14 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 3 



must be able to interpret their meaning. He cannot always be in 

 his office or laboratory, even though it is a great convenience to his 

 people to find him when they call. He cannot always be in the field, 

 but he should have a thorough knowledge of the conditions there. In 

 fact, he should have a good general knowledge of all phases of his 

 subject, and it is desirable that he be a specialist and an authority in 

 a few of them. 



Probably few of us possess all qualifications necessary to make us 

 ideal official entomologists. Perhaps everyone has some of them. As 

 his work increases, he must have help, — and if funds are available, 

 scientific and clerical assistants are secured. He must then plan and 

 direct their efforts as well as his own. He must possess tact, must 

 be a good organizer, and must be able to judge the ability and capacity 

 for work in others. He must be able to manage men. New problems 

 are then introduced in regard to the proper credit for work done by 

 his assistants. The ideal official should err on the side of generosity 

 rather than that of selfishness in such matters. It is true that the 

 assistants can usually do much of the routine work where no credit 

 is expected or given in publication. 



In his relations with other entomologists he must be courteous, and 

 give credit where credit is due. He should refrain from engaging 

 in personal controversies, though he should not hesitate to stand up 

 f cTI:* the right as he sees it. 



Too many of us have our attention occupied by work of a routine 

 nature because of a lack of help. It is extremely important that the 

 entomologist be given some time for research work in order that he 

 may aid in increasing the sum total of human knowledge in his chosen 

 subject. There are still many problems to be solved, and the official 

 entomologist from his wealth of experience and observations can sur- 

 vey the field with a broader view than the beginner. Unfortunately, in 

 many cases the official has little time for investigation and whatever 

 is done must be done by assistants. At any rate, some research work 

 should be done. 



To gain knowledge through observation and research is clearly the 

 first essential of the profession. The second essential is to bring this 

 knowledge before the public. And let me say that right here is one 

 of the problems of the official entomologist as well as of every experi- 

 ment station worker. The most intelligent farmers, and a certain num- 

 ber of merchants, manufacturers and employees, as well as scientists, 

 are always in touch with such work and often aid the official in it. 

 But there is always a great mass of people who have never heard of 

 the state entomologist or of the agricultural experiment station of 



