Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-18
XI-War On Bugs
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
By Frederi J. HaSkin.

In addition to work of protecting our food
crops, of entomology is prepared to sup
ply trained accompany forces in the field
That army in the field should need an entOmologist
glance strange; but prominent scientists
have strongly recommended the inclusion of such
specialist in every large force. The United States
public health service will overtaxed with the i'm
mense of organizing hospitals and taking the
most fundamental sanitary precautions; many OF the
dangers threaten army are conveyed by IN
sects and it is considered advisable that there should
be on hand trained specialists to study these prob
lens. Malaria and yellow fever carried by mos
quitoes typhus by the body louise, ana many diseases
by fly. An army. especially if entering strange
country working under conditions would have
to face new dangers from insects
the present emergency has ally among
the insects, we'll host of enemies. The honey
bee promises attain in the next few years an en-
tirely Importance in the United States. Heavy
European demands steadily cutting down our sugar
supply which has been stir further reduced by revo-
buttons In Cuba. We produce little and beet
and a little maple sugar but production
OF plant sugars cannot be greatly increased On the
other hand there is enough flower nectar produced
in the United States and used for other purpose
whatever. to supply large part Of the national de-
mand for sweets. There IS only way
of manufacturing this nectar into sugar, and that
is, by the agency Of the honey bee
For this bureau of entomology is launch
ing most determined campaign for the increase
of production Of honey. The president Of the
National Bee Keepers association. Mr. Francis jaeger
assistants is working in the offices OF
the bureau in cooperation with the government
pers meeting OF representatives of all the state
keepers associations held in Washington few
days
This honey campaign includes not only propaganda
the increased production of honey;
ing of system of marketing IT, and teaching the
people its value food. For not only may honey be
used for almost every purpose served by sugar and
makes better cooking sweet but honey at 10 cents
a pound is palatable substitute for butter at so
cents.
When it is taken into account that the bee works
without supervision requires very little and
that his material simply the nectar Of flowers, OF
which almost pcalculable amount used for
no purpose the large possibilities Of this method Of
sugar production at becomes apparent They
have taken a hold upon the imaginattons Of the meu
who working the problem; every bee man whom
you talk these days is red-hot zealot President
lager says that annual production Of honey be
increased ten-foId within few Mr.. Philips
the government expert. viewing immediate possibili
now producing from two hundred and fifty to three
million pounds OF honey year; and that this pro-
duction can be increased within year by hun
dred million pounds. This Is to be accomplished by
inducing more people keep bees. and teaching
rect methods handling them. The American bee
may make up a large part OF the deficit caused
by Cuban revolutionists. and the European demand