Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-28

BY the sinking OF the Titanic. 200
liver were lost and the world was filed
G aims 10000 victims year in this
country, and pneumonia, 100000. yet We
bear this awful loss Of life with the pass
ing comment. perhaps, that it Is great
pity. The San Francisco earthquake de-
stroyed property to the value Of 500 Co.,
OO0 This loss was the superinducing
cause Of the panic of 1907, which reduced
values by the billions. If it were known
today that the country would suf1er
another such loss within its borders in
the year 1912 the wheels of progress the
world over would halt in sympathetic
fear.
Big Loss From Insects.
"A short time ago the farmers Of the
country. especially in the northwest, were
much agitated because Of the proposed
reciprocity agreement with Canada. The
loss which they, together with other
farmers OF the country, will suffer this
year and which will benefit no one. will
exceed hundreds Of millions OF dollars
the total value of the entire wheat crop
of the nation.
AS long ago as 1904, Dr. G.. L. Marlatt.
basing his estimates on the crop reports
of the United States Department Of Agri-
culture, asserted that the loss to the az
ricultural industries in that year. caused
by insects alone. could be conservattvely
placed at sos. 10000. and this estimate
does not include dollar for the use Of
insecticides
'sMr. Forbush. in his most comprehen-
sive book entitled Useful Birds" main
tains that the insect pests destroy agri-
cultural dnn products to the value Of 500.
SO freely IN these days, both in science
and nnance. that hundreds Of millions
mean no more to US than hundreds OF
thousands did few years ago.
unitee states ate 9 today T fsei buildings
and endowments have been centuries in
accumulation. The value OF the college
and university buildings Is estimated at
<26O ,O00. 900 and the endowments at $210.-
100000. II they should be destroyed to-
morrow-buildings and endowments-the
insect tax Of one year would replace
them and leave a balance sufficient to
endow thirty-two new universities In the
sum Of $1OOO0,00O each.
1--WE have in this country today about
20, 10000 school children, and the cost
Of their education has become by far the
heaviest tax laid upon the surplus OF the
country. yet 1t costs more by many mil
lions to feed our insects than it does to
educate our children. II there is any
way in which this vast and destructive
tax upon the national income can be pre-
vented. or stayed. or resisted in any ap-
preciable measure. 1t would seem to be
Value Of Birds.
For many years individuals at their
own expense and voluntary societies and
representatives Of the most civilized ma
tons the world over have studied and in
vestigated and estimated the value of
birds to the human race. We call at
tention at this time to but a few of the
estimates made, and such as seem to be
fair and reliable. but enough. we think,
to prove that in this country, at least.
we have ruthlessly disturbed, II not de-
stroyed one Of natures wisest and most
valuable balances between the birds and
their natural food, and 1t is clear to those
who know the most about this subject
that unless radical and immediate meas
ures are adopted to restore q sure, safe
and natural equilibrium between insec-
tivorous birds and their foods. the time
caused by insects to agriculture in this
country alone will be counted In billions
instead Of millions of dollars.
Most insects. like the green leaf louise,
try. and many OF our most valuable fruits
and vegetables. reproduce their kind at
the rate Of ten sextillion to the pair In
one season. This number means 10000
for every square inch Of land that u
to the inch. 1t would take light travelling
at rate Of 10000 miles per second. $3.50
years to reach the file leader.
The potato bug IL less fecund. One
pair with reproduce from nifty to sixty
increase Of one pair Of gypsy moths
would defoliate the United States in
eight years.
"These estimates / quote from Prof.
Forbush. who. in turn. gathered them
from the United States biological sur
vey. and we may say that these cases
are fair examples OF the reproductive
powers of the insectile world. Locusts.
checked in procreation. soon become
countless hordes. devastating wide
areas OF the earth's surface.
Rapid Increase In Size.
1T is to be remembered that insects
live to eat Some Of them increase
their size at birth 10000 times in thirty
days DR.. Lintner Of the New Jersey
board Of agriculture reports 17e species
Of insects attacking the apple tree.
Omitted States biological survey
About the same number attack the
peach. plum and cherry trees. DR..
Packard finds 900 species feeding upon
the oak: 800 attack the conifera. The
number feeding upon cereals. grains
and garden crops Is also very large.
1.-THE reports Of the bureau OF ento-
mology show that destruction by some
insects Is widely spread. and 10 In
creasing. DR.. Martlett estimates that
the loss to the wheat-growfng states
| in 1904 occasioned by the hessian ny
was about $50.000.0 900. DR.. Shinar esti-
mates the damage done to crops in the
Mississippi valley caused by the chinch
| bug in one year az high as 100000
900. The Rocky mountain locusts. in
years Of the greatest activity. caused
| the states Of the northwest more than
81 50, 900. 900 loss. DIR. Lintner estimates
| the annual loss to farmers caused By
cut worms At 500. 900 zoe. The terrible
| OF proof.
THAT the worm does not eat everything
l ~pnvya ia Asso En- aAuAPaf cnmana-