The farmer and mechanic., 1915-04-13


S,on railroad Trains-The Argen-
tine Government Spending Millions
for Defense-SOmething About the
Condor and Other Vultures-The
Carancho and the kea-The South
American Ostrich-A Giant ROOS-
ter That Hatchcs the Eggs and
Takes Care of the Young.
Copyright, 1915. by Frank g. Car
:. penter)
BUENOS AIRES.
] have spent this week with some
Of our scientists who have come TO
Argentina to aid in improving the
farming conditions. There are doZ-
Ell or more of these men, connected
with the Department Of Agriculture.
and they represent every branch OF
farm efficiency work Last year We
had DR.. Willett M. Hays, formerly as
sistant secretary of agriculture Of the
United States He came here at
salary Of $1,000 d month as consult
ing adviser to the agricultural de-
partment of Argentina. During his
stay he introduced many new meth
DDS for improving the organization
and efficiency of the department. Mr..
Walter G.. Davis, the head Of the nat
ional weather bureau, has organized
Il service which is superior to any
other on the South American cOnti-
nent He has been in Argentina for
more than forty years and was
brought down to be one Of the Of
icials at the University Of Cordova.
Mr.. II. NJ. CurTan, who for several
years was connected with our forestry
bureau In the Philippines, is studying
the timber resources of the Parana
basin and giving suggestions as to the
organization of a lumber industry.
Laurel Duval of Ohio has charge OF
the standa rdization of grain, and Wal
ter Fisher Of the same State is at the
head of the experimental stations en-
gagged in fruit culture in Patagonia.
His work is chiefly along the Rio Ne
gro. We have also experts who are
organizing soil survey and some
who are investigating the insect pests
One of the latter is Mr.. George r
Smith of Colorado, who has just re-
turned from an extensive tour through
the wilds Of the north, where he has
been studying the locust. Mr.. Smitl
Is at the head Of the entom mologica
bureau OF the department. and he
knows much about this peStiferou!
grasshopper that eats up the crops.
The locust may raise the price O
wheat to the armies in Europe, ant
ii may bring starvation to thousands
1t is the terror of the Argentine farm
er. 1t afflicts him, even as it afflict
cd Pharoah at the command Of Nose
when lie hardened his heart an,
would not let the Israelites 60 TIL
chief difference is that Pharoah ha
tlA locust for only season, while tn
Argentines often have it year afte
year in succession. The locusts tha
spread over Egypt sailed in on a
east wind. Those that cover Argen
tina fly down from the north, ant
like their sisters of Egypt, they com
in such swarms that they cover tn
face Of the sun and darkness falls O
the land. They eat every herb, an
when they depart "there remains M
any green thing in the trees or in tn
herbs of the field throughout all tf
land that they cover. Said the Ell
tomoiogical expert, Mr.. Smith,
talking with ME:
"The Bible description of IL
plague is not overdrawn. With II
exception OF the paradise tree, II
locusts destroy every green thin
They eat the crops from the fields ar
chew up the grass. They clean IL
fruit trees of their leaves, and e
off the bark to the wood. ha
passed through orchards where Il
oranges were still hanging on Il
branches. although not leaf was
be seen. The locusts will go into
the stalks, and if the corn is sm;
they may eat it down to the grour
have travelled through miles of su
fields and through orchards where t
locusts have hung to the branch
ike bees when swarming, t
branches often breaking with I
weight OF the locusts."
during tour up the Rio de
Plata river I saw fields devastated
locusts, and travelled with Dr. Hal
nicht. who is connected with a colo
of Seventh-day Adventists from
United States. That colony is loc
ed in the province Of Entire Rios.
a region that has frequent invasi,
of locusts. Said DR.. Habenicht:
CARPENTER-TWO
THE hoppers frequently st
large trees Of their bark, leaving no
ing but the white skeletons standi
Where they attack the ripe fruit ,
%l,A ,Dl ct