37 
CONCLUSIONS, 
It results from this reasonably thorough investigation that the 
writer is in position to say, as preliminary to his conclusions concern- 
ing future work, that the State of Massachusetts is most heartily to be 
congratulated upon the manner in which tin's work has been carried 
on. The effort of the State will rank as one of the great experiments 
in economic entomology in the history of the world. On the whole, it 
can be safely said that there has been no waste of the State funds. 
The officials in charge had to feel their way at first, but. contrary to the 
history of novel enterprises of this kind, there have been no disastrous 
experiments. The work has been admirably directed toward the main 
end almost from its inception. No criticism can be made, even in the 
light of present experience, of any of the work carried on since it has 
been in the hauds of the State board of agriculture. The methods 
used have been not only sensible but ingenious to a high degree. No 
promising line of experiment has been neglected, and many have been 
followed out which would not have suggested themselves to le>s able 
and original minds than those having charge of the work, lfesults 
have incidentally developed which have already had a much wider and 
more important bearing than the destruction of this one insect, and it 
is safe to say that, even at this time, the total outcome of the work has 
been of great value, not only to the country at large but to all civilized 
portions of the globe. 
The organization of the corps of workers, the selection of the men. 
ihc systems, not only ot supervision, but of general organization, down 
to the simplest details and the economical expenditure of the funds, all 
seem as nearly perfect as can be desired. The writer has talked at 
length with all of the principal men connected with the work, has 
studied unnoticed the operations of the gangs of men in the held, has 
earnestly endeavored in every possible way to substantiate critical 
comments which have come to his ears, and is honestly convinced of the 
truth of all of his statements, which he nevertheless realizes may seem 
at first reading to be overenthusiastic. The most interesting feature ot' 
the investigation and one which is rarely seen in such State work i> the 
vivid interest taken by practically all of the employees in the thorough- 
ness and success of the work. The principal men are full of enthusiasm, 
full of the importance of their labors to the interests oi t aud 
at the same rime full of a genuine and vivid scientific interest in the 
experiment which they are helping to carry on. So great has 
been the interest and so arduously have they labored that in several 
- they have broken down in health. The field director of the work 
was seriously ill through many weeks iA' the present season, one ot the 
superintendents of sections has lost lii>> health entirely from overwork, 
and another I have seen dragging himself about in the field superin- 
tending his men when he ought to have been in bed. 
It follows then that the work which has been done has been wisely 
