The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1914-06-04
FORTY MILLION A YEAR
Texas State Department OF Agrieui-
ture would Have 6vgolooy Taught
In the Public Schools

W tHt fbpiNI 0CHboto
Austin. Tex, May 27.-Bugology. or
entomology, should be taught in the
TEXAS public schools, and the farm
er should make II a practical part
OF his ordinary knowledge says ed
r. Kone. Commissioner Of the De
partment OF Agriculture, In a special
article written for the United Press.
A loss 10 Texas OF about 40 million
dollars annually due to Injurious in
sects makes this education necessa-
ny
The Texas Department q Agricul-
ture. which has saved many thou
sands ~ dollars to Texas farmers
and fruit growers. stands ready TO
assist them in their chronological
studies. as we'll as In other problems
rotating 10 farming prof d. y. Scholl
is Entomolonst IN the Department
Ed H. Ayers. a graduate Of the A. Il
NJ. College. has just succeeded Path
oloaisi A. r. Miller as assistant TO
Prof Schor
"The increase in destructive in
sects" said Commissioner Kone. lis
due TO some % the following rea-
sons.
H. Many Of the original food
plants Of bugs have been destroyed
and are now being replaced by more
succulen, crops TO which these pests
are adapting themselves.
'2 Useful birds and insectiyerous
animals hdve been slaughtered. so
that the few remaining friends can
not assist as materially in fighting
insects.
80. on account OF increased trans
portation facilities. many injurious
sects have been carried from place
TO place. Most OF these have not
had parasites brought with them.
and consequently. have no natural
agencies 10 hold them in check.
a. Not so many years ago our
farms were scattered. and IL vas
hard for a pest TO migrate from ono
farm to another but now, since the
large areas are in cultivation ana
farms are located side by side for
miles. II Is AN easy matter for the
insects to increase and migrate IN
all directions
IS. Many fields and old. useless
orchards have been allowed 10 lay
out. thus serving as good breeding
places for destructive insects.
For these reasons the farmer
should make strong effort 10 study
insects and economical methods OF
fighting them. The vast amount OF
good that can be done by knowing
what to do in case Of a serious out
break OF insects. should be sufficient
reason for every person indulging in
agricultural pursuits TO desire to Sc
cure more knowledge on economic
entomology
Commissioner Kone' emphasizes
the necessity OF studying these prob
lens before damage is done. lie
pointed out that the state Is very
large in area and that the Depsr-
ment's experts are In need OF active
cooperation from the farmers and
fruit growers.
Celebrating his suggestion for the
teaching Of entomology in the pub
lie schools. Commissioner kone said:
Many OF our farmers boys and girls
never 20 beyond the graded schools
and therefore do not have the adj
vantage Of the biological studies Civ
en- in high schools and higher 4,
stitutions
"A few minutes a day given tn
nature study Ia the school room. in
Guiding the study Of bugs does not
interfere With the regular ourricu-
lum. but IL Is more of a rest eyer
else and brings the child into moro
sympathetic afd helpful relation with
It's natural environment. and. 1t
the same time Increases its fund OF
useful knowledge. The knowiesigs
thus obtained should be gradually in
creased later on by observing close
Is the various destructive species OF
the subject by reading federal and
state publications on the subject by
organizing farmers Institutes and al
ways having discussion on the top
10 OF insects az every meeting. by
corresponding frequently wnh ON
cih entomologlsts and by. having
such experts visit your section occa