The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-23
Destructive Influences.

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NAV be regarded as fonr in number
drought, food, insects and weeds. One or
the other, or all combined, are standing
menace to the success of the cultivator, and
rrovision for circumventing or warding off
their i'll effects must be duly made at
the outset of his annual farm operations
If crops were not curtailed immensely every
wear by these influences, the farmers of the
United States would hardly have barn
room sufficient to hold their crops, and the
supply of farm labor would be al
together inadequate to the task of harvest
ing the vast yields of corn, wheat, cotton,
hay, potatoes, ETC., etc.. that are grown on
the millions of acres devoted to these crops.
1t is estimated that the curtailment of
crops arising from the depredations of in
sects alone amounts to $4,000, 900 or Sc, 900, =
900 annually in the United States. This
amount, supplemented by the loss of valua-
bic crops as the result of flood and drought
and weeds, would probably be doubled or
bring the aggregate up to the tremendous
sum of 1000, 100000, an amount equal in
value to the combined crops of corn and
wheat actually produced in this country.
That amount does not represent the real
loss, however, to the producer; for that vast
addition to the already superintendent sup
ply would have had the effect of reducing
prices of the various products of the coun-
try to such a low figure that their aggre-
gate value would not have been greater
perhaps than the value of the reduced
product.
The consumer, not engaged in farming,
would have been benefited by the greater
product. but it would have been disastrous
rather than advantageous to the producer.
1t only goes to show that where a great
loss is divided up among very large num-
Der of persons the individual loss is map
probable and may be only slightly percepti-
BILE 1t is only when one or more of these
causes operate to the marked disadvantage
of localities at certain times are we brought
to understand how disastrous these in
huences may be. From one cause or an
other the loss to every individual farmer is
something every year. In some instances a
combination of these influences work a
complete failure, in others partial failures,
but, as rule, the farmer submits to the
losses so caused, and still comes out ahead on
the years work and fails to recognize the
reduction in yield brought about by either
of these causes.
Insects do a vast amount of damage
every year, much of which is unnoticed by
the larger number of those who till the soil.
The loss from the periodical visitations of
the cotton worm is small compared to that
occasioned by the steady injury wrought by
the corn and wire worm, the cut and bud
worm, the various nematodes, the numer-
Gus insects that are common to the various
garden vegetables, and those that devastate
the orchard and vineyard The boil worm,
with his steady but almost unnoticed work,
reduces the yield of cotton far more in any
stated period than does the cotton worm,
with all the fuss that is made over his
periodical ravages that appear far more de-
structive than they really are. 1t is the silent,
steady-working forces Of nature that are
to a great extent, unobserved by the aver
age worker that is doing the damage.
And SO it is with regard to weeds, the ex-
istence of which in our fields and gardens,
and orchards, and meadows and pastures
steadily reduces the yield of our valuable
crops. In the gardens and fields we circum-
vent them with hoe and pillow, but in the
orchards, meadows and pastures they are
allowed to accomplish an amount of in
jury that, while very great, cannot well be
estimated.
Of the thousands of efforts that have
been made in the south to establish the Gull
tivated grasses and clovers almost as many
thousands of failure to succeed have been the
result of the overriding influence of native
weeds that needed no nursing to enable
them to speedily supplant the tendeTer and
more valuable crop. Look at the Bermuda
and other pastures in every section of the
state that are overrun with the cockle-bur,
the "Jimson" and the coffee weeds, the
Maypop and dog fennel, the horse nettle
and thistle and number of other noxious
weeds that might be named. But for their
presence in the meadows and pastures the
product of had or pasturage would be
doubled or trebled. How little attention is
given to the clearing of our meadows and
pastures of this noxious growth Year
after year it is allowed to grow up and
make seed until the soil has become so
fouled with its presence that it will take
years to overcome it. These useless weeds
cut off the valuable product every year one
half or more.
While we may not ward Off the threat
ened damage from food or in every in
stance that from drought we can more
readily mitigate the damage resulting from
weeds and, to a great extent. prevent the
injurious effects of many insects.
Every year the problem of crop protec-
ton becomes a more serious one for the
consideration of the cultivator. Another
destructive influence is to be found in the
fungus diseases that infest so many of our
plants, especially the fruits. 1t has been
well said that the whole population of the
world is at all times within ten months of
starvation. The combined effect of the
several influences mentioned. if experienced
any one year over the larger part of the
earth would produce want and famine in a
very little while.
Every year it becomes more important
for the cultivators of the soil to work upon
the most intelligent plan possible.
The margin" in farming nowadays is
about as small as it is in any department of
trade and commerce, and every means must