February, 15] FERXALD: NEEDS IX ECOXOMIC EXTOMOLOGY 



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enemies, and it is probable that appropriations for investigations in 

 this subject can be more easily obtained than for any other form of 

 entomological work. Much has been done along this line, particularly 

 b}" the United States Department of Agriculture, and many striking 

 results have been obtained. If, however, a supposed parasite when 

 imported and liberated should prove to be a secondary parasite, much 

 of the benefit of the entire work might be lost, thus emphasizing what 

 has already been said as to the necessitj^ of a thorough knowledge of 

 the life history and habits of eyevy insect. The introduction of para- 

 sites will undoubtedly^ prove an extremely important part of the work 

 in economic entomology in the future, but it must be conducted only 

 by the most competent persons and after a thorough knowledge as to 

 what will happen thereafter in each case. 



An examination of the list of subjects under investigation, given 

 in the Journal of Economic Entomology, suggests one or two points 

 of interest to consider for a moment. One of these is — How many 

 subjects can be completely worked out by one man who feels the pres- 

 sure for publication behind him all the time? It seems likely that 

 this pressure must often result in premature and imperfect publica- 

 tions, liable to give misleading impressions. A few years ago, at one 

 Experiment Station at least, the director would sometimes inquire 

 whether the entomologist of that station ever intended to get out a 

 bulletin. Under such conditions one cannot expect the best work, 

 but instead the production of hastily prepared and fragmentary 

 papers. Another thought developed by an examination of the list is 

 that to make satisfactory progress on all the projects named, in 

 same cases, the investigator must be working twenty-four hours per 

 day, seven days each week. Such pressure as this can only lead to 

 an impairing of the quality^ of the work done, and it would seem wiser 

 to attempt fewer projects and thus obtain more complete and satis- 

 factory results. 



Many other topics might be legitimately touched upon here, but 

 time will not permit. I therefore turn to the second division of my 

 subject; viz., the investigation of new territory. 



Under this head thete are undoubtedly many surprises in store for 

 us. The gates to several new fields of entomological knowledge have 

 recently been discovered and are now standing ajar, giving us glimpses 

 of what may come. One of these is the field of medical entomology, 

 and the presidential address before this Association two years ago ably 

 pointed out the progress which has already been made in that line. 



To mention some other topics which promise rich returns to the 

 investigator is a dangerous task, for in the time available it is impos- 

 sible to even name them all, and to touch on only a few would seem 



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