48 INTRODUCTORY . 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Entomology should be made a Permanent Study in the Public 



Schools. 



That many orchards, vineyards, etc., in this State, are 

 infested l)y insect pests is an assertion that cannot ])e success- 

 fully contradicted. How can this evil be remedied? So long 

 as each fruit grower considers himself a competent authority 

 as to the necessity of extirpating from his premises such 

 insects as are known to be injurious, and eradicating such 

 diseases as impair the value of the fruit croj), and decides to 

 determine for himself the conditions U})on which he will inter- 

 fere with their spread for the })rotection of his own pro})crty 

 or that of his neighbor's, there can be no uniformity of action, 

 by which the evil can be thoroughly eradicated, until a general 

 agreement of all parties interested in the fruit growing indus- 

 try can be perfected. 



The dissemination of such information as will give a 

 thorough understanding of what is required, will require time. 

 As the fruit growers of California are scattered over a large 

 range of territory, and, as stated above, each individual having 

 his own theorv to cling by, ^ny advice offered that is nt)t in 

 accordance with such a course as he has determined to adhere 

 to, is looked upon as a malignant interference with his private 

 affairs. 



There are sources of power by which the obstacles men- 

 tioned will 1)e overcome, to wit: The Piblic and Phivate 

 Sciiooj.s, combined with the intellect of Young America and 

 the teaching in the family circle. 



The (juerv may be reasonably made b}' persons who have 

 given but little attention to the teachings of entomology : 

 Why is it necessary to introduce the study of economic ento- 

 molog}' inio the jjublie schools at tlie })resent time? In 

 answer to this inquiry, it is stated in the first part of this 

 chapter that there is a conflict of o})inion existing among 

 fruit-growers, etc.-, whose industries are threatened by the 

 invasion of insect pests. However, it is a matter of conmion 

 agreement of those persons who have considered the subject, 

 that it is only by a unit(>d warfare, or by united action, that 

 the insect ])ests can I)e exterminated. 



