18 
ings of fundamental law, and our efforts to resist them are often ridicu- 
lous and wasteful of money and energy. 
If, therefore, we can not keep out an injurious insect, or prevent the 
spread of the insects within our borders, and if, more than all and as a 
prerequisite to the first two propositions, we can not certainly effect 
the extermination of a single insect, what then is our legitimate course? 
I shall not question anyone’s right or liberty to undertake any line of 
work which he may think feasible and profitable, but for my part I feel 
convinced that local control represents the major part of the field that 
offers any hope of practical results in applied entomology. By local 
control I mean, in the case of the San Jose scale, for example, such 
work as that done in California with the lime, sulphur, and salt wash, 
or the excellent results gained in Maryland during the last two years 
with hydrocyanic-acid gas, or the very successful experience with fish- 
oil soap on Catawba Island, or the recent demonstration of the value of 
erude petroleum in New Jersey. The total extermination of this scale 
even locally is not accomplished by any of this work, but a practical 
control is gained and often so perfect as to protect the treated trees 
for two or more years. Further than this, we may by law enforce the 
undertaking of some one of these or some other kind of control when- 
ever itis shown to be necessary. We may check the heedless send- 
ing out of infested nursery stock by providing perhaps for a year’s 
guaranty or making payment obligatory only after a year’s test has 
shown the freedom of the stock from scale. All these and similar 
forms of control of the San Jose scale are legitimate and feasible, and 
are included in what is meant by local work. 
As a basis for such local work for all injurious insects will be needed 
the fullest information obtainable on their life history and habits, and 
also the discovery of the best reinedies and preventives. Wemay have 
State, county, and orchard inspection, and enforce curative measures. 
We may assist the action of natural laws by the introduction of enemies 
of injurious species. With a proper appreciation of its limitations we 
may even adopt a system of inspection for the detection and stoppage 
of palpably infested stock coming into a country or State. But our main 
object should be to disseminate knowledge of local methods of control, 
make it possible for the intelligent and progressive man to protect 
his own crops, and cause him to realize that the failure of his neighbor 
to take the same course will give him so much additional profit and 
advantage. 
In concluding this address I will briefly summarize the points I have 
endeavored, successfully or otherwise, to demonstrate. I started out 
with the plea for the laisser-faire policy in the larger or world concerns, 
which seem beyond human reach, and urged the limitation of efforts 
at control and prevention to such smaller and local matters as promise 
practical results. In support of this point of view I have endeavored 
to picture the harmonious action of Nature in the long run, her abun- 
