240 
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 
[Vol. 17 
fave the few extra dollars that would otherwise go to the manufacturer 
or relieving him of this work. Directions for home manufacture should, 
of course, be included for those who are in position to undertake such 
labor and the recommendations would not be complete unless they 
were. But directions are equally incomplete when they ignore those 
growers who prefer to purchase the finished article. 
To suggest to a fanner in this connection that he is not using his 
time to best advantage may give rise to a reaction that may find ex¬ 
pression in the farmer’s rejoinder that he is sole judge of what it is he 
most prefers to do. This attitude must not be contrasted with the 
desire on the part of growers for information as to improved methods, 
but refers entirely to the assumption that is too often urged upon the 
grower that whatever he can make himself is necessarily cheaper than 
anything he can have made for him. 
It is in this connection that the economic entomologist can profitably 
collaborate with the business economist. The problem is not materially 
modified by stating that as between the grower making a preparation of 
his own and the factory making one,there are a number of intermediate 
steps, consisting of the hire of laborers to relieve him of the manual labor 
—incidentally, perhaps, increasing the responsibilities and opportuni¬ 
ties for additional inconvenience. It is for each grower to decide whether 
he will make a certain preparation or purchase it ready made and the 
agricultural writer must not take the attitude of dictating the choice. 
In passing, it is proper to remark that labor in many parts of the 
country is scarce and must be humored, hence the item of comfort and 
convenience may apply also to the individual’s hired men. 
The first thought in the endeavor to obtain cheaper insecticides is 
often this one of home manufacture. The next evident thought that 
arises is the desirability of developing other materials or combinations 
that are not being used at present for that purpose. The opportunities 
for proper economic guidance in this desire are particularly plentiful. 
Assume that a cheaper insecticide is desired for the control of certain 
pests. It is, of course, first highly advisable to know the cost of the 
insecticide that it is intended to replace. With this first premise the 
investigator too often begins in error. Unfortunately, the average 
entomologist has not the time to ascertain the prices current on insecti¬ 
cides, and without this information it is difficult to conduct with any 
degree of accuracy a study of comparative costs as between an insecticide 
in use and one in prospect. Nor does it answer the question to inquire 
of the local dealer the prices of the particular insecticides that he is 
