Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-07-20

Bug Loss a Billion.

The value Of the annual agricultural
products of the United States is ap.
pro1imately $8,OOO,OOo,oOO. Accord
ing to the yearbook Of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, damage to the
minimum amount of $29S, 100000 is
done to these crops each year by Il
of the most important insect pests.
There is scarcely an ar icle glown
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 to some extent. The fg-
ures of the department are admittedly
very conservative and, II the damage
done by all pernicious insects to ami
NAL products, stored products and for
ests were added, the annual drain on
the farmers of the country will easily
foot up to half billion dollars.
The chinch bug causes a greater loss
than any of the other insects which
prey on the better-known agricultural
products. The minimum damage done
by it may be safely placed at $780,
100000, according to the department.
Most of this falls on the wheat rsisers
of the country ,as the chinch bug, while
it also attacks other plants, is particu-
larly fond of wheat, and is usually
found in the wheat fields in greatest
profusion in periods of drought.
In addition to this insect, wheat has
a very destructive enemy in the Hes
sian fly, the annual damage caused
by which is placed at $40,0O0,000.
Worms attack the roots of the young
corn plant, and, later, the young ears,
bringing about a yearly loss of some
thing like $4O,OOO,OOO also. The
more important cereals, according to
G. L. Marlatt, assistant chief of the
bureau of entomology, who is the au-
thor of an interesting chapter on crop
pests which will appear in the year
book, are damaged not less than $780,
100000 every year through the oper-
atlons of bugs and worms of various
kinds.
Cotton, the South's greatest staple,
loses at least $50,000,000 per year as
the result of the ravages Of various
pests. In fact, report issued by the
census bureau q little more than a
year ago, was to the effect that one
insect alone-the dreaded boil weevil
cost the farmers of Texas nearly
$50,OOO0,000 during the previous sea-
son, but the Department Of Agricul'
ture is of the opinion that this esti-
mate 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-
fined to Texas and to the adjacent
portions of Louisiana, but it is steadily
moving northward and eastward, and
the government experts do not hesi-
tate to say that the chances of ex-
terminating it, or even checking it,
are extremely remote. A recent Of
fetal report expressed the opinion that
when the weevil shall have spread all
over the cotton growing area OF the
country, as it bids fair to do in Is or
20 years, Judging from its past rate of
progress, it will be capable Of causing
an annual loss of $25O,OOO,OOO. which
is about half the total value Of a year
crop of cotton under normal condi-
Iions. In addition to the boil weevll,
cotton is attacked by many other in
sscts, including the boil worm and the
leaf worm.