38 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 14 



applied to practical ends ; if not in the immediate future, then ultimately. 

 Knowledge such as we use may be compared to the stock in trade of a 

 commercial house in that it should be readily available w^hen needed or 

 called for. If we find there is a coming or growing demand for certain 

 information which we do not have in stock good business practice 

 demands that we proceed to "stock up": in other words, acquire the 

 needed information, usually by research methods. Our research pro- 

 jects, unlike those of the entomologist 'per se, must in most cases be com- 

 pleted within a specified time and the "goods delivered" when they are 

 needed. Research along the lines of economic entomology must there- 

 fore recognize the time factor and he who pursues such investigations 

 leisurely and without having in view definite accomplishments within a 

 specified time is neglecting one of the cardinal principles of success. 



The organization of thf individual entomologist's work is mainly a 

 question of personal efficiency and many factors play a part in it. 

 The proper selection of problems upon which to work often determines 

 whether a year or more of time is advantageously used. The need of 

 the day is clearly for entomological results that admit of practical 

 application. This is the object of economic entomology and the worker 

 must needs guard against devoting his time and efforts to problems which 

 are not of prime economic importance. 



No economic entomologist can ever say that his day's work is "done" 

 for if he considers it as finished it is but proof that he has failed to see 

 the opportunities all around him — for experimentation, for ser^nce to the 

 public and for extension of entomological knowledge. The amount of 

 work confronting every entomologist is, for all practical purposes, 

 infinite and a fine distinction is therefore necessary between those tasks 

 which are most fruitful or important from the standpoint of practical 

 results and those which can be deferred, or even eliminated, without 

 regrettable consequences. "Do not put off until tomorrow what can 

 be done today" is a rule which can rarely be applied by the economic 

 entomologist. Instead, his rule must be: "Do those things today 

 which are most important today." No efficient entomologist commences 

 his day's work without having in mind a definite plan: a conception 

 of what is to be accomplished. True, many unexpected things mav 

 develop to prevent the execution of that plan and the latter must be 

 constantly rearranged and readjusted as the day passes, but a definite 

 aim is the first requisite for definite accomplishments. 



Freedom from worry over personal financial affairs is one of the most 

 important essentials for good results from the individual worker. Such 

 a condition presumes adequate salaries. Salaries of entomologists are, 

 at the present time, inadequate. It may be argued that they are as good 



