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Careful preliminary work is being done toward producing our own silk. 
The mulberry is being distributed in large numbers; eggs are being imported 
and distributed ; improved reels were imported from Europe last year, and two 
expert reelers were brought to Washington to reel the crop of cocoons and teach 
the art to our own people. 
However, in this general awakening of the public the importance 
of other factors than widespread insect ravages must not be over- 
looked. The numerous well-illustrated books, more or less popular in 
character, and the frequent magazine articles dealing with general or 
economic aspects of the science have brought the subject, in this day 
of much reading, to the attention of a much larger number of people 
than could have been possible even a few years ago. Nature study in 
schools, which usually includes work with insects, has awakened many 
an American youth, and through them their parents, to the presence 
of these interesting creatures. Many of our agricultural colleges and 
other institutions giving courses in agriculture have now for some 
years been giving instruction in applied entomology, and students 
have returned to their homes and put in practice the methods learned 
for reducing insect losses. In many communities there have thus 
been object lessons which have been the means of inducing others to 
take up the fight against insects. But probably the most important 
single factor in awakening this widespread interest in insects remains 
to be mentioned, namely, the influence of the economic entomologist 
himself. In the lecture room, at farmers’ institutes, at horticultural 
and agricultural meetings and elsewhere, in season and out of season, 
it has been his custom to speak from the text of injurious insects. 
1 would not convey the impression that I believe the farmers, fruit 
growers, and others are availing themselves to the fullest extent of the 
means placed at their disposal for mitigating insect losses. While 
most commendable progress has been made in+this direction, vet our 
most important problem still consists in inducing utilization, by those 
in need of them, of the means known to be of value in reducing insect 
injuries. Emergencies such as those brought about by the ravages of 
the San Jose scale or the boll weevil leave but little alternative to the 
sufferer, and while the experience is costly, the lesson is well learned. 
In the writer’s opinion, the notable improvement in this direction 
during recent years may be held to prophesy a rapid increase in the 
adoption of insect remedies and preventives in the future. 
The extent of increase in the number of workers in economic 
entomology during recent years may not, perhaps, be generally real- 
ized. As nearly as I have been able to ascertain, there are at present, 
in the United States and Canada, 145 persons trained in methods of 
entomological research, devoting the whole or a part of their time to 
the study of injurious insects. If account be taken of the many 
inspectors employed by various States and State horticultural organi- 
