Department of Entomology xlix 



Inspections of work previously done, or preparatory to work which is 

 planned for the future, were made in sixteen cases. Coupled with these 

 were eight conferences with county agents. During the winter and spring 

 eighteen conferences were held with county fuel administrators and others 

 interested in promoting the greater use of wood as fuel. Twenty-four 

 lectures were given, with a total attendance of 1597 — ^three of these being 

 given in connection with farm demonstration schools. A total of 6 1 8 letters 

 were written to persons within the State on subjects relative to forestry. 



Recommendations. — It is the belief of the departmental staff that 

 the most important need in forestry at present is in the line of investi- 

 gation, particularly in the branches of forest utilization and silviculture. 

 The appointment of Assistant Professor Chandler last October, together 

 with his work during the year, constitutes a decided step in advance 

 for this Department, but it also emphasizes more clearly the extent of 

 the field. Particularly in silviculture is the necessity most pressing for 

 a better knowledge of our important timber trees, their life histories, 

 and the laws governing their growth and development. 



Much of this character of study could best be carried out on a forest 

 tract of a few thousand acres, under the exclusive control of the College. 

 During war times retrenchment rather than expansion must of necessity 

 be the motto, but the need for a college forest for experiment and demon- 

 stration should not be forgotten. 



In the meantime, as a part of the Cornell experiment station work, 

 there is ample opportunity in the State for the prosecution of investigations 

 that could not but yield results of the greatest technical value, and often 

 as well lead to direct practical improvements in existing methods. To 

 obtain some of the data that are most essential requires the use of instru- 

 ments of precision. One need of the Department is for this class of 

 equipment. Another need is for a man to attack the problems in 

 silviculture, after the manner in which the Department has begun this 

 year to work out those in forest utilization. 



ENTOMOLOGY 



J. G. Needham, Professor of Entomology and Limnology 



Teaching. — Of the thirty-nine courses offered by the Department of 

 Entomology in its various lines, all have been given save one. The 

 course in beekeeping has been abandoned for the period of the war because 

 the only person on the staff qualified to give it. Professor E. R. King, 

 has entered the United States Aviation Service. 



Thirty-six graduate students have been registered for work in the 

 Department during some part of the year. Many of these have now 

 entered military service. 



