February, '22] dean: presidential address 47 



well as some glaring examples of failure, due to selfishness and lack of 

 cooperation, and opportunities lost, due to the lack of vision and lack 

 of aggressiveness. 



Cooperation Among Entomologists 



Throughout the country there are a large number of economic ento- 

 mologists working on very similar problems, and to a considerable 

 extent independently of each other. Of course, these investigators 

 can learn more or less of what is going on by attending meetings, reading 

 current publications, and corresponding with fellow workers. But 

 in this there is comparatively little cooperation between tne numerous 

 agencies and no direction or supervision which would result in concen- 

 trating efforts along the most desirable lines, enabling the workers 

 not only to do more efficient work and to render more effective service, 

 but also in many instances to avoid unnecessary duplication. 



It would seem that one of the best means of promoting close coopera- 

 tion would be for those workers who are interested and engaged in similar 

 entomological problems to hold conferences and field meetings. Confer- 

 ences of this sort are certain to stimulate interest in economic ento- 

 mology and focus attention on economic problems of outstanding 

 importance. Conferences between entomologists for the purpose of 

 exchanging ideas, holding advantageous consultations and observing 

 experimental results of special significance are highly desirable and are 

 almost certain to result in speeding up research and experimental 

 activities. Perhaps one or two examples, with the details of which the 

 writer is well acquainted, will illustrate. 



Fourteen years ago the departments of entomology and agronomy 

 of the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station began an extensive 

 series of experiments on the preparation of the seed bed and the tims of 

 planting wheat not only for maximum yields but also to escape in- 

 jury from the Hessian fly. In order to secure the data bearing on 

 the problem, a series of experimental sowings was begun which was 

 to extend over a period of ten years. 



The experimental sowings were carried out at a double series of 

 stations, one along the eastern and one along the western edge of the 

 great central wheat belt of Kansas. Each sowing consisted of seeding 

 a series of plots at weekly intervals for six or seven weeks, beginning 

 the second week in September. The stations were always secured 

 and managed cooperatively by the departments of agronomy and 

 entomology. Representatives of the United States Bureau of Ento- 

 mology visited most of the stations each year, taking such data as they 

 desired. As a result of the long series of experiments, Kansas not only 

 has a method of Hessian fly control that is practically 100 percent 



