The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-06
Practical acknowledgements Insect
Enemies. No. 1.

The intelligent cultivator of the soil.
whether farmer, trucker, gardner or fruit
grower, cannot fail to acquire some knowl-
edge of insects, especially those destruc-
tive insects that prey upon his crops. 1t
is almost impossible to carry on the opera
lions of the farm without realizing how
much a times we are at the mercy Of
what seemingly, are the most innocent
ana harmless of all Cod creatures
Lhere does not seem much of evil in the
little moth that fits so quietly about the
evening lamp, or in the gauZy, delicate
butterfly that hovers over the odorous
flowers, or in the pretty little orange-yel-
low bug timidly seeking its nourishment
amid the yellow mustard blooms. We
say there does not seem muh cause for fear
that they will work us much damage in
the period of their brief existence. But
when we recognize in one the HeliOthis
Armigeia. the terrible boil worm; in the
pretty white butterfly the destructive
Pieris Rapae, the parent of the cabbage
worm, and in the other the justly dreaded
Jmganta Histrionica. or Harlequin bug,
then we have to understand that in so far
as being harmless and innocent 1t Is but
a sham. Individually the evil wrought by
either may be imperceptible, but coming,
a. they oftentimes do, in hordes, frequent
j. prove irresistible. The experience gar
dener or farmer views with more or less
concern the first appearance of certain
insects. 1t is menace that he must re-
gard If he would make a success of his
work. OF late it has become a positive
necessity that the fruit growers and truck
ers shall make due provision for protect
destructive insects. The appearance
Of one or the other or both, perhaps, is
not to he regarded as improbable. 1t is
wise to have on hand and ready for all
emergencies certain fungicides and insec-
tlcides the materials composing which
cost comparatively little. If not provid-
Cd a the beginning of the years work it
might he the case that the local stock
nave become exhausted and IL would
quire several days to procure the neces-
sary materials. In the meantime, all the
damage possible may have been done.
II perchance the farmer or trucker finds
ne has had no use for remedies he can
only congratulate himself on his good
fortune and he can keep them over for
another time. He is apt to need them be-
fore very long, else he viii be exceptionally
fortunate. There are various kinds of in
surance, to be sure, and We believe in and
commend them all.
OF the several divisions of natural his
tory, there is none more entertaining and
inviting than entomology, or the study
OF insects It is in very close relationship
to farming. and especially fruit farm
lng. or vegetable growing It is replete
with practical significance. It is an un-
equaled, unsurpassed, we should probably
say intellectual refreshment. The several
studles OF botany. geology. mineraology
are all attractive to one mind or another,
put not one is more engrossing than en-
somology, once taste for it has been
Many able minds have found a lifes
SSt4iay IN the investigation of the life and
IHd3lts o. a single order of insects, the
Csoleoptera. for instance. or ants exclu-
slEeIy. or bees or wasps and others.
An ordinary life time is quite too
tSnort to allow of one Individual
lnvastigating the many thousands of in
9sSC!s' Some helpful, many more injurious
tnet swarm through field and forest that
aIlssl Doth soil and water Uber they are
enu Is destructive as widespread. We are
1Sr9ltlsned that they are on the Increase
IneF VIII have to be studied and fought
nIpIe carefully and intelligently than ever
GgtVIe Legislation. too, will have to be
ii V"kea. Societies should be formed for
LHe special purpose of exterminating inju-
4 Gus insects. 1t is no eXaggeration to say
tHdI Their greatly Increased numbers
threaten as great disasters as those eff
time.
IS estimated that the annual loss
rom insects in this country alone approx
mates $500, 100000 Think, too, what
Dight, most of which perhaps can be
dllrlbuted to insect influence doesi 1t is