The evening times., 1896-12-23
The Bug That Prof. johnson Did
Not Mention.

The Bug That Prof. johnson Did
Not Mention.
In lis instructive address yesterday ne.
Md, Prof W u. Johnson, Maryland state
Entomulogist. said it had been estimated
that there are on the earth ten million
specimens of insects, most of which are
Injurious to plant life, and that the enor-
nous sum of forty million dollars is lost
annually in the United States by insect
ravages "Atleast one half of this amount -
said the professor, could be saved by the
iudicious application of remedies now
KNOWN
Having made this observ alton, The
speaker remarked further that the first
thing To be considered in combating with
injurious insects is the structure Of the
tain whether they are of Il biting or of
a sucking nature.
In his report of Prof. Johnscn's address
our correspondent says the speaker assured
his audience that Parish green would
seldom fail to rid our plants of those
insects which have the biting or chew
ing mouth: tut. he said, the insects with the
sucking mouth cannot be destroyed by any
of the arSeniCals, and must be sent irto
their little graves by the application of
such washes as whale oil, soap and water,
and kerosene emulsion.
1t will be observed, even from the brief
sketch that we have given Of Prof. John
sons paper. that he undoubtedly filled the
minds of his farmer audience with much
valuable Information on the subject OF
destructive insects and bugs; but there is
one instrument of destruction that the pro-
fessor did not mention, and that is the
Goldbgg. In comparison with it the
SquaShbug, the Cabbagebug ard Plant
lice are harmless and the Army Worm is a
bereficcnt creature; for the Goldbug de-
stroys whatever it touches. 1t Consumes
the substance of the poor-of the mechanic
and Of the laborer in the city, and in the
the farmer but swallows his houses. barns,
fences, and even the soil of the farm itself,
and makes the life OF the husbandman as
dark aud gloomy as starless night in a
wilderness Of a strange land.
The Bug
we quote from Poe's story entitled Tile
Goldbug-''
lit is of a brilliant gold color,
about the sizcof a large hickory nut.
with two Jet black spots near one
extremity of the back and another,
Somewhat larger, at the other end
The Intcnnae arc
''Hey mint no tin in him, Massa
VIII: keep a-tellin on yoU," here
interrupted Jupiter DE bug is
goole bug, solid, cherry bit of him,
inside an all, sep him wing. Neb-
ber feel hi'lf So heavy a bird inaIlmy
life''
Well, suppose il is, Jup,' replied
Legrand, somewhat more earn
estly, II seemed to me, than the case
demanded, lis that any reason for
you letting the birds Durn? The
Color"--herc he turned To Ine-''is
almost enough to warrant Jupter's
idea. YGU never saw a more bril-
liant metallic luster than the scales
emit-but Of this you cannot Judge
till tomorrow In the meantime
can give you some idea OF the
shape"
But the reader remembers the story; re-
members how Legrand made a Rough
drawing of the shape OF the bug, which
resembled skull-a deaths head; and
how, in the end, Captain Kidd's hidden
treasure was discovered 10y letting the Gold
bug, hung like plummet. down from the
limb of tree, through the left eye of a
skull placed on the ground
This story is old, but ever new: and we
might. if we had time, point u moral and
ldorn this article, by showing how, under
the present financial policy of our govern
ment. the Goidbus must be droppedthrough
Ihe eye of the DEATHS head Of the national
prosperity from dangerous points SO that
Labor may have any return, or the Farmer
get even meager supplies and keep the
specter of Hunger from his door A hor-
riblc bug is this. 1t is OF both the bitingand
the sucking nature: it bites the heernployment
of the poor and withers il, and it sucks into
its gourInandizing system the wealth of
the country and the interests of the people
But we can follow this subje no further;
and 50 weieavcit. commenting tothe people
a careful study of the habits of the pros
perity-dcst roying and liberty destroying
Is the Goldbug, and in doing this we must