
Lintner—Sympathy to Mr. Bethune.

CHAPTER XXI

LETTERS FROM DRS. RITZEMA BOS, SCHÖYEN, REUTER, AND NALEPA, 232
MR. LOUNSBURY AND MR. FULLER: (_Ritzema Bos_) Stem
eel-worms—Cockchafer—Root-knot eel-worm—Black lady-bird
feeding on Red spider—Eyed lady-bird—Professor Westwood on
larvæ of Staphylinidæ. (_Schöyen_) Explanation of
resignation of R.A.S.E. work—Wheat midge—Hessian
fly—Wasps—San José scale—Mr. Newstead’s opinion.
(_Reuter_) Hessian fly—Accept reports on Economic
Entomology—Norwegian dictionary received and successfully
used—Antler moth—Paris-green pamphlet—Swedish grammar—Work
on Cecidomyia by Reuter—Forest fly—“Silver-top” in wheat
probably due to thrips. (_Nalepa_) Gall mites.
(_Lounsbury_) Boot beetle—First report from
Capetown—Supplies electros for future reports—Mr. Fuller
goes to Natal—Pleased to receive visits from entomological
friends. (_Fuller_) Experiences in publishing technical
literature.

CHAPTER XXII

LETTERS TO MR. JANSON AND MR. MEDD: (_Janson_) Deer forest 259
flies—Identification confirmed by Professor Joseph
Mik—Flour or mill moth—Granary Weevils—Shot-borer
beetles—Pine beetles—Contemplated removal to
Brighton—Grouse fly from a lamb—Cheese and bacon fly—Case
of rust-red flour beetle—Willow beetles—White
ants—Bean-seed beetles—Sapwood beetle—Death of Professor
Mik. (_Medd_) Agricultural Education Committee joined
reluctantly on account of pressure of Entomological
work—Sympathy expressed with desire to improve “nature
teaching” in rural districts—One hundred copies of the
Manual and many leaflets presented—Proposed simple paper
on common fly attacks on live stock—Objection to the
Water-baby leaflet of the committee—Paper on wasps in the
“Rural Reader”—Retiral from the Agricultural Education
Committee.

CHAPTER XXIII

LETTERS TO PROFESSOR ROBERT WALLACE BEFORE 1900: “Indian 275
Agriculture”—Wheat screening and washing—Text books of
injurious insects—Grease-banding trees—Dr. Fream—Mosley’s
insect cases—Professor Westwood of Oxford—“Australian
Agriculture”—Text-book “Agricultural
Entomology”—Entomology in Cape Colony—Appointment as
University Examiner in Agricultural
Entomology—Presentation of Economic Entomology Exhibit to
Edinburgh University—Death of Miss Georgiana Ormerod—Pine
and Elm beetles—Index of the first series of Annual
Reports.

CHAPTER XXIV

LETTERS TO PROFESSOR WALLACE ON THE LL.D. OF THE UNIVERSITY 287
OF EDINBURGH: Proposal of the Senatus of Edinburgh
University to confer the LL.D. on Miss E. A. Ormerod as
the first woman honorary graduate—Great appreciation of
the prospective honour as giving a stamp of the highest
distinction to her life’s work—Detailed arrangements
preparing for graduation—Miss Ormerod’s books presented to
the University Library—Successful journey to
Edinburgh—Stay at Balmoral Hotel—Letter of thanks for
personal attention sent after the event—Howard’s views of
the honour to Economic Entomology, and of the value of the
Edinburgh LL.D.—Slight chill on the return journey.

CHAPTER XXV

LETTERS TO PROFESSOR WALLACE AFTER THE GRADUATION: 299
Congratulations by the London Farmers’ Club—Agricultural
education and how to help it—Painting in oil of Miss
Ormerod for the Edinburgh University—Copies of “Manual of
Injurious Insects” for free distribution—Book of sketches
for the University—Photographs by Elliott and Fry—Proposed
“Handbook of Forest Insects” in collaboration with Dr.
MacDougall—Proposed “Recollections of Changing
Times”—Pamphlet on “Flies Injurious to Stock”—Graduation
book—Proofs of “Stock Flies”—Thanks for “Quasi
Cursores”—Digest of an inaugural address on “Famine in
India”—Presentation of the oil painting—_Re_ Sulphate of
copper for Professor Jablonowski—Gall mite experiments on
black-currants—Appreciation of the company in which the
oil painting of Miss Ormerod hangs in the Court Room of
the University.