cies. and our economic literature to-day is doubtless more extensive 

 than that of any other conntry. 



Most fortunately traditions and theories have had bnt little place 

 in applied entomology. The accuracy of published statements con- 

 cerning the life and habits of insects and the value of remedial meas- 

 ures proposed have often been at once put to practical test and their 

 soundness or futility determined. Investigations by several different 

 workers over a considerable range of territory have been a most 

 fertile means of rapid accunnilation of knowledge concerning the 

 biology of a given species and of the means to be used in reducing its 

 ravages. Much of error, in theory and in practice, which might other- 

 wise have lived for many years with a corresponding baneful influence 

 on the standing of the science has thus been quickly eliminated. 



Our official existence has been strenuous, and, were it not for the 

 considerable number of investigators often engaged on the same 

 problem and the immediate practical test of conclusions, our rate of 

 progress could but mean superficial work. Many of the problems 

 with which economic entomology concerns itself must be worked out 

 from the beginning, and many of our econouiic workers have been 

 forced to do strictly systematic work as a basis for contemplated 

 work along economic lines. The couimon observation that applied 

 science does not Avait. in its development, on the theoretically neces- 

 sary precedence of the pure science on which it is dependent is per- 

 haps nowhere so well illustrated as in the case of applied entomology. 

 Of necessity many of our workers are systematists, and their accom- 

 plishments in this field are scarcely less than in the domain of 

 practical entomology. In addition to having an acquaintance with 

 the details of insect classification and with fundamental biologic 

 facts, an econonuc entomologist must be versed in the details of 

 agricultural and horticultural practices, in chemistry, in botany, in 

 forestry, in plant pathology, in animal husbandry, and in business 

 methods. 



Under conditions and requirements such as these has applied ento- 

 mology grown to its present condition; and. aUhough young in years, 

 there is probably no branch of the utilitarian sciences Avhich so nearly 

 touches every human interest. 



There are at the present time some features of applied entomology 

 in the United States Avliich are significant of its increasing scoj)e and 

 importance and Avhich appear to me appropriate for consideration 

 on an occasion of this kind. The very existence of this association, 

 with its present membership of 175, is but one of the signs of the 

 times. The writer doubts if there are similar scientific bodies which 

 can show a higher average attendance or which are pervaded with a 

 greater degree of professional interest than are the meetings of this 



