52 ' JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY LVol. 2 



work in the field will find that insect infestation will be one of the 

 great problems we shall have to deal with in order to accomplish 

 anything either* toward the development or maintenance of existing 

 forests. It was a great snrprise to all of us. It was found that as 

 the forest lands were being cleared of the remnants of the forest oper- 

 ations by timber cutting, the insects were obliged to confine their 

 operations to the constantly decreasing area of trees, and these dep- 

 redations upon the smaller areas became so great that insects which 

 originally infested a considerable extent of territory were gradually 

 being herded into smaller areas, to such an extent that it began to 

 look as though there was nothing there but bugs. 



A. D. Hopkins : Mr. President, I want to thank you sincerely for 

 this talk on the forest insects. This is, I believe, practically the first 

 time any one has supported the idea that forest insects are really 

 important ; it is most gratifying. Evidence is piling up that insects 

 are causing more actual financial loss, to merchantable timber, than 

 is being caused by forest fires to the same class of timber. I am will- 

 ing to stake my reputation that this is true, so far as affecting ma- 

 tured timber is concerned, not the reproduction. Of course, there 

 is no way to be positive as to cash value, because we have many com- 

 plications to figure on, but every evidence indicates that the annual 

 loss by insects to forests in the United States exceeds a hundred mil- 

 lion dollars in value. Insects make no show like the smoke coming 

 from the fire, though they are quietly working away on the matured 

 timber and causing a little injury every year, so that in the course 

 of a period of years there is an accumulation of injury not seen until 

 the timber is sawed up, and then the real loss is apparent. Of 

 course,- in the "West square miles of timber are often killed by insects 

 within one or two years. We hope that forest insects will before long 

 receive their due share of attention. 



Mr. Bruner: Mr. President, I want to add to what Dr. Hopkins 

 has said with reference to the destruction of mature timber, since 

 I spent considerable time several years ago in investigating the de-* 

 struction of trees, on tree claims in the West. I found, in most 

 cases, that the failure to have the proper number of trees at the end 

 of the period was due entirely to the work of insects. Propagation of 

 forest trees is largely held in check by insects of various kinds; 

 those that work on small trees. I became interested in the insects 

 that were attacking young trees at the time of studying this problem 

 of the tree claim insect pests. I have still continued to hold that 

 interest, and have noticed, wherever I go in the forests, that immense 

 numliers of young trees are annually being destroyed by insects of 



