1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT- -No. 73. 171 



laboratory. To meet this need a number of students from vari- 

 ous .colleges were employed, experience having shown that this 

 class of help was particularly efficient Our permanent force 

 has been increased by the employment of Mr. Frederick B. 

 Lowe, an entomologist favorably known in England and in 

 western Australia, where he was actively engaged in the work 

 of propagating parasites of injurious insects. It will probably 

 be advisable to make further additions to the permanent force 

 at the laboratory, as the work is now in such shape that a few 

 well-trained entomologists can be profitably employed through- 

 out the year. Now that we have a better knowledge of the most 

 important species of parasites of the moths, more attention must 

 be given to studying carefully the life history of these parasites 

 and improving the methods for their propagation and dissem- 

 ination. This work calls for a high grade of technical skill, and 

 only well-trained entomologists should be employed. 



The trip to Europe made by Dr. Howard last summer was 

 more productive of valuable results than either of the two pre- 

 vious trips. Not only was he able to give important directions 

 to collectors already employed, but he also secured the services 

 of a considerable number of additional assistants, and arranged 

 for the first time for the shipment of parasitic material from 

 Russia, a source of supply previously unexplored. The im- 

 portant details of his journey are given elsewhere in this report. 

 It was only too apparent during the summer season of 1907 

 that the facilities for work at the Saugus laboratory had become 

 badly outgrown. The proper examination and rearing of the 

 parasites requires absolutely tight rooms of considerable size, 

 a condition not available at the Saugus building ; while the 

 rapid accumulation of valuable parasitic material there empha- 

 sized the need of better fire protection. To meet this condition 

 of affairs, a large house with ample grounds, at Melrose, Mass., 

 close by a badly infested region, has been leased for a term of 

 years. The building has been remodeled as far as necessary 

 to fit it for our work, and two suitable outdoor laboratories, 

 properly screened and ventilated, have been built under the 

 direction of Mr. Fiske. Here excellent fire protection obtains, 

 while the accessibility of the laboratory to the central office will 

 effect a considerable saving in the time formerly required for 

 forwarding shipments received from abroad. 



