216 



that it will be new and valuable to the majority of our readers? We 

 have experimented with new methods to protect our plums from the cur- 

 culio. In publishing the results we act under the knowledge that 

 many, perhaps most, who will read our bulletins do not know or prac- 

 tice the best methods to defend against this pest, though long and well 

 known to the few. Should we not briefly but plainly explain these 

 methods ? 



At our station there is a sort of a partnership between the State and 

 the United States Government. The Government pays for the woik 

 and franks the bulletins, while the State pays for printing them. Thus 

 I am free to say that in writing every bulletin, I keep in mind as the 

 leading thought, what will do our people the most good ? This ques- 

 tion settled, and I send out the consequent information, even though 

 some of the facts were known and taught by Aristotle. If lam wrong, 

 I will gladly accept criticism. 



MUTUAL AID AND SUGGESTIONS. 



In closing, let me say that it seems to me that such meetings each 

 year as this one will do much to exalt our work and influence. Kindly 

 suggestion and criticism, and a full discussion of work and methods 

 must lead to such harmony of action as will greatly augment the value 

 of our work. Our yearly meetings will give freedom to our inquiries 

 and consultations, which should be very free and helpful at all times. 

 The ready help which we all get from the Division of Entomology of 

 the Agricultural Department, at Washington, tells, in a magnified way, 

 what we may each do for the other. Indeed many of our older workers 

 have shown us repeatedly in the past how much we may receive, through 

 suggestion and information from our brother workers. 



Mr. Wood worth said that his station had been publishing just such 

 material as Mr. Cook had mentioned, but he did not believe this was 

 the real work of the stations. There should be lines of original re- 

 search of general utility, and the results of these should appear in the 

 bulletins. He thought that the newspapers should be utilized so far as 

 possible to spread the information already known. 



Mr. Harvey objected, that the farmers did not all take the same 

 paper. They are constantly asking questions or calling for informa- 

 tion on all kinds of insects, known as well as unknown. He does not 

 think newspaper work the best in all cases. 



Mr. Weed thinks this depends somewhat on the facilities possessed 

 by the station. In Ohio they have what they call a newspaper bulle- 

 tin sent to the manufacturers of "patent iusides," through which they 

 reach half the county papers in the State. The matter is sent out reg- 

 ularly by a central publishing house, and also in printed form to all the 

 papers, by the States. These were also condensed into short paragraphs 

 suitable for press dispatches, and thus obtained a wide circulation. 



