Februaiy, '14] Parrott: applied entomology 61 



colleges and experiment stations. For in addition to their instruc- 

 tional and investigational work, they have attempted to direct many, 

 if not all, of the other activites. The conditions, however, vary greatly 

 with different states, and even with institutions in the same state, 

 according to local demands, circumstances and financial resources. 

 While these duties are useful and essential, the attempt to cover such 

 a large field, especially with inadequate assistance and support, has 

 unquestionably led to great diffusion of effort. Where efforts are so 

 diversified no phase of the work, perhaps, suffers more than that of 

 investigation. 



Some of these difficulties that entomologists now experience will 

 doubtless disappear as their departments become stronger and receive 

 greater financial backing. In states where funds are more ample, 

 these conditions are being remedied by a closer differentiation of activ- 

 ities. The work of instruction is gradually being separated from 

 that of experimentation or investigation. There is also a growing 

 tendency among entomologists of the experiment stations to subdivide 

 their activities, by creating sections of workers within their respective 

 departments who devote their entire energies to insects of particular 

 crops, — as truck-crop insects, fruit insects, etc. The policy with refer- 

 ence to nursery and orchard inspection still continues to vary with 

 different states. This branch of endeavor is gradually being taken over 

 b}^ the State Administrative Service, engaged in the enforcement of 

 agricultural laws, although in a number of states it still remains a part 

 of the work of the station entomologist. 



Two good omens for investigational work in the future are the 

 development of the extension efforts by' the agricultural colleges and 

 the present shifting of accent to the importance of investigation as the 

 primary function of the station entomologist. Both of these move- 

 ments are destined to bridge important gaps in existing machinery. 

 The outstanding feature of a large part of our entomological work in 

 the past has of necessity been its serious and practical tone. Most of 

 the institutions we represent were established for the express purpose 

 of devoting themselves to the solution of the problems of agriculture 

 and of serving the needs of farming people. But if you will look 

 carefully through any agricultural section, even the most prosperous, 

 you will find farmers who would gladly profit by the advice of entomol- 

 ogists but who, for various reasons, have been unable to do so. There 

 always has been and is a great need for a more convincing and effective 

 demonstration of the value of certain entomological teachings. While 

 there is a wealth of literature dealing with the economy of injurious 

 insects, there has been more or less failure, especially marked in some 

 lines of effort, to interpret this information and put it to practical 



