February, '1-4] Parrott: applied entomology 63 



A positive point of improvement, especially in those institutions 

 where the duties of station workers have not heretofore been clearly 

 defined, is the encouragement to research by the support of and under 

 the regulations of the Adams Act. This is a notable step in advance 

 towards a sharper differentiation of the station's activities, as the enact- 

 ment provides for a body of workers who are to conduct researches of a 

 fundamental nature along lines which have been carefully considered 

 and approved by a competent authority. This should prove a great 

 stimulus to the prosecution of scientific investigation of the highest 

 type in the field of agriculture, besides having the effort of giving sta- 

 bility to the work of investigation generally and insuring the investi- 

 gators liberty to work on their problems without interference. This 

 undertaking needs to be emphasized in- the scheme of department 

 operations, and ought to be on such a basis that it will attract the 

 best students in entomology. The selection of suitable problems and 

 the conditions under which investigations receiving this support can 

 be most efficiently conducted and successfully advanced are prominent 

 matters for consideration by every station entomologist. 



Promise in New Broad Projects 



In reviewing the progress of entomology in this country one cannot 

 fail to be impressed with the enormous advantages that may be derived 

 from a deep and systematic cultivation of new fields of knowledge. 

 The achievements in a comparatively brief period of years demonstrate, 

 in a most striking manner, not only what thoroughgoing study, experi- 

 mentation and research may accomplish for a particular branch of 

 science, but for the material welfare of a nation. At a time when so 

 much thought is being directed to the conservation of our resources 

 as a basis for individual and social efficiency, it is well to recall that 

 the prosperity of a nation depends not alone on its natural wealth, 

 but also on the intelligence and skill of its citizens and the capabiUties 

 and weapons they can utilize in solving the ever-increasing problems 

 that He in the path of civilization. The farming interests in the United 

 States have always sustained great losses from the depredations of 

 destructive insects. One can. hardly recall any phase of agriculture of 

 today which is not conditioned by considerations on the economy of 

 certain species. Not only do these agents have to be reckoned with 

 in the production of crops, but, in the light of present know^ledge on 

 the dissemination of diseases, we now know that they are important 

 factors as regards human health and comfort, so that the farmer as 

 well as his acres of land may fall far short of their potentialities. 

 Some aspects of these considerations apply Avith equal force to our 

 cities, especially in the more thickly-settled portions of our country, 



