St. Landry democrat., 1886-02-13
INSECTS AND AGRlCUI -rU RE.

INSECTS AND AGRlCUL ,rU RE.
One of dive Evils ri.at Follows in the Wake
of Civilization.
In the primitive condition of the
country, as the white man found it. in
sects, doubtless, took their proper place
in natures economy, and rarely pre-
ponderated in any direction to the in
jury of the wild plants, scattered for
the most part, sparsely throughout their
range. Harmony between organisms,
in the sense OF the widest INTERPOLATION
and intcrdependence, had resulted in
the long course of ages. But civilized
man violated this primitive harmony.
His agriculture, which is essentially the
encouragement and cultivation, in large
tracts, of one species Of plant to the ex-
clusion of others which he denominates
weeds, gave exceptional facilities for the
multiplication of such insects as nat
urally fed on such plants. In addition
to this inevitable increase of species
thus encouraged, many others have been
unwitting]y imported from other coun-
tries, chiefly through the fundamentally
of commerce with those countries; for it
is a most signifcantfact that the worst
weeds and the worst insect pests of
American agriculture are importations
from Europe. Thus, in addition to the
undue increase in our native species, as
above noted, we have to contend with
these introduced foreigners, and it is no
wonder that DR.. Fitch declared America
to be the land of insects, for. as COM
pared to Europe, we are truly bug-rid-
den. The losses occasioned by insects
injurious to agriculture in the United
States are, in the aggregate, enormous,
and have been variously estimated at
from $500, 100000 to $4O0, 100000 an
nually. 1t will never be possible to
fully protect our crops from the ravages
of many species that injuriously
affect them; but it is the aim of the
economic entomologists to prevent as
much Of toe loss as possible, and at the
very least expense. To do SO effectual-
ty. the chief knowledge required is OF
an chronological nature, 4. e., the full
life-history of the different species, and
this implies great deal of close and
accurate work in field and laboratory.
By means of it we learn which species
are beneficial and which injurious, and
the ability to distinguish between
friend and foe is of the first impor-
lance in coping with the latter, for it
is notorious fact that the farmer
often does more harm than good by de-
stroying the former in his blind efforts
to save his crops. The economic ento-
mologist, to do effectual work, must
possess not merely knowledge of the
particular injurious species and its hab-
its with which he wishes to deal, but
must study its relations to wild plants as
well as to the particular cultivated crops
it affects. He must also study it in its
relations to other animals. Indeed, its |
whole environment must be considered, |
in connection with the farm
er's wants, the natural checks which |
surround it, and the methods of culture
that most affect it. The habits of birds,
the nature and development of minute
parasitic organisms, such as fungi, the
bearing of meteorology, must all be
and yet, with the knowledge |
that a study of all of these bearings
implies, ne will frequently fail OF practi-
cal results without experiment and me-
chanical ingenuity.
More study of insects. however, while
is not often productive of those
practical results which follow
when it is combined with field work and
experiment. by competent persons, on
scientific principles. Many of the rem
,dies proposed and recommended are
either ridiculous or else based on mis-
eading empiricism; and economic ento-
nology, as 3 science, is of compare
lively recent date.
Insects probably outnumber in species
vi other animals combined, some three
hundred and fifty thousand having al
eady been described, and fully as many
more remaining yet to be characterized.
Hhe proper and conscientious character
zation of genus or of species of some
creature involves as much
abor as that of the higher animals. OF
he above number goodly proportion
re injurious to cultivated crops. Lint
er records no less than one hundred
nd seventy-six affecting the apple
fnrdener's Chronicle.