N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 19 



mosquito manual have been printed and will be distributed during 

 this year in practically all schools in the state and a definite 

 amount of time allotted in each school for the study of this 

 manual. 



It has occurred to the writer in connection with the study of 

 this manual in the schools that it might stimulate interest if some 

 sort of a prize were offered for a short essay written by pupils in 

 the state on some subject in connection with mosquito extermina- 

 tion work. Many of you will recall the essay on mosquitoes and 

 their habits written by Miss Elizabeth Culbert, of the Atlantic 

 City High School, and read at our 1919 convention. A prize was 

 offered by the Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce at that time. 

 If we could get the schools in each county to compete with each 

 other in producing the best essay, and then have the best county 

 essays judged in a state competition, we would have a tremen- 

 dous amount of interest, particularly if there were a small cash 

 prize offered for the best county essay of say $5.00 or $10.00, and 

 $25.00 or $50.00 oft'ered for the best essay obtained in the state. 

 Why couldn't this association offer such prizes ? 



The Union County Commission for a number of years has used 

 small cloth signs such as this which we have placed along streams 

 and ditches, particularly at the intersection of roads. We have 

 found the signs not only a distinct help in preventing people from 

 blocking ditches, brooks, etc., either intentionally or unintention- 

 ally, but we have found that they have considerable educational 

 value also. They are seen by thousands of people daily along the 

 highways, and show people just what work has been done by the 

 commission in each locality. The signs are cheap, costing only 

 about 4^ cents apiece, and we consider the money expended on 

 them as well spent. 



During the past year the commission has also erected a number 

 of large wooden signs along the main highways of the county 

 where drainage work has been done, and two along the railroads 

 crossing the salt marshes. The wording varies on these signs, 

 some stating that drainage work has been done at that point and 

 others to the effect that living conditions have been made more 

 comfortable in the county through the work of the mosquito 

 extermination commission. The small wooden signs bear the 

 inscription '*No Stagnant Water — No Mosquitoes," which is the 

 essence of the work that is being done. The signs have attracted 

 considerable attention, as they are passed by tens of thousands of 

 commuters and automobihsts daily. 



We have had some criticism of some of them in portions of the 

 county, chiefly as to the use of the word ''swamp-land," which 



