Evening star., 1924-01-13
DR.. L. 0. How
ard and His Corps
of Assistants In Bu-
reau of Entomol-
ogy Have Saved
Billions of Dollars
for American Ag-
riculture Check
1nvasions of Over
seas Pirates of
Plant World.
By GEORGE HI. DACY.

ME cross of the Legion of Honor
has lately been bestowed upon
DR.. L. D. Howard, chief of the
bureau of entomology of the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture, famous Washington scientist
and one of the pre- eminent entomo-
logical authorities of the world
DR.. Howard, who has been a resi-
dent of Washington for forty -fve
years. and who came to the National
Capital directly from Cornell Cniver-
stty when he completed a post-gradu-
ate course Of study at that institu-
tion. Is as modest as his achievements
are notable. Like other unassuming
conservative men who dedicate their
lives to the pursuit of intricate sci
ence. DR.. Howard prefers to tackle
new jobs and do new and outstanding
deeds instead of talking about what
he has already done.
He supplied me-only after consid-
erable persuasion with the bare
facts of this article. From his friends
and associates 1 obtained the infor-
nation about the romance, pathos,
pioneering. adventurous research and
plucky persistency of this unusual
man of science, who has worked won-
ders in the control and determination
of obnoxious insect pests and plant
diseases. and who has builded a sys-
tenn of efficient fertilization, which
now protects American agriculture
against the introduction and insidi-
Gus invasion Of overseas pirates Of
the plant world.
Is there a man in the Washington
world of commerce. banking, mer-
chandizing or industry who believes
that his services are worth half bill
lion dollars a year? None such, at
least, are shown in the archives of
Uncle Sans income tax statistics. and
even the President of the United
States, who is manager-in-c chief OF
one Of the greatest nations, does not
receive yearly salary which even re-
motely approaches the half-billion-
dollar mark.
American farmers report. however
and the records of our national agri-
culture indorse their statements
that the annual services of the bu-
reau of entomology are worth ap-
proximateIy s500,000.0 900. in the good
that 1t does and in the evil and dam
age that it prevents. If you doubt
this assertion, just figure it out for
Yourself.
Insects annually destroy about 10
per cent of the possible production OF
crops in the United States Were it
not for the efficacious activities of DR..
ardo nd h iS
~ tribute that we pay to plant-pest
f-eebooters would be double in
amount what it now is This means
a. saving of one billion dollars a year
10 American farms, farmers and farm
ing. Just to be conservative, let's
chop this amount in two and estimate
the yearly accomplishments Of DR..
Howard and the bureau of ento-
lnology at half a billion dollars.
y x \ x
nR. HOWARD is most exacting
with himself; with his associates
and subordinates he is lenient and ra-
thsr easy-going. He likes to see his
men get results; he does not. quibble
over means or methods. If a man
Z,
ard system brings them out and az
fords them every possible opportunity
to develop and expand. DR.. Howard
IS an expert of men and psychology,
we'll as of entomology. He encour-
ages the expression Of personality and
likes to see his scientists stamp their
own individuality all over their work.
Somebody has said of DR.. Howard
that his work has very little academic
assumption. Dogma finds no place in
the Howard calendar Of daily doings.
He believes that all men were created
free and equal and that each ones in
heritance is to think and act as he
desires.
DR.. Howard abandoned a medical
career to come to Washington in
1878 to enter the chronological serv-
fee of the government. He was
about to enroll at the College Of Ply
sictans and Surgeons in New York
city when the message offering him
q position at Washington arrived.
From the time he was six years old,
when he devoted most of his time
to the juvenile study of caterpiIlars
and butterflies. DR.. Howard had been
greatly interested in chronological
search and research. Appreciating
the outstanding opportunity that
was offered at Washington to cater
to his cherished desires. he accepted
tho federal post and enrolled In the
service. -.....
When Dr. Howard came to Wash
!ngton the national Department Of
Agriculture had less than 100 en-
ployes. The annual appropriation for
the furtherance of chronological re-
search was $4,000. There were but
three scientific experts on the corps
of the department Of entomology.
There is but one man on the pay
roll of the Department of Agricul-
ture today who was an employe when
Dr. Howard first came to Washing
ton. He 10 Lieut.. Cooke. who has
charge Of policing the agricultural
grounds and buildings. The Depart
hent Of Agriculture then consisted