FUTURE OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 177 



and more intelligent generation, better educated by our colleges and by 

 training in agriculture in the elementary schools. Many a farmer to- 

 day, however, would gladly spray or otherwise treat his crops if he 

 knew how, but the details of the processes as usually printed serve only 

 to confuse him, and the necessity for handling and mixing chemicals 

 accurately he feels to be beyond his powers. To help this large class it 

 would seem desirable for each state to organize a traveling force which 

 should go from place to place and at each show how to prepare and 

 apply the different materials most commonly used, together with the 

 different kinds of apparatus for different purposes, thus enabling any 

 one to see for himself how to make and apply the treatments needed. 



It is very possible that this plan may fail to accomplish the desired 

 results, for farmers as a class are notoriously slow to accept new ideas 

 and new methods. Still it is one which has many elements of promise 

 and should receive a thorough trial in all parts of the country before 

 being rejected. 



But where does the economic entomologist stand if this plan fails? 

 For years he has urged, taught and demonstrated spraying methods as 

 effective, and he knows that he is correct. But when his advice is for 

 years persistently rejected by a large proportion of the people, as is still 

 the case, it is certain that the time has noAV come to place economic 

 entomology on a broader and more scientific foundation. 



To accomplish this other lines of work are possible, none of which 

 have as yet been given sufficient consideration. The entomologist who 

 would be successful must soon study more fundamental problems 

 rather than questions of petty detail, for if the fundamental principles 

 are once correctly enunciated the details will then become merelv in- 

 dividual examples and can be quickly and easily solved. 



If man can not be relied upon to combat his insect foes, it is not 

 improbable that nature may be induced to take up the warfare. In 

 some cases it seems probable that careful plant breeding will result 

 in the production of varieties resistant to the attacks of insects, and 

 along this line experimental research promises much. The develop- 

 ment of new plant forms which has been made so prominent recently by 

 the experiments of Burbank and others is very suggestive, and the 

 possibility of producing varieties not attacked by insects seems to have 

 already been demonstrated in one or two cases to some extent. 



In the case of insects having numerous food plants this method be- 

 comes less feasible, and here a scientific study of what may be termed 

 entomological parasitology may prove useful. We must recognize that 

 parasitic protection is never more than partial, but even a partial de- 

 struction of insect pests is of great value. The problem is beset with 

 difficulties because of the existence of parasites on the parasites and. by 

 many other factors, and a single wrong conclusion such as the recent 



VOL. LXXII. — 12. 



