February, '12] ENTOMOLOGISTS' PROCEEDINGS 11 



number of states are interested in a subject, that one or two of these topics be made 

 the subject of a conference or discussion at our annual meeting. 



Your committee endeavored to secure some data as to the relation of investiga- 

 tion work to teaching but was unable to secure sufficient information to warrant 

 any conclusion. The reports do indicate, however, that in three states the amount 

 of demonstration work being carried on has seriously handicapped research work; 

 that this is not more generally true indicates the differentiation of extension and 

 research work, which should be carried further wherever necessary. 



Your committee finds that the large majority of our workers are now clearly out- 

 lining projects which they are ixivestigating. In some departments the work does 

 not seem to be organized under any system of projects; the investigations are of a 

 broad nature and the resulting conclusions are secured from accumulative evidence. 

 We are impressed with the fact that those departments which organize their work 

 under definite projects, and confine their investigations to specific lines of work seem 

 to be securing more definite results for the energy expended. 



It is evident from the previous summary of the reports that about 90 per cent of 

 •our workers are more or less in sympathy with the idea which the work of this com- 

 mittee represents, namely, of acquainting each other with the work under way. 



From the reports submitted it is evident that there is now but little practical 

 co-operation between departments or institutions, in the prosecution of entomologi- 

 cal research. Yom- committee believes that wherever different departments of the 

 same institutions or workers in different institutions are working on similar or the 

 same projects that it should be their first duty to try and co-operate with each other 

 in every practicable manner. 



But few of those reporting outline projects which they expect to undertake during 

 the next calendar year. This may very possibly be due to the fact that the matter 

 had not yet been decided upon. Your committee can appreciate that there are very 

 good arguments both for and against the publication of proposed projects. They 

 would appreciate instructions from the Association as to its wish in this matter, so 

 that they may act accordingly in sending out the questions prior to another report. 

 Onl}^ five persons of those replying dechned to furnish the information. Some of 

 these refusals came from some of our most effective and respected workers. Their 

 communications to your committee should be regarded as confidential. Two of them 

 give no definite reason for their refusal to report, except general objections to pub- 

 licity. The other three have discussed the matter somewhat and their objections are the 

 same, namely: that by making a pubhc statement of the investigations they are 

 carrying on that other workers who lack ideas of their own, will take up similar 

 lines of work, and either forestall them or share the honors with them. In other 

 words, as one of the correspondents expresses it, "Original thinkers must bear the 

 burden of intellectual parasites." One correspondent cites an instance in which 

 another worker took his idea from him, and with more time and money to prosecute 

 the research, has been able to proceed further without giving the originator any 

 recognition. 



These objections furnish food for thought, and your committee does not wish to 

 discuss them in detail. Were we working upon private foundations, as are some of 

 our universities, these objections might be valid, though we are inclined to question 

 their altruism even then, but it must be remembered that we are working under 

 appropriations made by the national or state governments for the welfare of the 

 general public. Because one individual sees a subject which needs investigation, 

 and which he believes would be of value is no reason why another should not under- 

 take it, if the interest of the public seems to demand it. Certainly we should all have 



