ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY UNDER THE ADAMS ACT. 79 



research are possibl}^ somewhat indefinite. The dictionaries define 

 research as "continued and diligent investigation; studious and hibo- 

 rious inquiry; systematic scientific investigation." (Stanchird Dic- 

 tionary.) Hitherto a hirge i)art of our Avork as station entomologists 

 has been in the nature of miscellaneous observations upon various 

 insects demanding our attention, often involving considerable study; 

 but how often has our work upon them reached the position where it 

 might properly be called research in the true sense? It is obvious 

 that for the best development of our science research is greatly 

 needed at the present time, and we therefore welcome this increased 

 appropriation with its restrictions to such use. 



Tn considering the branches of economic entomology which will 

 furnish a field for such " diligent investigation " we may study 

 individual insects, groui)s of insects, or general principles governing 

 insect life and control. 



In the past our Avork has necessarily been largely a study of in- 

 dividuals, more especially as regards their life histories. In this 

 work marked advance has been made in the past few years. AVe 

 liaA'e come to see that if an insect is of sufficient economic imi)ortance 

 to warrant investigation, the study must cover all phases of the 

 insect's ethology and the testing of all possible means of control. 

 For example, consider the work of Hunter and Tlinds on (lie boll 

 weevil, QuaintanceV investigation of the bollworm. Doctor T'orbes's 

 studies of the corn root-aphis. Professor CrandalTs work on the life 

 history of the plum curculio, and some of the inv^estigations of the 

 codling moth. These studies must always remain classic in the 

 annals of economic entomology from the fact that they have raised 

 a new standard for work upon such insects of primai'v economic 

 importance. The study of an individual insect, therefore, furnishes 

 a worthy object for research, but the Avork must be exhaustive. A 

 mere breeding of a dozen specimens in an insectary, testing a icmedy 

 which seems to be satisfactory, and the publishing of a bulletin out- 

 lining the supposed facts, is not research. It may be that such work 

 is all that the economic importance^ of an insect pest warrants in many 

 instances, l)ut it is hardly research in the true sense. Whether the 

 insect Avarrants true research work upon it Avill depend largely upon 

 its economic importance. Thus the rusty tussock moth {Notoloph^s 

 antiqiia L.) is hardly of sufficient importance to Avarrant any lengthy 

 study, Avhile its brother, the Avhite-marked tussock moth {Hemero- 

 campa leucostigma S. & A.), might Avell receiA^e the most careful re- 

 search. Tn some instances, howcA^er, an insect may be peculiarly 

 adapted to some research Avork in an effort to establish certain 

 principles of insect life; but in such a case it is merely a means 

 to an end and is not in itself the object of study. The larger part of 

 our life-history studies and observations can therefore hardly come 



