148 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 6 



The cause of this weevil is the pea getting hot, from hot weather, sufficient to make 

 the weevils hatch. 



When the weevil emerges from the pea his life is ended and he dies in a few hours; 

 should the peas remain hot, weevils will continue to hatch out until the peas are 

 riddled. 



These weevils do not go to anything else, nor lay any eggs from which any other 

 insect hatch. 



Some seed men are afraid to put peas into their houses that show weevils for fear 

 these weevils will ruin everything in their houses, which is absurd. 



Peas are not hurt for planting purposes by being weevil bored, even when riddled 

 by holes they will germinate as it is the eye of the pea, like the eye of the potato 

 which gives out the sprout. 



Some large planters in the South hunt for weevil bored peas which can be bought 

 at a little reduction, knowing they are just as good for planting as sound peas and have 

 more seed to the bushel, when bought by weight. 



The above is only a fair sample of what might be termed "commer- 

 cialized science" as expounded by ignorant or irresponsible parties 

 presumably more interested in immediate profit than in developing 

 a substantial business. Fortunately, such literature is commendably 

 rare in this country. The more reputable dealers, we are happy to 

 state, are coming into closer relation with scientific men and are, as a 

 rule, most desirious of learning the latest developments. This latter 

 is as it should be, since material progress is impossible without a thor- 

 ough understanding of the fundamentals involved. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL CONFERENCES IN PORTO RICO 



During the past two years a great impetus has been given to work 

 along the lines of economic entomology in Porto Rico. The establish- 

 ment of the Experiment Station by the Porto Rico Sugar Producers 

 Association at Rio Piedras was followed by the organization of an 

 Insular Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and somewhat later 

 the College of Agriculture was established at Mayaguez where the U.S. 

 Agricultural Experiment Station has been in progress for a number of 

 years. These institutions employ seven trained entomologists while 

 work along the line of insect control is carried on by Guanica Centrale 

 and the Fajardo Sugar Company. It seemed wise for these men to 

 confer regarding their various lines of work and, after discussing the 

 matter, a meeting was called at Rio Piedras May 25th, 1912, by Mr. 

 D. L. Van Dine, Chairman of the Conference. The various lines of 

 investigation were outlined, methods of work discussed and lists of 

 entomological literature exchanged. Mr. C. W. Hooker was chosen 

 Chairman in charge of program and meeting for the second conference 

 to be held at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Mayaguez some 

 time in November, 1912. 



