193 



It is of the greatest importance that, while giving special attention 

 to present needs, the future necessities of the nation should not be 

 overlooked, and the foundations for a permanent extension system 

 in entomology should now be laid. More effective organisation of 

 official work in economic entomology is undoubtedly required ; in the 

 States there is a greater variety of types of organisation than is war- 

 ranted by their needs. This applies particularly to horticultm-al 

 inspection work, where there are frequently several individuals or 

 bodies all doing much the same class of service. The opportunity 

 now occurs to organise extension schemes that shall be as uniform as 

 possible. Data have been collected from several States regarding the 

 status of organised State extension work, and this is included in a 

 table. 



Research and experimentation have gone far ahead of extension, 

 and entomologists are in possession of a great deal of valuable infor- 

 mation which the farmer is either entirely ignorant of, or does not 

 perfectly understand. This results in the continuation of losses that 

 might be prevented. There is still a great tendency to overlook 

 average losses and pay attention only to conspicuous outbreaks of 

 pests. A large and rapidly increasing number of coimty agents have 

 been recently appointed in various States ; co-operation and organisa- 

 tion are again required, and it is suggested that extension divisions 

 should be established in the entomological departments connected 

 with the land grant colleges. Agreements are jDrojected between the 

 Bureau of Entomology and the extension services of several States. 

 An increase in production in any given State can frequently be planned 

 in advance, but insect outbreaks are often sporadic and always regional, 

 and the Bureau of Entomology reserves the right to detail the specialist 

 to another State if necessary. It is considered of the utmost importance 

 that each State should have its own extension entomologist, and not 

 trust to securing one of the specialists from the Bureau in any emer- 

 gency. Such a specialist when called upon can work much more 

 effectively in co-operation with a local man who is following a compre- 

 hensive plan for meeting the needs of the State. 



The extension entomologist has many means by which he may 

 work towards his end of saving as much as possible of the 10 per cent. 

 loss. He may work through the farmer himself, or by the method 

 of educating the children in the schools. Other methods inchide 

 lectures, circulars, and the agricultm'al and general press, demonstra- 

 tions, exhibits and charts, and the preparation of text-books for public 

 instruction. The farmer should not only be shown what he must do, 

 but should be persuaded to do it, and convinced of the advantage 

 accruing to himself. 



While the control of insect pests cannot be reduced to definite 

 rules, some standardisation of methods is distinctly desirable. There 

 should be a general and official adoption of uniform or standard 

 remedial measures for as many as possible of the insect pests, and 

 these methods should form the basis of public instruction. An 

 entomologist's recommendations frequently lack definiteness. Several 

 methods are perhaps recommended by one or more specialists and the 

 farmer is left to choose for himself, with the result that he frequently 

 tries none of them. He is not likely to be able to decide between 

 remedies when the entomologist has failed to do so. Any standard 

 (C463) B 



