February, *18] 
FOOD PRODUCTION DISCUSSION 
113 
work which is presented in this topic is perhaps of equal importance 
and, in this, entomological service is already recognized as of very 
great importance. It may be entered with hopefulness and assur¬ 
ance that results of value are being secured. 
In this field the service of the economic entomologists may be 
directed along three or four distinct lines: 
First, the pushing of investigations which bear most directly and 
urgently upon measures of protection and preservation of crops and 
which, it appears to me, should not be neglected during the stress of 
demands in fields which may for the moment seem more urgent. We 
may, I think, very properly, in view of the fact that many of our 
investigational members have been called into other lines of service, 
feel impelled to intensify our efforts and especially to concentrate 
efforts on essentials, leaving the unessential. 
Second, an extensive entomological survey, or field scouting plan, 
for the purpose of determining as accurately as possible the conditions 
of insect life, the most menacing species for the immediate future and 
the securing of data upon which we can make recommendations to 
cultivators in any part of the country or for the country at large. 
Such data may serve the purpose of determining what crops should be 
omitted or given particular care or for which special preventive or 
control measures will be advised at critical times. A special committee 
with this particular duty, to work in cooperation with the executive 
agencies, might be of special service. 
Third, a very general distribution of information through various 
channels, the agricultural press, experiment station bulletins, etc., 
and particularly through extension agencies and county agents which 
come most directly in contact with the class of people needing assist¬ 
ance in insect control. The special effort here perhaps should be to 
unify the recommendations made through different agencies so as to 
avoid the discouraging confusion to the cultivator who is dealing with 
problems new to his experience. 
Fourth, the instruction and training of entomological workers who 
will be greatly needed to fill the ranks that have been thinned by 
the calls to the other lines of service. Every entomological teacher 
should feel that he has a special duty at this time to help in this 
direction. 
There is, it appears to me, a particular opportunity to demonstrate 
the value of the knowledge we possess concerning the control of insects 
since there is so general a demand for information from cultivators, 
especially those who have undertaken the cultivation of small tracts 
or gardens as a patriotic service. The effect of this on the future de¬ 
mand for entomological information will, I believe, prove to be one 
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