2Qm 



the accumulation being more rapid if insects are present owing to the 

 large amount which they themselves give off. Thus in hermetically 

 sealed granaries there should be no need for the addition of carboa 

 dioxide, and under proper conditions grain should be self-protective 

 as regards weevils, mildew and heating. 



Ball (E. D.). Economic Entomology : Its Foundations and Future^ — 

 Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., xii, no. 1, February 1919, pp. 

 24-35 & 49-58. 



The rapid development of economic entomology in America is 

 reviewed, the spread of San Jose scale [Aspidiotus perniciosus] and 

 the consequent establishment of nursery inspection laws being among 

 the causes of the prominence given to the science in recent years. 

 The author questions, however, whether entomologists have com- 

 pletely solved the problem and mastered the intricate relations of a 

 single injurious insect, or whether they have not merely obtained 

 a superficial knowledge of thousands of species. Very many problems 

 remain still unsolved and these involve inter-relations with many 

 allied sciences. It is suggested that a broader fundamental grounding 

 in the related sciences should be required as a basis on which to start 

 entomological training. The tendency towards narrowness and 

 specialisation is deprecated, but it is suggested that group specialisation 

 should be encouraged, after a broad fundamental training. Criticism, 

 constructive criticism if possible, should be welcomed and errors 

 that are known to be such by many workers, and that are still current 

 in entomological literature, should be rectified. With regard to 

 publications, a committee might with advantage formulate rules and 

 regulations to which economic pubhcations should conform. Thus 

 original matter could at once be recognised from popular compilations, 

 while in summaries and reviews every worker would be specifically 

 credited with his contribution. Catalogues, bibliographies, indices 

 and summaries of entomological literature are urgently needed. 



There are many fundamental questions involving the effect of 

 insect attack upon the food-plant that offer an extremely important 

 and interesting field, as yet almost untouched. Co-operation with 

 plant pathologists and physiologists in the study of these problems 

 should be most cordial and mutually helpful. 



Some of the notable achievements in economic entomology are 

 instanced, both in the realm of crop production and protection, and 

 in the field of medical entomology. It is pointed out that concerted 

 effort and thorough organisation should be capable of eliminating 

 almost any pest in a single season. The warble fly [Hypoderma] 

 would hardly have been exterminated before the gain in leather and 

 increased production would have paid the cost. The codling moth 

 [Cydia pomonella], which depends on the apple and one or two allied 

 fruits and nuts for existence, could be eliminated from an entire 

 region in a single year by taking advantage of short crops, by reason 

 of frost or previous heavy bearing, and a rigid quarantine could be 

 maintained xmtil adjacent regions had received similar treatment. 

 The cotton-boll weevil [Anthonomus grandis] depends entirely upon 

 the cotton plant for its existence, and if the Americans would store 

 cotton in advance and cease to grow the crop for a single year, its 



