The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-12-13
Astonishing Figures

Astonishing Figures
Some astonishing facts are sci
forth in the circular, among these
being the amazing information that
TIE loss to the nation through the
destruction wrought by insect life
reaches the colossal sum Of $420,
5000.
1t is estimated that something
like 100000 men and boys are
ushtering birds annually and that
through this butchcry is a tribute
Q. vast proportions Icing levied up-
on the national pockelbook. TO Thu.
t;tA is attributed 10 Il areat extent
he hi h cost Of liting. 1t is also
paiAtci out that many OF the best
bid species arc on the tOboggal.
slide dom Witch have alrcady
passed the dodo, the aDtcry&, the
Eskimo curiew and others.
Three important results follow the
destruction of bird life. 4 great in.
crease in the armies Of destructive
insects; a great decrease in our ag-
ricnltural products. and. an enor-
n:ous loss to consumers and farmers.
Wheat Crop DESTROYED
Some idea of the harm that in
sects do to crops may be formed
from the fact that in the year 1900
more than 100000 acres of wheat
were destroyed in Ohio and Indiana
by the llessian fly.
Recently the United States De-
Eartmcnt of Agriculture made a
study of the losses throughout the
country due to the ravages of in
scots. Cotton suffers to TIE extent of
S6O,OOO.oOO, and truck crops ar,
damaged $53.0OO,0 900 worth. Cereals
lead with a yearly damage of $780,
O0O,OOO
Here in the South the boil weevil
costs the cotton planter over $40
100000 every year. The tree in
sects do damage throughout the
country that amounts to 100000
600. And SO the heavy toll increases
until 1t rolls up to proportions that
are enough to stagger the average
mind.
The Task Of the Birds
II Is the task OF the birds to cut
down this terrible loss to the farm
ers, and Others engaged in pursuits
in which this loss is felt The value
0; birds destroyed as game" and
for food" is less thar .CO1 part If
tue value they would have to the ma
ton II permitted to live and war mn.
on the insects.
while 1t Is at once apparent that
the birds which sportsmen arc ya,r-
Ivy permitted to kill are of immense
value to agriculture, oomparatiyel,
few people have SO far given tho
r'atter serious thought. There arc
II this country some thirty species
OF shore-birds that feed on noAions
insects and are of up lid worth n
the farmer. Sonpbirds. swallowc
"oodpeckers, blackbirds, ouai,
doves and nighthawks. also des,ro,
countless millions of insects everv
year.
According to the circular iss,oa
cy the committee, the South is a.,
nually the scene of the slaughter ..
millions of insect eating birdie
Around every island" saws tho cir
cular. during the robin season in
January when the berries are ri,e
at least 10000 robins are slau.bt !
cred daily for the pot. Every No
sro man and boy who can raise !
sun is after them"
Birds that Are Game"
The classification or yarions HAL
as game is Interesting as int
preted in the different statas r.
instance. Louisiana, AIississ;n.:
North Carolina. tennessee. yir,;n;.
and Florida list the robin i, ,s:
c:ass. Five states. Louisiana s,,,h
sarolina, Tennessee, Distrie, -
oinmbia and Pennsylvania. nero,;.
the blackbird to be killed as p,,,a
francs are killed and eaten in "a,
orado, Nevada, Nebraska. North n.
Kota and Oklahoma. In twentv.s;,
states doves are killed as game -
tne great loss of the farmers.
The quail has no equal. accord,n,