SUMMER NUMBER 9 
ENTOMOLOGY IN THE PREPAREDNESS CAMPAIGN 
It is very important now, when the fortunes of the Nation 
may be at stake, that all the crops planted should produce the 
most possible. The cost of plowing, fertilizer, seed and culti- 
vation is much the same whether a grower gets a half crop or 
a whole crop from the investment. At all events, a little greater 
effort and watchfulness at the critical time may result in a full 
crop, whereas letting up at a certain stage may result in getting 
only half a crop. 
It appears to be a fact that, when a crop is planted in greater 
quantity, “bugs” are likely to attack it in larger numbers. We 
cannot attribute foresight to the “bugs,” of course, but the 
farmer creates the opportunity and the bug, if about, takes it, 
on the principle, I presume, that ‘“‘Nature abhors a vacuum.” 
Given a place to live, something will find it, thrive and multiply. 
It is apparent, therefore, that those who are trying to do their 
“pit” toward assuring the food supply of the Nation may ex- 
perience much greater losses than usual from insect depreda- 
tions, unless they keep a sharp lookout. Watch that bug, and 
swat that bug are imperative commands, voiced by the law of 
self-preservation. Now is the time, also, when growers should 
make more and better use than ever of the agencies provided 
by the government, state and federal, for the purpose of assist- 
ing in the control of insect pests and diseases. Of such agencies 
there are now several: The Florida Experiment Station and 
the State Plant Board, both at Gainesville, and the Bureau of 
Entomology, U. S. D. A., Washington, D. C. This latter agency 
also maintains two resident entomologists in Florida, namely; 
Mr. W. W. Yothers at Orlando and Mr. J. B. Gill at Monticello, 
Fla. While each of these agencies has its peculiar field of work, 
letters and specimens addressed to each will be promptly re- 
ferred to the proper agency when necessary. 
Entomologists all over the country are now making greater 
efforts to assist in the control of insect pests, by forecasting 
outbreaks, furnishing accounts of remedies to the press, and in 
other ways. The Bureau of Entomology, U. S. D. A., Washing- 
ton, D. C., has inaugurated an “Emergency Entomological Serv- 
ice” which has for its object the gathering of information on 
insect outbreaks and furnishing timely information as_ to 
methods of control. This Bureau, under the direction of Dr. L. 
O. Howard is stationing additional entomologists in many 
states, in some instances in cooperation with experiment station 
