372 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925 



of Durham, which gives a review of an advanced and encouraging 

 character of our knowledge of " the principles of insect control." 



It so happens, to consider things concretely, that an appropriation 

 bill now before Congress allots for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 

 1925, more than $2,500,000 to the Bureau of Entomology: but of this 

 large amount more than $1,200,000 must be spent on the three specific 

 problems of the gipsy moth, the European corn borer, and the 

 Japanese beetle, in the effort to prevent their spread and to gain at 

 least partial control. And the remaining sums are for the most part 

 to be spent in the study of special crop pests. In other words, at 

 least half of the amount, although it may be continued in future years 

 and will probably be so continued, should really be termed emergency 

 funds — funds appropriated to meet immediate and specific emer- 

 gencies. 



It is an interesting thought that^ looking toward the future^ this 

 large su7n would frohahly he much more productive in the long 

 run if it viere spent in the effort to learn fundamental things along 

 some of the lines we have touched. If this idea seems overdrawn, in 

 view of existing conditions, it is none the less surely true that large 

 sums must be forthcoming to support these greatly needed lines of 

 research. 



Last winter, toward the close of the Cincinnati meeting, I felt 

 growing within me a conviction that we are on the eve of startling 

 discoveries in economic entomology. I spoke of this to several 

 leaders, and found that they shared the feeling. The conviction has 

 been growing since, and may well be realized. But this does not 

 lessen tlie certaintj' that it is our dut}'' to labor diligentlj^ in our 

 efforts to gain a complete understanding of insects. The compara- 

 tive paucity of our present knowledge should be a tremendous 

 incentive. 



The entomologist has come into his own. He is acknowledged 

 and respected by workers in other branches of science. The impor- 

 tance of his labors is recognized by the most important part of the 

 general public. To justify this, and to increase it, demands that 

 we work earnestl^y, that we make a strenuous effort to increase our 

 numbers, and that we broaden our views and our methods. 



