The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-09-23
are A HEAVY TAX
INSECTS COSTS FARMERS MIL.
LIONS OF DOLLARS.

However Science, Through the Prac-
tical Work of Entomologists, Saves
Much to the Country.
Entomology means the study OF
insects. Not many years ago an en-
tomologist was looked upon as a
harmless non-utilitarian, and the
world called to mind the picture OF
a spectacled and bearded lunatic'
wildly waving an insect net and pur'
suing a fitting butterfly over teld
and bog. Even now amongst many OF
our people the word is synonymous
with "bug hunter" an Individual
who collects, kills, pins, classities and
labels what the public broadly char
acterizes as "bugs," said individual
adding not a jot or title to the In
come of the world, ditettante who
in no way benefits mankind.
OF late years the science of ento'
mology is being everywhere recogniz-
ed as of great practical Importance
We need only to refer to a few facts
10 emphasize the terrible destruction
caused by: insect pests alone, havoc
which is rated by the millions OF
dollars and to mention certain appro-
priations made Of late years to for
ward the work of entomology, to
show the important part played in
our economics by insects, and the
appreciation of the work of entomol-
ogists as shown by substantial assist
ance rendered them by congress,
state legislatures, and the various
state institutions where the science
is made an important feature of the
work.
The average total monetary value
OF all of the farm products of the
United States each year, based upon
government reports, is approXimate!E
six billion, seven hundred and ninety
four millions of dollars. Our for
estry products will average about six
billions annually. This added to our
agricultural products, makes grand
total of seven billions, three hun
dred and ninety-four millions.
Loss through insect ravages for
one year In the United States has
been found to be represented by the
enormous sum of eight hundred mil
Hons of dollars, nearly one-ninth
Of the total output. In other words,
eight hundred million dollars might
be added yearly to our agricultural
and forestry output If we could elm
mate the work Of injurious insects.
This does not include the annual
loss of human life through the agen-
cy of insects.
Although we estimate our aver
age wheat crop as worth S45O,OOO,-
600, we lose yearly from ravages
caused by insects, $1,000, 900, or
more than 20 per cent of the total
output. Of this, the Hessian fly is
yearly responsible for more than
20,OOO,OOo, the cinch bug gets away
with $4,000, 900, and the balance Is
sacrificed to locusts, grasshoppers,
cut worms, army worms, etc.
The corn root form, the cinch bug
and other insects destroy $50, 0,OOO,-
600 OF corn each year.
At least 10 per cent Of the hay
crop, or s6O,OOO,OOO worth of hay
is levied on annually by locusts,
grasshoppers, etc.
San Jose scale, codling moths, cur
culos and other pests, rob US OF ~
per cent of our annual $135, 100000
fruit crop.
We produce annually potatoes
worth in tae aggregate $150,OOO,0O
but lose by inescts each year $780,
100000 on this crop alone.
Of our annual products, which eas.
lily represent 1,75O,000,0O0, 10 pei
cent goes each year to satisfy insect
parasites, and we might 60 On enum-
Grating through a long list, the dam
age wrought by insect pests.
However, the triumph of science
in recent years, through the practical
work of entomologists to the agri'
cultural classes each year part of the
loss occasioned by insects, has been
one of the most notable achievements
of modern times.
The South has loss annually $12,'
100000 in it's cotton raising area
through the work Of the cotton boil
weevil, and in 1904 in Texas alone
about S22, 100000 was sacrificed to
this insect. Field work by trained
has shown means OF
preventing a large portion Of this
loss.
The Hessian fly has, at times, un-
til made a special study, levied an
annual tax upon our wheat of from
one to two hundred million dollars
while the codling moth, until rene
dies were found for it by entomolo-
gists, destroyed each year at least
100000 worth of apples in the
United States. The corn root worm
took nearly or quite S1O0,OOO,OOU
each year out of The Mississippi val
ley, until entomologists found the
proper means to combat it.
The value Of stored products, such
as mill stuffs, fruit, cotton, woolen
md atbot. N, n MI fa % urad rAQdS has