April, '19] BURGESS: ORGANIZATION FOR INSECT SUPPRESSION 139 



attempt the difficult and perplexing problems of insect suppression, 

 compensation commensurate with the importance of the tasks must be 

 forthcoming. 



The strongest and most effective organizations in this country recog- 

 nize these facts and act accordingly. 



On the other hand, unsatisfactory results may be secured when ample 

 funds are provided if care is not taken in properly organizing and 

 directing the work. Experience, skill and good judgment are required 

 to bring about the desired results and if these are lacking disappoint- 

 ment will follow. 



Plainly stated, the essential features of any problem of this sort are 

 to determine all the facts covering the life and habits of the insect con- 

 cerned, the kind of food that it requires, the damage likely to result, the 

 means of spread, the effectiveness of natural agencies, and the best 

 field treatment to bring about its control. 



These may be grouped under the head of experimental work, the 

 most important phases of which should be given the greatest promi- 

 nence; field work to determine the territory that is infested and to 

 apply new control measures and quarantine to prevent the spread of 

 the species by inspection, fumigation or otherwise. 



Each of these phases of the work should be organized and the 

 details of methods worked out to fit the problem at hand. This will 

 prevent duplication of effort and make it possible to transfer men to 

 projects where they are most needed. If the problem is a large one this 

 can be accomplished by centralizing the control of the work, so that 

 overlapping can be avoided, misunderstandings be quickly adjusted 

 and arrangements made with the State Officials and other agencies in 

 touch with the work. 



Five years' experience with the method of organization indicated 

 above, which was adopted for handUng the gipsy moth work by the 

 liurcau of luitomology, has demonstrated its value. On such a large 

 problem where 200 or 300 men are employed and work is often carried 

 on in several states at the same time, centraUzation is imperative if the 

 best results are to be secured. Where a large force is employed, a 

 system of reports and constant field supervision is essential if the full 

 vahie of the money expended is to be realized. A plan along the same 

 general lines is practical on a smaller scale. To illustrate the useful- 

 ness of this method a few cases may l)e cited. Several years ago it 

 seemed desirable to determine whether the introduced parasites of the 

 gipsy moth were attacking native injurious insects. Experimental 

 work had shown that some of these parasites passed through their 

 spring generation on the gipsy moth but it was necessary for thoin to 

 have a summer or fall host, otherwise the later broods of the parasites 



