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JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 
[Vol. 11 
Especially for the past fifteen years we have analyzed these and sub¬ 
mitted three years to very critical analysis. The three years were 1911, 
1912 and 1913. The situation was analyzed carefully for each indi¬ 
vidual insect which seemed to enter into the destruction of crops that 
year; an average was taken and we found that for the cereal and forage 
crops the estimated loss ran pretty close to 10 per cent. In other 
words, for the state of Nebraska there was a loss of $15,000,000 annually 
for cereal and forage crops for the past ten years. Mr. O’Kane has 
further pointed out that there is a great deal of variation in the amount 
of control which we can bring to bear upon the situation. 
Professor Bruner and myself, in going over this problem, figured 
that a fair average for all cereal and forage crop pests, if the information 
we now have could be thoroughly and consistently applied, would be 
about 40 per cent. We have therefore the problem in our state of 
saving as much as possible of about $7,000,000 worth of cereal and 
forage crops. That is the problem before us. As to how that can 
best be accomplished is the next question. 
The first step it seems to me is for the entomologist to make an 
analysis of the situation as it occurs in his own state, to determine 
the pests which cause the most important losses in that state. This 
for the most part is a matter which would take only a short time, for 
the data is already at hand. 
The next point is to conduct surveys and investigations and use all 
sources of information, to ascertain as far as possible the immediate 
conditions relating to those insects in the state and as far as possible to 
anticipate outbreaks of insect pests. This can be done in some cases; 
in other cases it is exceedingly difficult or impossible. As far as it can 
be done, however, it should be. The next point would be to employ 
all extension forces of all sorts, looking toward the dissemination of 
information in advance, or at the time of the attack, which would have 
a tendency to prevent or control those attacks. This may take the 
form of bulletins, it may take the form of personal conferences, of 
addresses before meetings, and perhaps other forms. It may even 
involve the completion of organizations destined to fight insects, the 
outbreaks of which can be anticipated. When the insect outbreak 
actually occurs, it seems to me that the placing of as large a force as 
possible in immediate point of infestation and the exertion of all 
energies possible toward the control of the outbreak is, of course, the 
proper thing to do. 
Unsolved problems will, of course, arise. These, where they bear 
directly and importantly on the problem, should be given immediate 
and very serious attention. 
The extension branch of entomology is one which in the last few 
