February, '21] nenvell: organization in economic entomology 47 



under a uniform plan with state agents, although continuing to be 

 directly responsible to the head of their own Bureau. 



In very recent years there has come a new and striking development 

 in entomological practice, that of earnestly attempting the eradication 

 of injurious forms. This definite type of activity is not confined to the 

 entomological field, for niunerous campaigns to eradicate plant diseases 

 are under way and veterinarians have demonstrated their ability to 

 successfully prosecute the work of eradicating an animal parasite, the 

 cattle tick. These various eradication projects have been taken up 

 independently by different agencies, both federal and state, without 

 any apparent attempt at coordination and, we fear, with a none too clear 

 appreciation of the principles involved. Whatever these principles 

 may be, they are the same for all eradication projects; the latter differ 

 only in details according to the form or habits of the organism being 

 dealt with. Does it not seem that the time has arrived when the prin- 

 ciples underlying successful eradication work should be clearly enun- 

 ciated and that certain workers should qualify as "eradication experts," 

 regardless of whether the eradication problems involve insect pests, 

 plant diseases, animal parasites or infectious diseases of domestic ani- 

 mals"' Perhaps it would be regarded as visionary to suggest that 

 "bureaus of eradication" be established to deal with these projects, 

 but if eradication measures are to attain that degree of success now 

 hoped for such a development will be inevitable. Indeed, Dr. E. P. 

 Felt has already suggested, in his address before the Entomological 

 Society of Ontario on November 17th, the creation of an organization 

 specially qualified to deal with emergencies created by the establishment 

 of new insect pests and that provision should be made in annual appro- 

 priations for fimds with which to deal with such unforeseen contingen- 

 cies. 



Conclusion 



Although the progress of economic entomology has been marvelous 

 and much has been accomplished, the rapid growth of the science has 

 brought about a more or less chaotic condition in that many agencies 

 are operating without proper coordination. One is reminded of a vast 

 army, made up of man\- units enlisted in the same campaign, but operat- 

 ing with concerted action between certain divisions only and at times 

 even in competition with each other. The next step forward in our 

 profession should be the coordinating and harmonizing of all activities, 

 at least in related fields. Only by such a development, on broad and 

 constructive lines, can economic entomology be made to render the 

 maximum of service and usefulness to the ultimate object of ij;s efforts, 

 namely, the public. 



