454 
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 
[Vol. 13- 
nation or a large section is threatened by pests or disease it is the func¬ 
tion of the Government to render adequate protection to those sections 
unaffected. It is because of such operations that many of us have come 
to expect the Government to take charge of all of our pest problems. 
But we would not, any of us, want to see the Government take over 
our fields and houses and operate them. Inasmuch as we hold that the 
question of production is a private affair, so also, except in unusual 
cases, is the question of stimulating, increasing or protecting produc¬ 
tion, a private affair. We must consider that control of pests which 
are widespread is no longer a function of government, but a function 
of private enterprise, in which the Government may assume the role 
of friendly adviser. It is not the function of government to market 
our crops, but we organize our marketing associations and the Govern¬ 
ment supplies us often with expert advice. 
There is a distinct difference between advising and administering 
on a project. 
Organized Agriculture Needs Organized Assistance 
The farmers and growers have organized for mutual benefit. They 
view their problems in common and find that they as a body will be 
greatly benefited by a concerted attack on some devastating pest. 
They need scientific assistance to actually conduct the work of control, 
and they accordingly go about it in a businesslike manner, and ask a 
recognized company of experts to estimate costs and outline the meth¬ 
ods of operation. Then by mutual assessment the cost is prorated 
among those who will primarily benefit, and the contract is let. 
To proceed in this manner would mean efficient and effective action, 
and I have no doubt that such procedure will be the dominant method 
within a very few years. 
The Advent of Commercial Entomology and What It 
Offers 
For several years we have witnessed the desertion of official posi¬ 
tions by men entering the commercial field. Last year the movement 
became very pronounced, and now we find quite a number of men in 
the field of pure commercial and professional entomology. 
Let us canvass the field of this new profession and see what it has to 
offer, and how it can be of special service to organized agriculture, as 
•yell as to the individual grower. The commercial entomologist is a 
business man with a technical training. He has his office, and his 
assistants, and keeps a well-arranged library, and a file of general 
information on insect pests. The client seeks him out and states his 
problem, just as he would to the engineer. The entomologist then 
