June, "09] JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 217 



temperature, humidity, etc., and to test other factors which may seem 

 important. The treatment of seeds intended for germination is an- 

 other important phase of the work, both as regards the prevention of 

 insect injury to the seed and the possibility of preventing this with- 

 out injuring, by the treatment, the germinating power. 



It will be seen from the preceding statements that the work con- 

 templated involves more than the usual field of economic entomology, 

 particularly in the determination of the maximum endurable time and 

 dosage usable with various plants and in the modifications required for 

 effective work under varying conditions of temperature, moisture, 

 light, etc. The project involves much work in anatomical and physi- 

 ological botany. 



Co-operation. — Arrangements have already been made for cooper- 

 ation in this botanical part of the investigation. Prof. F. E. Lloyd, 

 whose investigations regarding the "Physiology of Stomata" have 

 been recently published in Carnegie Institution Bulletin No. 82, has 

 been recently appointed professor of botany and botanist to the Ex- 

 periment Station of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. His experi- 

 ence in this field of investigation seems to fit him in an exceptional 

 way for this portion of the work. He will therefore undertake, in co- 

 operation with the Department of Entomologj', the investigation of 

 the anatomical and physiological reactions of various plant tissues to 

 these two fumigants, especially with regard to the effects upon their 

 nutritive and respirators^ functions. He will also investigate the gen- 

 eral question of the susceptibility or resistance of common green house 

 and other plants frequently liable to such treatment, to the effects of 

 these gases under various conditions of treatment so as to determine, 

 if possible, the general conditions under which fumigation for insect 

 pests may be practised with the greatest possible safety to living 

 plants. The ultimate object will be to establish a basis for making in- 

 telligently such nece&sary or desirable modifications as are demanded 

 for successful fumigation work under varying practical conditions, so 

 that the destruction of insect pests may be assured without endanger- 

 ing the life of the plant and without involving needless expense in 

 time and materials for making the treatment. 



Methods of Procedure. — The following general principles will be 

 observed whenever possible in securing the data upon which the con- 

 clusions may be based : 



1. Chemical analysis of samples of materials used in tests. 



2. Establishing definitely known working conditions. 



3. Securing data from experiments in which, so far as may be pos- 

 sible, only one factor at a time will be varied. 



