6 MOXTAXA EXPEEIMEXT STATION BULLETIN 238 



brought under control. It is perhaps worth while to point out how 

 the Montana system works out. 



The Experiment Station is continually investigating, and stands 

 ready so far as possible to give on short notice the up-to-date infor- 

 mation on the control of any insect pest. Since the Experiment Sta- 

 tion entomologist is by law also the State entomologist and since the 

 Extension entomologist is the assistant State entomologist, an emer- 

 gency arising becomes at once a cooperative matter and can be 

 promptly handled. Information can be distributed immediatelj^ 

 through the county agricultural agents. If special funds are needed 

 they may be obtained by appealing to the county commissioners in 

 any county that is in trouble. The county commissioners can appro- 

 priate money from a general fund and replace it by a special tax. 



The skeleton organization is at all times set up and in readiness 

 for an emergency. This form of organization could not work effec- 

 tively were it not for the fact that the assistant State entomologist 

 is always on hand and provided with tlie information on methods and 

 sources of the necessary supplies and equipment. 



The county pest law is used in one or more counties every year 

 for emergencies do arise every year. If there were to be a year 

 without an emergency the circumstances -would only serve to give the 

 assistant State entomologist an opportunity to become better acquaint- 

 ed with conditions in the State, and particularly to detect any new 

 trouble that may be brewing. This assistant also cares for the cor- 

 respondence, which at times is heavy, as is noted at another place in 

 this report. 



OPERATION OF THE COUNTY INSECT PEST LAW 



Expenditures under the county insect pest law have been very 

 small during the past two years. One of the advantages of the ar- 

 rangement set up under this law is its flexibility. Xo expenditure or 

 levy is made unless an emergency arises, and if there is an emergency 

 the county can act very quickly. Before the law was passed there were 

 years in which damage amounting to many hundreds of thousands of 

 dollars was done which might have been largely prevented liad the 

 law been in effect. 



The use made of the county insect pest law during the past 

 biennium is tabulated below, tosrether with amounts used: 



