66 PROTECTION OF PLANTS — 1923-24 



we have obtained better satisfaction in studying insects as cut worms, plant 

 bugs, flea beetles, aphids, biting lice, etc., rather than as pests of various crops 

 or animals. The information can later be summed up, however, in the form of 

 spray calendars or schedules for different crops. 



We must also recognize the fact that in the short time available we must 

 not expect to give the student all of the subject. If his interest in and his study 

 of the subject cease with his completion of our course then we have failed as far 

 as that student is concerned. One of the obvious methods of keeping up the 

 student's interest is to place him in touch with the sources from which bulletins 

 relating to the subject may be obtained and to use these in our classes as far as 

 practicable. One of the most important ways in which we can project our 

 teaching on to the farm itself is by assigning simple problems to the students to 

 be w^orked out between their first arid second term of work. By careful ques- 

 tioning it can be ascertained what insect problems the student has to deal with 

 on the home place and it is then the instructor's task to assign a problem that 

 will be along the line of the student's needs and that will be within his ability 

 to carry out. It is of great importance not to assign too hard a problem so that 

 the student becomes discouraged. On the other hand, even a small success has 

 an excellent effect in stimulating interest in the subject. We have already put 

 this plan into practice to a limited extent with gratifying results so far. 



In conclusion, whether or not you consider all my conclusions justified, I 

 think it will be generally agreed that we should make an earnest effort to obtain 

 the viewpoint of the student, for his viewpoint is likely to be a very normal one 

 — at least as normal as our own. I realize that it is sometimes hard to do this. 

 For example, it is hard to appreciate the viewpoint of the student who, in reply 

 to the question, in a recent zoology examination, "Explain the importance of 

 annelid structure in animal descent", replied, "The earthworm consists of two 

 parts, (1) bilaterally and (2) symmetrical. It is a onecelled animal belonging 

 to the order Protoplaza and feeds on vegetables, chiefly cabbage and is control- 

 led by spraying with Bordeaux mixture in the pupal stage." One may get tired 

 of hearing that aphids are controlled by hand picking the eggs during the winter 

 months or that the strength of lime sulphur is tested with a barometer. At 

 the same time we must realize our own responsibility in this matter and give 

 as much time to the study of the student, mind as we do the specimens that 

 we give him to study. 



