SCOPE AND STATUS OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 23 



of the hardships of this sort resulting from them, and also because 

 of the restrictions they place upon a free and unhampered competi- 

 tion between dealers in nursery stock in all parts of our country. A 

 greater uniformity in inspection laws seems to me necessary if we 

 are to retain the support and confidence of those whom inspections 

 more immediately concern. 



OTHER WORK. ^ 



There are other special developments of our subject upon which 

 (me might dwell. We have all been deeply interested in the work 

 being pushed by the cotton-growing States and the Department of 

 Agriculture at Washington with a view to learning how the injuries 

 of the cotton boll weevil may be controlled. Already these investiga- 

 tions have furnished valuable hints in this direction, and we are 

 led to hope and believe that this scourge of the cotton fields will soon 

 be reduced in numbers and destructiveness by measures resulting 

 from the work now in progress. 



CONCLUSION. 



In concluding let me say briefly what I consider the important 

 work for the economic entomologist in the near future. In the first 

 place, we must have more capable, enthusiastic, trained teachers of 

 our subject, and the entomologist who is now engaged in such work 

 as a mere makeshift should be made to give place to the teacher who 

 feels the importance of his mission as an educator and is willing to 

 expend labor and thought on his work. 



Our nursery inspection laws should be perfected and made more 

 nearly uniform, and a precise method of procedure should be planned 

 for such inspections, subject always to such changes as local condi- 

 tions may demand. 



More attention should be given to the insects concerned with dis- 

 ease, and to their relation to flowers as agents in cross pollenization. 

 Apiculture and sericulture should be cultivated, both because of their 

 instructional value and for their importance in the arts. 



The recent progress made in our field of endeavor is most gratify- 

 ing. We are living in a period of the highest activity and most pro- 

 ductive study in the investigation of living things, and may expect 

 soon to see results of knowledge and skill in dealing with such sub- 

 jects such as have never before been brought together for our benefit. 

 We must not neglect or underrate our opportunities. When it is 

 all done and our time becomes a matter of ancient history, I trust 

 that the part taken by entomologists in contributing to the wealth 

 and learning and culture in this " age of science " may be pointed to 

 by our descendants with gratitude and respect. 



