10 



Careful preliminary work is being done toward producing our own silk. 

 The mulberry is being distributed in large numbers ; eggs are being imported 

 and distributed; iniproA-ed reels were imi)orted from Eurojie last year, and two 

 expert reelers were brought to Washington to reel the crop of cocoons and teach 

 the art to our own iieo])le. 



However, in this general awakening of the public the importance 

 of other factors than widespread insect raA^ages must not be over- 

 looked. The numerous well-illustrated books, more or less popular in 

 character, and the frequent magazine articles dealing with general or 

 economic aspects of the science have brought the subject, in this day 

 of much reading, to the attention of a much larger number of people 

 than coidd have been possible even a few years ago. Nature study in 

 schools, which usually includes work with insects, has aAvakened many 

 an American youth, and through them their parents, to the presence 

 of these interesting creatures. Many of our agricultural colleges and 

 other institutions giving courses in agriculture have now for some 

 years been giving instruction in applied entomology, and students 

 have returned to their homes and put in ])ractice the methods learned 

 for reducing insect losses. In many connnunities there have thus 

 been object lessons which have been the means of inducing others to 

 take up the fight against insects. But probably the most important 

 single factor in awakening this widespread interest in insects remains 

 to be mentioned, namely, the influence of the economic entomologist 

 himself. In the lecture room, at farmers' institutes, at horticultural 

 and agricultural meetings and elsewhere, in season and out of season, 

 it has been his custom to speak from the text of injurious insects. 



I would not convey the impression that I believe the farmers, fruit 

 growers, and others are availing themselves to the fullest extent of the 

 means placed at their disposal for mitigating insect losses. While 

 most commendable progress has been made in this direction, yet our 

 most important problem still consists in inducing utilization, by those 

 in need of them, of the means known to be of value in reducing insect 

 injuries. Emergencies such as those brought about by the ravages of 

 the San Jose scale or the boll weevil leave but little alternative to the 

 sufferer, and while the experience is costly, the lesson is Avell learned. 

 In the writer's opinion, the notable improvement in this direction 

 during recent years may be held to prophesy a rapid increase in the 

 adoption of insect remedies and preventives in the future. 



The extent of increase in the number of workers in economit- 

 entomology during recent years nuiy not, perhaps, l)e generally real- 

 ized. As nearly as I have been able to ascertain, there are at present, 

 in the United States and Canada, 14.". persons trained in methods of 

 entomological research, devoting the whole or a part of their time to 

 the study of injurious insects. If account be taken of the many 

 inspectors employed by various States and State horticultural organi- 



