350 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 1 



writer in the Florida Bulletin 79, page 313. Professor Gossard also 

 mentions this method of destroying ants in the third issue of the 

 Journal, June, 1908, page 190. A solution possesses certain advan- 

 tages over a dry powder. There is no danger for example of chickens 

 picking up the particles if the former is employed. It is evident 

 that this insecticide can be used to some extent at least against 

 subterranean insects. ]More experiments are necessary to determine 

 the limitations of this powerful insecticide along this line. 



E. P. Felt 



THE ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGIST IN BUSINESS 



By H. L. Fkost, Arlington, Mass. 



Each year as transportation facilities improve and natural products 

 from all parts of the globe are assembled in one place, the prob- 

 lems of the economic entomologist are increased. "With the changes 

 of habitat of the various species of plant growth comes the unbal- 

 ancing of Nature's control of both injurious and beneficial insects. 

 Thus, the entomologist of today cannot be simply the man of scientific 

 knowledge, but must debase his profession by combining his science 

 with practical business in order to fill his position to the best advan- 

 tage. Will he gain or lose by this change f His remuneration will be 

 increased to a greater or less extent according to his business ability, 

 but his glory of achieving honors by scientific research will be less- 

 ened because of his lack of time to carr^^ on both branches of the work. 



It is the purpose of this article to show in brief the great need of 

 commercial economic entomologists. The profession is in its infancy 

 and might be compared to the day of the medical profession when the 

 patient Avas bled for every disease. Injurious insects have increased 

 faster than remedies or natural enemies, and this is the problem to 

 be overcome by our scientific and trained men. The value of all kinds 

 of trees which suffer most from insect depredations has developed a 

 hundred fold in the last decade. Owners everywhere are calling in 

 vain for help, to save trees which have required years to mature. 



Fortunately, we have had a generation of scientific men, peers to 

 none, who have devoted their lives to the study of insects. They have 

 given and are giving us information, which is both complete and 

 accurate. Our failure is our inability to make use of this research by 

 securing and applying practical remedies. This is the field which 

 offers unlimited opportunities to the present generation. 



A proper preliminary training will be found of great service, but 

 should be verv broad in order to make a success of this work. Even 



