L96 (iYPSV AND 13K< )\\ . \-TAI L MOTHS. [Jan. 



the co-opn-aiion of entomologists and collectors abroad in obtaining 

 material and making helpful observations, is, to my mind, wise and 

 admirable from all points of view. One advantage lies in the fact th.it 

 the successful establishment of natural enemies may speedily remove 

 in a very great extent the necessity for the control measures at present 

 practiced, and thus throw the staff now engaged out of employment. If 

 State empl"\iv> alone were concerned, and all that is hoped for from 

 natural enemies not be realized speedily, it might be argued plausibly, 

 though utterly without truth, that the lack of success was due to failure 

 being in the private interest of the parties supervising the work. Such 

 an argument might lead to a serious delay in getting an appropria- 

 tion, and .ieopardi/e such progress as had been made. Because officers 

 of the federal Bureau have nothing to gain by a continuance of the 

 pests, and on the other hand will achieve much honor in their branch 

 of science if through their assistance these pests are brought under the 

 control of natural checks, their entire bonesty of purpose cannot be 

 questioned. Another advantage in having federal aid is the prestige 

 it secures in dealing with the helpers abroad. Personal experience 

 leads me to emphasize the fact that foreigners as a whole are more in- 

 clined to stand on clique-tie than American.-, and it is nearly always 

 de-irable, in approaching them for assistance on any public matter, to 

 be able to represent one's mission as connected with the highest power, 

 the centra] government, and to have credentials to that effect. The fact 

 that (he United States is not one country, but "many in one." is not 

 well understood over-sea; and service on behalf of the State might be 

 half-hearted, when on behalf of the nation it would be eagerly rendered. 

 For the reasons given, the State is, I think, fortunate in having secured 

 federal aid in the form it has; and it is particularly fortunate in that 

 Dr. Howard, the Chief of the Bureau of- Entomology, is giving the 

 subject his personal attention, he having been to Kurope during three 

 successive seasons for purposes of investigation, and to arrange with 

 numerous parties for the collection and forwarding of material from 

 various localities. Dr. Howard has long been a leading authority on 

 certain groups of parasitic insects, and, by virtue of his occupancy of 



the foremost position in ec mi<- entomology in the world, he is better 



known amongst foreign official entomologists than any other American 

 entomologist ; and much thai lias been simple for him to accomplish in 

 orjani/atioii would. 1 feel sure, have proved difficult to any one else 

 to whom the task might have beep entrusted. 



While in the west a few weeks ago, I heard I hat lion. Ehvood Cooper, 

 Horticultural Commissioner of California, had been in extensive corre- 

 spondence with interested part its in .Massachusetts with reference to 

 natural enemies of the I \\ o pests concerned, and that he made an offer. 

 a few years ago, to have an efferlive parasite for each found and inln>- 

 duced for a sperilicd amoiuif. It was his intention. I was (old, to have 

 Mr. George Compere. ; , pi-nl'essional searcher for insect natural enemies, 



