10 



can be a toiler in any special line for a year without encountering 

 experiences that might be related to a fellow- laborer to his profit. 

 We are scattered over a large territory, having widely varying condi- 

 tions of climate, altitude, and plant and insect life. Each can bring 

 from his particular Held some points of peculiar interest to all the 

 others. While we may read one another's publications and perhaps 

 exchange frequent letters until we almost feel acquainted, it is only 

 occasionalh^ that we can enjoy these meetings together, and it is a 

 great inspiration to talk freely over one's experiences and plans of 

 work face to face with those who are interested with him in similar 

 lines of labor. 



The student of applied entomology is supposed to have a good gen- 

 eral knowledge of agricultural ati'airs, particularl}- in regard to plant 

 growth. He must be informed upon all the insecticide materials and 

 be able to tell what insects they are suited to kill, in what strength 

 they may be applied to different plants, what their physiological effects 

 will be on both plant and insect life, and when they can best be applied. 

 He is supposed to be able to tell at a glance what any insect is that 

 may be handed him, and whether or not it is injurious or beneficial. 

 He is expected to be alile to recommend the cheapest and best pumps 

 or other machinery for the application of insecticides. Is it any won- 

 der that we need to get together and exchange experiences and discuss 

 methods of work, particularly when we remem])er that different results 

 are obtained in different localities? Lime, salt, and sulphur, so valua- 

 ble for the destruction of San Jose scale on the Pacific coast, was 

 found to be of ver}- little value in the moist atmosphere of the eastern 

 portion of the country; the codling moth, said to have one brood in 

 Maine, is reported to have two in Colorado, and three or four in other 

 places; insects fairly common but never seriously abundant in one 

 portion of the country are often found to be great pests in others. 

 In view of these conditions it is important that we obtain all the ideas 

 possible from fellow-laborers in different localities, that we may make 

 as few mistakes as possible, and that we may not bring down upon 

 ourselves the distrust of those whom we labor to benefit. 



We are also "to consider best methods of work.'' Metl\od is 

 always important, and particularly is it to be sought for in a young- 

 science or industry where long experience has not yet determined the 

 best plans of procedure. It was well at first that a large amount of 

 individuality should enter into the work and a variety of methods be 

 employed. Then. ]>v a process of natural selection, the poorer 

 methods would gradually drop out and the better ones be retained. It 

 is time for this Association to lay aside its swaddling clothes and assume 

 the garb of maturer years. It should be one of its objects to deter- 

 mine upon best methods as soon as expedient to do so. One recom- 

 mends Paris green or London purple in the proportion of 1 pound to 200 



