The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-05-25
INSECTS COSTLY TO FARMERS.
The Growing Crops Ruined by Hun.
drt ds Of Millions.

drtds Of Millions.
Twelve Insects will cost the
United States $3.50 900, 900 this year.
The chinchbug will draw 100000, ,0Oo
OF this amount, the grasshopper will
take $50, 900, 600 and the hessian fly
will call for at least $50, 900, 900 more.
Three worms that attack the cotton
plant will assess the farmers for a
total of $50, 100000, and the potato
bug will eat Sc, 900, 900 worth Of its
favorite kind Of garden produce. Ten
millions Of dollars is moderate es-
innate OF the injury that will be done
by the apple worm, and the caterpil-
lar that makes cabbage it's speciality
will destroy IS, 200, 900 worth OF crisp
green heads.
The chinchbug is disgusting little
beast" only third Of an inch long.
Originally it fed upon wild grasses,
but when civilized man arrived and
planted wheat the cereal suited it's
taste exactly and it soon became
what it is today, the worst foe OF
the most prized bread producing
crops. 1t gets into the funnel
shaped part OF the Leaf. where it
Joins the stalk, and sucks the sap
until the plant dies. The bugs null
tiplying at rate almost incon-
ceiyable, attack wheat field in
armies which literally carpet the
ground, and when the wheat has
been harvested they fly to the autum-
nal corn.
Everybody knows the grasshopper,
which in the east is a familiar but
harmless insect. In parts Of the west,
however, it is a serious menace to
agriculture and in a bad year" will
easily do more than 800 600, 900
worth. of damage. 1t is the true
locust, celebrated in biblical and
other history, and in the United
States ranks as the worst enemy OF
man, barring only the chinchbug. It
Is a foe most dreaded by farmers
over extensive areas. Drouths they
may combat by irrigation; from tor.
nadoes they may take refuge In suit
ably constructed cellars, but before
the march of the devastating swarms
OF grasshoppers they are helpless.
The plague arrives and 10, as if by
magic, the crops are swept from the
face of the earth, all vegetation dis.
appearing and starvation stares them
in the face.
In the year 1776 the Hessian troops,
engaged by, the British as auxilaries,
landed on Long Island. They brought
a lot Of straw with them for their
horses and in it, undoubtedly, were
eggs of the insect which has since be-
come known in the country as the
hessian fly. Three years later the
pest began to make itself trouble
some in the neighborhood Of the land
| ing place and since then it has gradu-
ally spread westward.
The army worm, which is one OF
the most dreaded of tie insect foes Of
the farmer, is a naked, striped cater
pillar an inch and a quarter long. In
May and June it makes its appearance
in immense. numbers, deyouring
wheat, oats and other grains and
grasses. 1t climbs up the seed stalks
and cuts off the lands. With favor
able succession Of seasons it multiplies
in geometrical ratio and at last be-
comes so numerous aslto necessitate
migration in search Of food. Then
the army worms travel and feed dur
ing both day and night, inflicting
enormous damage. It is from their
mode Of marching in armies at such
times that their popular name is de-
rived.
The potato bug seems to have
been originally native OF Colorado
and New Mexico. Various wild plants
furnished it with food, but nothing
seems to have been so exactly suited
to it's requirements as the potato.
With the introduction Of the potato
by settlers came the opportunity OF
this Objectionable insect to multiply
ad infnitum. 1t began to march
eastward and northward, at first
slowly, depending upon it's power of
flight, but later in great jumps, assist
ed by the railroads, on which itItook