Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-07-23
INSECTS.
Tho Loss Inflicted ON the Country by
InsectiyerOus Pests.

The Loss Inflicted ON the Country by
InsectiverOus Pests.
If any foreign nation should damage
us to Onc-tenth the amount of the loss
inflicted upon us by our insect pests we
should declare war upon it without any
hesitation and go right to work to spend
hundred million dollars in building
up navy to protect our shores. But
when foreign enemies in the form of
destructive insects invade our coasts
and spread over our whole territory, we
quietly submit to it and make no con-
bined effort to destroy them and pre-
vent their ravages Tie,re is no other
loss suffered by the people SO great as
this. The aggregate of the losses by
fire and shipwreck does not reach that
inflicted upon the country by pernicious
insects. We have numerous insurance
companies and costly fire departments
organized for our protection from fire.
and signal office to give warnings
against storms for the security. of our
shipping. Recently we have heard Il
great deal about the threatening dan
ger from contagious diseases of ami
mails, and it was not long be-
fore the Legislatures took active
means to suppress every source of
these diseases and appropriated large
sums of money for the purpose. All
these things show that when certain
persons find their interests threatened
and endangered they are not slow to
take measures for defense and protec-
ton But farmers submit patiently to
see their crops destroyed and their SUBJ
sistence consumed without making any
cutlery or claiming. or even suggesting.
the need or propr ETY. of any help from
the public authorities or making any eff
fort to relieve themselves. A present
Instance occurs: The seventeen-year To-
casts are again visiting us in some To-
calities in large numbers. This insect
is known to be in furious to fruit and
other trees while it is in its perfect state.
and is strongly suspected of committing
damage to the roots of trees during its
long life underground. But we take no
thought of these things. and however
mischievous this insect may be or might
he we would still permit it to come and
90 without any effort TO prevent its raw
ages.
This is not wise. This let alone pol
icy has brought many disasters upon
the farmers, and were it not that our
land is so broad there would have been
times when fam ne would have wasted
the people through the rayages of insect
pests. Let us 90 over the list of the
most destructive of these insects
and try and figure mp the
cost OF them to the farmers. The po-
tatO beetle has easily cost us Sl5, 000,-
900 every year for twelve years past in
loss of crop and the labor in saving the
remainder. The cabbage worm has cost
S10.000.0)0; the plum curculio costs
in actual loss and in indirect damages
from the abandonment of the culture of
this fruit atleast 5000 100 yearly. The
various pests of the apple cause loss
of 800 1000 yearly. The chinch bug
averages yearly damage of Si0,0OO.-
900; the wheat fly and other pests
which destroy this grain cost us $40
O00.0o0; the onion maggOt should be
charged with a.damage of ut least So
O0),0)O. and the large number of
smaller pests-the currant worm the
melon beetle. the squash borer. plant
and bark ice. the spruce tree bOrer,
and scores of Other>-will help to raise
the grand total of losses to quite $500
600. 009 annually. This is equal to a
loss of 1000. 900 head of cattle on the
plains, to twice as much as all our
sheep. to twice as much As all our
swine, to the present value of the whole
- 4
not distributed over the whole country
in small separate quantities the loss
would be considered too great to be
borne.
Now what is to be done about it? Are
we ever to maintain threatening enemies
in our fields and qu' city permit them to
forage upon us. leaving them to the
natural methods of repression, which.
sad to say, we actually discourage as
much as we can by constant slaughter
of the birds which would subsist upon
these pestiferous insects? Or shall we
take up arms against these pests and |
by combined efforts under the aid of
lawful endorsements strive to extermi- |
nate them? The neglect which now
suffers these insects to propagate and |
increase is public injury. and no one |
farmer can help himself effectually be- |
cause his neighbors on every side per- |
NIT their farms and gardens to become |
breeding ground, from which new |
swarms issue to prey upon his crops.
Wherever a public sentiment has been
encouraged in favor of mutual protec-
fion this plague has been averted. The |
town Of vineland, in New Jersey, is an