20 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 14 



Institute under the direction of the National Research Council it is hoped that funds 

 will be available for the support of important efforts of this character. 



It is obvious that local circumstances may vary greatly and that different groups 

 of members may have to consider special conditions, which will largely determine 

 the plan of activities. Complete freedom should therefore be allowed members 

 in calling conferences, whether regional or of special interest. Likewise, it may well 

 be left to their discretion to determine the character of the meetings, whether con- 

 ferences or gatherings with definite programs. 



The Committee on Policy approves all such projects, but recommends that no 

 active efforts be undertaken for the establishment of formal branches of our Asso- 

 ciation until and unless the members of the Association have had the opportunity 

 to give the matter mature consideration, have determined that the creation of forma! 

 branches is desirable and have formulated principles of procedure. 



Insect Control 



It is well recognized that introduced insects frequently become established in small 

 areas without attracting notice and may give very little indication of future injurious 

 possibilities until the infested area has increased to such an extent as to make exter- 

 mination or control exceedingly difficult if not impossible. 



It is evident that quarantine regulations, although designed to exclude or prevent 

 the establishment of injurious insects in this country, as a matter of fact can be only 

 partially effective even if there be an excellent system and a most rigid enforcement 

 of regulations. 



The above considerations, in connection with the history of introduced insects 

 during the last fifty years or thereabouts, have led to the formulation of certain 

 suggestions which, if put into effect, bid fair to afford increased protection to Ameri- 

 can agriculture in its various ramifications and at the sime time give more adequate 

 recognition to this phase of economic or applied entomology. 



The admirable work of the Federal Horticultural Board in administering and 

 enforcing quarantine regulations with the numerous perplexing questions relating 

 thereto is hereby endorsed. 



It is recommended that provision be made in the immediate future for the exten- 

 sion of the service to ports now without adequate inspection. 



Attention is called to the fact that quarantine regulations may be extremely rigid 

 and designed to actually exclude certain destructive insects and in the judgment of 

 your committee this type of quarantine should be limited to areas where there is at 

 least a fair probability of absolutely preventing spread or even exterminating the pest. 



On the other hand, there are conditions where quarantine regulations cannot be 

 expected to accomplish more than to delay the spread or dissemination of an insect 

 and when these conditions prevail, it is believed that there should be a careful balanc- 

 ing of probabilities and the formulation of restrictions which will result in a maxi- 

 mum degree of protection and a minimum interference with legitimate commercial 

 activities. 



In other words, j'our committee favors a distinction between quarantine measures 

 designed for exclusion and those designed for the purpose of retarding spread. 



There is great need of a more general recognition of the economy of checking the 

 spread and controlling pests with a limited distribution. It is not economy to reduce 

 appropriations for this type of work and a liberal policy is therefore advocated 

 toward projects of this nature because they promote the general welfare in a most 

 substantial manner. 



The early detection and speedy control or extermination of destructive insects 

 while they are still limited to comparatively small areas, is a matter of increasing 

 importance. 



