Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 203, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1911 — Startling Facts and Figures [ARTICLE]

Startling Facts and Figures

Entomology means the study of Insects. Not many years ago an entomologist wae looked upon as a harmless non-utilitarian, and the word called to mind the picture of a spectacled and bearded lunatic, wildly waving an Insect net and pursuing a flitting butterfly over the field and bog. Even now amongst many of our people the word is synonymous with “bug hunter,” au individual who collects, kills, pins, classifies and labels what the public btoadly characterizes as “bugs," said Individual adding not a lot or little to the world’s income, a dllltaate who in no way benefits mankind. Of late years the science of entomology is being everywhere recognized, as of great practical importance. We need only to refer to a few facts to emphasize terrible destruction caused by insect pests alone, havoc which Is rated by the millions of dollars and to mention certain appropriations made of late years to forward the work of entomology, to show the Important part played in our economics by insects, and the appreciation of the work of entomologists as shown by substantial assistance rendered them by Congress, state legislatures and the various state Institutions where the science is made an important feature of the work.

The average total monetary value of all the farm products of the United States each year, based upon Government reports, is approximately six billion, seven hundred and ninety-four millions of dollars. , Our forestry products will average about six billions annually. This added to our agricultural products, makes a grand total of seven billions, three hundred and ninety-four millions. Loss through insect ravages for one year in the United States has been found to be represented by the enormous sum of eight hundred millions of dollar!, nearly one-ninth of th 6 total output. In other words, eight hundred million dollars might be added yearly to our agricultural and forestry output If we could eliminate the work of Injurious Insects. This does not include the annual loss of human life through the ageucy of Insects. '

Although we estimate our average gheat crop as worth 9450,000,000, we lose yearly from ravages caused by incects, 1100,000,000, or more than 20 per cent of the total output. Of this, the Heeßian fly is yearly responsible for more than 920,000,000, the chinch bug gets away with $15,000,000, and the balance is sacrificed to locusts, grasshoppers, cut worms, army worms, etc. The corn root worm, the chinch bug and other Insects destroy 980,000,000 of corn each year. At least 10 per cent of the hay crop, or 960,000,000 worth of hay, is levied on annually by locuets, grasshoppers, etc. San Jose scale, codling moths, curculios and other pests rob us of 20 per cent of our annual 9135,000,000 fruit crop. We produce annually potatoes worth in the aggregate 9150,000,000, but lose by insects each year $30,000,000 on this crop alone. Of our annual products, which easily represent $1,760,000,000, ten per cent goes each year to satisfy insect parasites, and we might go on enumerating through a long list, the damage wrought by insect pests. However, the triumph of sciencd in recent years, through the practical work of entomologists, in restoring to the agricultural classes each year part of the loss occasioned by insects, has been one of the most notable achievements of modern times.

The South has lost annually 91*.000,000 in its cotton raising area, through the work of the Cotton 801 l Weevil, and in 1904 in Texas alone about 922,000,000 was sacrificed to this insect. Field work by trained entomologists has shown means of preventing a large portion of this loss. The Hessian Fly has, at times, until made a special study, levied an anual tax upon our wheat of from 9100,000,000 to 200,000,000, while Codling Moth, until remedlea were found for It by entomologists, destroyed each year at least 910,000,000 worth of apples In the United States. The corn root worm took" nearly or quite 9100,000,000 each year out of the Mississippi Valley, until entomologists found the proper means to combat it. A*. The value of stored product? such as mill stuffs, fruit, cotton, woolen and other manufactured goods, has, in the past, depreciated annually 9100,000,000 by Insect attack, but entomologists bare found that expert fumigation with'hydrocyanic acid gas, or bisulphide of carbon, will reduce that nearly or quite one-half. Within the last few years, state and government entomologists have learned practical methods of combating pur most destructive fruit insect, the San Jose Scale, so that growers putting the proper methods into practice. m«4 no longer fear it This saving, both to tree and fruit, directly traceable to the work of entomologists, amounts to millions of dollars.

Cold rains in early spring will kill the tender youngsters. If they are not sheltered you may be sure you ’will fail in the business. ■ " , " To kill the mites with water it must be boiling hot and must reach every crack and crevice. Carbolic acid helps wonderfully. - —--- . M .->r,: '/ >!■£■ '