88 
Psyche 
[June-September 
the ant. For the 12 months beginning July, 1957, 2.4 million dollars 
was appropriated, to be matched by funds from state agencies, local 
sources and/or individual farmers. (In practice, actual matching 
appears to have been spotty at best, and the government has waived 
farmer contributions in Georgia and parts of Florida since early in 
the program.) 
On April 18, 1957, after a brief correspondence with officers in the 
Entomology Research Division of the Agricultural Research Service, 
USDA, I received a letter from Dr. A. W. Lindquist, head of one 
of the sections in the Division, which started in part as follows: 22 
“The idea of airplane spraying and dusting for control probably 
stems from the fact that extensive areas are infested. This method of 
application would of course be fine if it were effective. However, we 
would want to see considerable research conducted to determine if it 
would be effective and, if so, to determine what insecticides and special 
precautions would be necessary for maximum results. As far as we 
know, no research along these lines has been conducted.” 
This answer may be compared with that received from Dr. M. R. 
Clarkson, 23 Acting Administator of the Agricultural Research Serv- 
ice, dated January 3, 1958, stating in part: 
“In planning field operations, all available results of applicable 
research and practical experience are taken into account. Close liaison 
has been established with the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Depart- 
ment of the Interior and the states involved. Competent wildlife 
observers have been assigned to the work and experience to date 
indicates that a successful program can be carried out without serious 
consequence to wildlife resources. . . . Both the Agricultural Research 
Service and State Experiment Stations have expanded their research 
program in a continuing effort to improve operational procedures.” 
( Italics mine — W.L.B. ) 
In May, 1957, as a matter of record, Dr. Ross Leffler of the 
Department of the Interior had written to Representative H. C. 
Bonner, Chairman of the House Committee considering the bill, as 
follows in part : 
“Sufficient basic research has not been accomplished to predict losses 
or to properly advise operating agencies on the means of obtaining 
effective control and at the same time avoiding unnecessary fish and 
wildlife mortality.” 
With astonishing swiftness, and over the mounting protests of con- 
servation and other groups alarmed at the prospect of another airborne 
“spray” program, the first insecticides were laid down in November, 
l 957 - The rate of application was two pounds of dieldrin or heptach- 
