698 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 



This fact does not appear to have been recognized in the early years 

 of Forest Entomology in this country. The Departmental literature 

 of that period is characterized by the output of a large number of incom- 

 plete seasonal histories and fragments of hfe-cycles, with detailed sugges- 

 tions for the control of the pest thus created. The suggestions were 

 based mainly on the weaklink theory, and faith in the successful apphca- 

 tion of European methods to the conditions of Indian forests. 



As a natural result we find that the control measures recommended 

 have, since the day of their invention, remained recommendations. 

 They have never been tested practically, nor has the demand for control 

 measures been heard from those officers whose duty it is to establish and 

 protect the forest crop 



This aspect of the relationship of insects to forest growth may appear 

 strange when viewed from the standpoint of Agricultural Entomology, 

 but it must be remembered that the rotation of the forest crop is one 

 hundred years and more, whereas the rotation of the agricultural crop 

 is annual. We are to-day estabhshing the forest crop, and in a few 

 cases only have we reached the stage of cleaning and tending operations, 

 while the final harvest is not in sight. 



The present policy of *forest insect control may be summarized 

 in a few words : — 



(1) Where intensive cultivation of forest plants is carried on (e.g., 



in nurseries, in the establishment of plantations, in artificial 

 regeneration, etc.), intensive methods of contro] are necessary. 

 Such operations, however, are not forestry but agriculture, 

 and the principles of agricultural pest control are directly 

 applicable. 



(2) Where the technical damage to the existing standing crop is 



sufficiently high to affect the sale value of thinnings and final 

 fellings, special problems arise and special investigations are 

 required. 



(3) Where modern sylviculture aims at the removal of the existing 



natural forest, and the substitution of an artificial type of 

 forest, conditions are created for the evolution of pests 

 which at present are economically negligible or do not exist. 

 It is in connection with the management of such forests 

 that the majority of control problems arises, and the main 

 object of a control policy is to shape the guiding principles 

 of crop-production and crop-protection in a double mould 

 while both are in a state of flux. 

 The following examples illustrate the types of problems now being 

 investigated. 



