The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-12-16
FOR THE STUDY OF
. FOREST INSECT PROBLEM
New National Organization
Formed in Washington.
III. S. GRAVES, PRESIDENT.
FORMATION of Society For Advance
ment of Forest Entomology
in America.

Washington, Dec. 15.-The enor-
nous losses due to forest insects have
led to the formation of a society for
the advancement of forest entomo-
logy in America. The members of
this society hold that the work of in
sects has not received the attention
which it deserves.
Henry S Graves, United States for
ester, the newly elected president of
the society, on being asked about the
purposes of the organization, said
tha tthey were, in general, to call at
tention to the part which insects play
in forest problems. I'VE have had"
ne said, widespread and specific in
terest in insect pests such as the San
Jose scale and the boil weevil, which
anect all TO us as to what we eat and
what we wear. Forest insects
through their destruction Of timber
increase the cost of a necessity which
enters quite as much into the daily
life of the individual as do the pro-
ducts of the field and orchard. If the
Importance of the protection of our
forest resources from insect depreda-
uons is generally recognized, a large
part can be prevented or avoided
Right now in the national forests
the bureau of entomology and the
forest service are cooperating to stop
insect ravages by discovering their
beginnings, and stamping them out.
a few isolated trees attacked by in
sects may form the nucleus Of a
mountainside devastation quite as
serious as that from a forest fire
The opportunity for combating in
sects, however, is in one respect bet
ter than that in the case of a fire,
which runs rapidly, because it takes
several years for an insect devasta-
tion to spread until it becomes of
such proportions as that which over
spread the yellow pine forests in the
Black Hills in 1906. Watchful care
on the part of forest officers, lumber
men, and private individuals will
make it possible to catch these in
festations before they get good
start. But cutting ana burning the
trees, or stripping off the bark, the
insects can be killed. AS in all such
cases an ounce of prevention is worth
pound of cure"
"Who make up the membership
Of the organizations" was the newt
question asked of Mr.. Graves.
"1t is open to any one interested
in the subject" Mr. Graves replied.
ut seems to me that the relation of
forect insects to forest protec-
tion touches almost every one.
OF course we expect that new mem
bers shall be recommended by the
present membership, which is made
up largely of persons who have
studied the forest insect problem at
first hand. In order, however, that
the objects of the society shall be
kept foremost, 1t is required that at
least four of the seven officers must
be chosen from among professional
forest entomologists. 1t is expected
that honorary vice presidents repre-
senting federal. state and private in
terests will be elected to promote the
objects of the organization in many
localities through the country"
How will these objects be at
tained?"
"In the first place, the objects of
the society are largely educational.
AS in all questions OF large public i'm
portance, the main idea is to give the
public an opportunity to know just
how important they are. In the sec
ond place, the society will form
clearing house for information, and
its meetings will discuss the most ad-
vantageous methods of insect con-
troll Take, for example, the ravages
Of the gypsy moth and the brown
tail moth in the Northeastern states
If we can bring about a general
knowledge of these insects and of the
harm they do, and are able to instill
int othe mind of the individual the
necessity for and the proper methods
Of their control, how much easier it
will be to combat them than when
the work is confined only to govern
mental agencies"