THE PRESENT POSITION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 439 



of the insects that will feed on our common plants, or, if you prefer, of all 

 the food plants of each of our common insects. 



I have not mentioned any of those questions connected with insects 

 attacking stored grain, timbers, etc., i.e. insects that do not feed on plants. 

 This would needlessly complicate this paper, as their importance is 

 secondary to the pests of crops. 



I have in a very hasty and imperfect manner reviewed our position in 

 Entomology ; I have intentionally brought up those branches that are of 

 greatest importance to the economic entomologist and omitted very 

 much in my incomplete division of the subject. 



It is now necessary to turn to the allied subjects which are involved in 

 the whole question, before we can review our position. 



4. AGRICULTURE. 



The condition of agricultural science will largely determine our position 

 in economic entomology and it is refreshing to have to deal with a 

 science that stands at a high level of proficiency. The crops of this coun- 

 try are known and studied, botanically as well as agriculturally ; so far 

 as our work carries us into agriculture, there is no lack of information. 

 Not only information, but facilities in the way of trained men on the 

 experimental farms where the crops are grown and studied with a view 

 to finding the best conditions for them. We do not need to go deeply 

 into the problems of agriculture ; our need is rather that of reliable 

 information concerning the usual agricultural practice ; so far as the 

 entomological affects and is affected by the agricultural, we are on sure 

 ground. 



It is generally not realised how large is the effect of the " agricultural" 

 side in the treatment of insect pests ; it is a common belief that once an 

 insect is known, and its life history worked out, the best methods for deal- 

 ing with it must necessarily follow from that knowledge, independently 

 of the way in which the crop is grown. 



That is not so ; a remedy is good in proportion as it is adapted to the 

 crops and to the conditions under which that crop is grown. A large 

 portion of the practical work consists in adapting standard methods to the 

 existing agricultural practice, or in modifying that practice so as to 

 influence some insect pest. 



Many fine remedies are thought of when an insect pest is studied in 

 the laboratory, which are useless when tested in the field ; unfortunately 



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