8 
cies, and our economic hterature to-day is doubtless more extensive 
than that of any other country. 
Most fortunately traditions and theories have had but little place 
in apphed entomology. The accuracy of published statements con- 
cerning the life and habits of insects and the value of remedial meas- 
ures proposed have often been at once put to practical test and their 
soundness or futility determined. Investigations by several different 
workers over a considerable range of territory have been a most 
fertile means of rapid accumulation of knowledge concerning the 
biology of a given species and of the means to be used in reducing its 
ravages. Much of error, in theory and in practice, which might other- 
wise have lived for many years with a corresponding baneful infiuence 
on the standing of the science has thus been quickly eliminated. 
Our official existence has been strenuous, and, were it not for the 
considerable number of investigators often engaged on the same 
problem and the immediate practical test of conclusions, our rate of 
progress could but mean superficial work. Many of the problems 
with which economic entomology concerns itself must be worked out 
from the beginning, and many of our economic workers have been 
forced to do strictly systematic work as a basis for contemplated 
work along economic lines. The common observation that applied 
science does not wait, in its development, on the theoretically neces- 
sary precedence of the pure science on which it 1s dependent is per- 
haps nowhere so well illustrated as in the case of apphed entomology. 
Of necessity many of our workers are systematists, and their accom- 
plishments in this field are scarcely less than in the domain of 
practical entomology. In addition to having an acquaintance with 
the details of insect classification and with fundamental biologic 
facts, an economic entomologist must be versed in the details of 
agricultural and horticultural practices, in chemistry, in botany, in 
forestry, in plant pathology, in animal husbandry, and in business 
methods. | 
Under conditions and requirements such as these has applied ento- 
mology grown to its present condition; and, although young in years, 
there is probably no branch of the utilitarian sciences which so nearly 
touches every human interest. 
There are at the present time some features of applied entomology 
in the United States which are significant of its increasing scope and 
importance and which appear to me appropriate for consideration 
on an occasion of this kind. The very existence of this association, 
with its present membership of 175, 1s but one of the signs of the 
times. The writer doubts 1f there are similar scientific bodies which 
can show a higher average attendance or which are pervaded with a 
greater degree of professional interest than are the meetings of this 
