Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1905-08-18

FARMERS SUFFER- TO LARox
EXTENT FROM PESTS.
Agricultural Department Gives Re-
sects-cinch Bug Ravages Of In
ssGts-Chinch Bug Ia Most
Costly Of All.

Washingtou.-They value OF the an
nuai agricultural products OF the Unit
cd States il approximately $4,000. O0o.-
ooo- According to the yearbook OF the
department. of agriculture damage 10
the minimum amount of s2ss. 900. 600 is
aons 10 these crops each year 10y Ia OF
the most important insect pests.
There is scarcely an article grown on
our farms that has no insect enemy.
and while some of the crops are made
TO bear much heavier loss than the
others. practically ali of them must
pay tribute 10 some extent The figures
or the department are admittedly very
conservative. and. IL the damage done
py all pernicious insects to animal
products. stored products and forests
were added. the annual drain on the
farmers OF the country will easily foot
up TO fully half a billion dollars.
The cinch bug causes a greater loss
than any OF the other insects which
prey on the bettsr-kDown agricultural
products The minimum damage done
by 1t may be safely placed at $50. 900. :
600. according TO the department Most
OF this falls on the wheat raisers of the
county. as the cinch bug while IL also
attacks other plants. is particularly
iond OF wheat. and is usually found In
the wheAs heids in the greatest pro.
fusion in periods OF drought.
In addition to this insect. wheat has
q very destructive enemy In the He's
sian fiy. the annual damage caused by
which is placed at $4,000. 600 Worms
OF he .f n
plant, and. later. the young ears. bring
ing about a yearly loss OF something
like $4,000. 900 also. The more impor-
tant cereals. according to c. l.. Marlatt
assistant chief of the bureau of ento-
moiogy. who is the author OF an inter-
esting chapter on crop pests which will
appear in the yearbook, are damaged
not less than $500 900 900 every ear
through the operations of bugs and
worms OF various kinds.
Cotton, the south's great staple, loses
at least $50. 600. 900 per year as tne re-
suit OF the ravages of various pests. In
fact. report issued by the census bu-
reau little more than a year ago was
to the effect that one insect alone-the
dreaded boil weevil-cost the farmers
OF Texas nearly $4,000. 900 during the
previous season. but the department. OF
agriculture is of the opinion that this
estimate is excessive. and that the total
loss OF all the cotton growing states
through the operations OF all the in
sects which prey on cotton is not large
ly In excess of the sum named.
The boil weevil is at present con-
fned to Texas and to the adjacent por-
tons OF Louisiana hut IL is steadily
moving northward and eastward, and
che government experts do not hesitate
10 say that the chances OF exterminst-
Ing IL. or even checking IL, are sx-
tremely remote. A recent official re-
port expressed the opinion that. when
the weevil shall have spread all over
the cotton growing area Of the country,
as IL bids fair TO do In Is or 20 years
judging from its past rate of progress
II Will be capable OF causing an annual
loss OF $3.50 600 600. which is about half
the total value OF \ years crop OF cot
ton under normal conditions. In ad-
dition to the boil weevil. cotton is at
tackled by many other insects includ-
ing the boil worm and the leaf worm