February, '11] DISCUSSION: BULB MITE 129 



President Washburn: Have we not numbers of mites in this 

 country which are doing the same injury? 



Mr. Engle: Doubtless we have. 



President Washburn: It seems to me that bringing in imported 

 bulbs is not making the condition worse. 



Mr. Burgess: I think that the value of bulbs imported is greater 

 than that of nursery stock, if I remember correctly the statistics on 

 the subject. 



Mr. Engle: That is very true. I know of instances where some 

 large importers have imported as many as 500 or 600 cases of bulbs 

 in one importation. I am very sorry Dr. Howard is not here to let 

 us have his views on the matter. I should like to know just what 

 position he would take. 



Mr. Atwood: We have had a large number of shipments of bulbs 

 this fall, and have not given it very much attention. 



President Washburn : You are not inspecting bulbs now? 



Mr. Atwood: Not what we call inspection. 



Mr. Engle : I would say that we do not intend to inspect all bulbs. 

 I asked the Secretary of Agriculture for his opinion, and he said 

 simply keep track of the importations, occasionally examining bulbs, 

 letting the importers know that we kept tab on them at least. It 

 would take probably three or four months in the fall to inspect all the 

 bulbs that come in, and probably fifty men. 



{To he continued) 



Symposium on Teaching. The series of papers on teaching entomology con- 

 tain much that is most suggestive. The discussion reflects the enormous strides 

 made in the last generation and presages equally great advances in the next, if 

 specialization in teaching and investigation is any criterion. We fully endorse the 

 emphasis placed by some upon the need of a thorough general course, giving due 

 attention to the well-recognized cultural studies as well as those more intimately 

 related to entomological work. The foundation must be satisfactory or the integ- 

 rity of the superstructure may be threatened. Let us, while urging the need of 

 adequate courses in entomology, remember that correlated subjects should not be 

 neglected. The teacher has an important responsibility in this respect. 



The availability of insects for work in zoology and biolog>' should be more 

 generally recognized. Such instruction serves to call attention to a group alto- 

 gether too frequently overlooked by the general public. Important changes in 

 this respect have followed recent discoveries, though still further revision is nec- 

 essary on the part of many before they obtain the correct perspective. 



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