85 



tical. The reason for their success, in other words, was due to other 

 conditions entirel3\ I remember carrying out an experiment to protect 

 cucurbits from the Diabroticas. Upon collecting" all suggested remedies 

 and tabulating them, over 50 were offered. These were tested and, 

 strange to say, none of them were efficacious as recommended. 



We arc 3'et in the transitor}" stage as regards the use of insecticides 

 from the practical man's standpoint. He hears so much about spray- 

 ing that he thinks if he sprays his crops he is practically assured of a 

 harvest. I feel that, in regard to the use of insecticides, we are likely 

 to duplicate the experience of a prominent chemist with the commer- 

 cial-fertilizer problem. When commercial fertilizers first came into 

 use he most heartil}' championed them, and tried in every way to show 

 wherein they were of value, but farmers generally thought them a 

 m3'th and didn't want to have an} thing to do with them. Now this 

 same man says the pendulum has swung to the farther extreme. 

 Public sentiment, through the press, bulletins, fertilizer companies' 

 publications, etc., make a person feel that to be without commercial 

 fertilizer is courting failure. In other words, this same man now 

 feels it his diit}" to caution against the indiscriminate use of these 

 goods, which are without doubt as great a draw])ack to financial success 

 in some sections as anything. 



Our position as regards insect depredations in some States 1 am 

 inclined to think analogous to the commercial fertilizer problem. 1 

 do not desire to be considered as throwing an}- cold water on the 

 progress of economic entomology, in which field I am ever ready to 

 thankf ull}^ accept ever3"thing of usefulness. But from the standpoint 

 of the farmers, fruit growers, or gardeners much emphasis should be 

 laid on the fact that though the insects themselves may V)e destroyed, 

 this does not necessarily insure the conditions desired. 



Is it not a fact that those men who are the most negligent about 

 their general knowledge of plant culture have the greatest trouble 

 from insect depredations? I believe that our best entomologists will 

 bear me out in saying that wherever we find practical successful hus- 

 bandmen we also find the minimum trouble from insect depredations. 



It is not an easy matter to la}' down any specific and definite law, 

 but that these conditions do exist there is little question. Many insect 

 ravages are doubtless the resultant of an unhealthy condition of the 

 plant, due to improper culture or accident rather than to the natural 

 devouring instincts of the insect. Trees that are girdled or cut down 

 are shortly preyed upon by a great variety of insects that nature evi- 

 dently considers beneficial, although the}' are, under some conditions, 

 detrimental. Where cultivated plants that naturally need plenty of 

 available plant food for their development are set out in depleted soil, 

 from the ^ery fact of their previous high degree of culture and Ijreed- 



