G MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 294 



necessary facts and estimates on -wliieh were based a federal appropri- 

 ation for this work. 



In addition to field work in connection with insect outbreaks, 

 surveys must be conducted to determine whether unusually dangerous 

 insects like the alfalfa weevil are already within the state. To wait 

 until their presence is indicated by damage to crops might be very 

 disastrous. Other surveys connected with the prediction of coming 

 insect outbreaks are of immense value to the agricultural interests of 

 the state. 



WHO DOES THE WORK AND HOW SUPPORTED 



The entomologist of the Experiment Station is by law the State 

 Entomologist; he also gives nearly half his time to teaching entomol- 

 ogy at Montana State College. . Since he receives no pay from the 

 state-entomologist fund his first duty is to the Experiment Station 

 and to the College, one of which pays sixty per cent and the other 

 forty per cent of his salary. It is, then, obvious that the State En- 

 tomologist cannot satisfactorily perform his duties in the Experiment 

 Station, teach classes in the State College, and at the same time 

 devote the necessary time to demonstrating insect control. The actual 

 field work— until 1931 — was carried on to a large extent by an as- 

 sistant working under the direction of the State Entomologist. In 

 1931 the State Entomologist's appropriation was reduced to $450 and 

 still further cut in 1933 to $300. Now, of course, there is no assist- 

 ant. Furthermore, the Agricultural Extension Service does not em- 

 ploy an entomologist but depends on the State Entomologist to direct 

 and furnish the information for the insect work carried on under the 

 immediate supervision of the county agents. 



In 1934, with the state facing a great grasshopper outbreak, the 

 Agricultural Experiment Station and the College gladly overlooked 

 the usurpation of the entmomologist's time. That is right and proper 

 in the case of an emergency but should not go too far. Their entom- 

 ologist is no doubt in the best position to direct the work assigned 

 to the office of State Entomologist but he should be given the nec- 

 essary assistance so that other work, which is just as important, may 

 not be neglected. 



The State Entomologist is asking for an appropriation of ap- 

 })roximately $3,000. That will provide for the employment of a 

 qualified assistant and the necessary expenses connected with the 

 fulfillment of his duties. Wc believe that the farmers of the state 



