MAN AND INSECTS — HOWARD 390 



Moreover, there are bacterial diseases of plants and diseases 

 caused by other microorganisms. Upon such diseases tliere has been 

 built up a great branc-h of applied science known in this country as 

 phytopathology.- But it is beginning to be realized that possibly the 

 majority of these plant diseases are carried and spread by insects, and 

 therefore the control of insects becomes doubly important. 



We have not attempted so far to particularize the broad nature ot 

 tlie harm done by insects to the human species. Not only do they 

 consume from 10 to 20 per cent of everything that we try to grow, 

 but they feed upon practically all the storeil foods and upon an 

 infinite number of materials that are of use to us. They also affect 

 seriously the health of man and of all domestic animals; and by the 

 carriage of disease, not only to man but to plants, they intensify 

 greatly the problem as it appeared to us only a few years ago. 



Tliere is no doubt in my mind that the human species, with its 

 intelligence, will eventually meet this great problem, and that it will 

 bring insect life under control, but down to the present time the 

 problem has comparatively been ignored. In future, not only must 

 the minds of scientific men turn in this direction, but many more men 

 must be educated in such a way as to enable them to conduct profit- 

 able research; and, what is more, we must face the fact that we must 

 study our present ways of doing things and particularly our present 

 ways of growing food, and that we must make radical changes in 

 order to bring about the best results. 



Intelligence will win out in the long run; but the hunuin species 

 must turn aside in its race and concentrate a great deal of its " God- 

 given " intelligence on its strongest rival, the insects. 



* In Europe, the term phytopathology Is applied to damage done by iusecta as well as 

 by parasitic microorganisms and viruses. 



