October, '22] current notes 377 



It seems a far cry from roses to potatoes. Few would think of utiliz- 

 ing aphids for the location of roses. Only a specialist would dare to hold 

 that a biological relationship existed between roses, potatoes and aphids 

 and that the last nam_ed in turn may have an important part in the 

 dissemination of a plant' disease. Few specialists expect their studies 

 to result in immediate or practical applications, though there is no ques- 

 tion as to the basic utility of such investigations. Specialization in 

 agriculture has brought about conditions here and there in the country 

 where scientific knowledge is of great practical value. Those interested 

 in an admirably presented story of investigation and accomplishment, 

 should read the epic of the rose and the potato entitled: "Marooned 

 in a Potato Field," which appeared in the August issue of the Scientific 

 Monthly. This recounts the history of one of the many justifications of 

 scientific work and is another striking instance of the need of effective 

 co-operation among investigators in different branches of science. 



Current Notes 



Mr. W. L. Distant, a prominent Hemipterist, died at Wanstead, England, February 

 4, 1922, at the age of 77 years. 



Mr. Ed. L. Ayers, formerly nursery inspector in Texas, has been appointed exten- 

 sion entomologist and pathologist of Florida. 



Messrs. R. W. Moreland, J. W. Couch and Rowland Cowart of the Bureau of 

 Entomology laboratory force at Mound, La., have recently resigned. 



Dr. Carl J. Drake, formerly of Syracuse University, has been appointed State 

 Entomologist of Iowa, and has already entered upon his duties. 



Mr. A. F. Burgess, in company with Professor J. S. Houser, visited Cleveland, Ohio, 

 on July 31, to examine the areas recently dusted by aeroplane. 



Mr. Leland H. Taylor, graduate of the Massachusetts Agricultural College and of 

 the Bussey Institution, has accepted a position as Instructor of Zoology, West Virginia 

 University. 



Mr. Theodore E. Frison, of the Japanese Beetle Laboratory, Riverton, New Jersey, 

 has been appointed Assistant in the Department of Entomology of the University 

 of Illinois. 



Dr. Guy C. Crampton of the Department of Entomology at the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural College, visited the field station of the Bureau of Entomology at Walling- 

 ford, Connecticut, July 7 and 8. 



Severe outbreaks of the forest tent caterpillar are reported from New Brunswick 

 and Manitoba, while from Quebec and Ontario the apple tent caterpillar is said to be 

 very abundant this year. 



