The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-02
IMPORTED INSECTS
CAUSE HUGE LOSS
Department Of Agriculture Estimates
Damages of $500, 100000 Done An
nually to Farm Orchard and
Forest Crops.

| Ii IL were announced that 500 food
laden ships valued nj 81 100000 each had
been sunk by submarines. the people
would be appalled,. Especially would
that be true at this time of food short
age. But, the officials of the United
states department of agriculture, tell
us that conseryatively estimated $500,
100000 is the lass caused yearly TO our
farm, orchard and forest crops by inn
ported insects, yet we continue To i'm
port plants on which these pests come
into the country, This loss Of $685. 00..
900 annually is mostly food stuils, which
would keep an army of nearly 100000
men continually supplied with provi-
sions. These losses are SO stupendous
and so vital at this time that further
importation of ornamental plants
should cease at once, as war meas
ure, II for no other reason.
According to u recent report of the
federal horticultural board of the United
States department OF agriculture 1913
insects and 10 plant diseases which
might prove harmful to American plants
were detected in that wear on imported
plant materials by federal and state in
spectors. These inspectors admit that
sects and diseases, and this accounts for
the discovery every year of several new
pests established here.
The value of these imported plants
seldom exceeded S3,500,000 in any one
year, yet we are told by certain i'm
porters that il would be great hardship
on the country of this importation were
to be stopped. The facts show that to
continue such importation is a hardship
many times greater, and all out of pro-
portion TO the gain.
Based on the growth and value of our
nursery and Horticultural establishments |
as recorded by the census of 1910 these |
establishments are worth to-day, near |
lv S00,000,000, 900. Ii would seem that |
these nurseries could grow this compar-
atively small amount of material that |
we import Our leading horticulturists,
and nurserymen agree
that we can propagate any plant in this
country that we now import. We would |
keep the money at home that now goes
abroad and we would not endanger our
native plants by these foreign pests. The i
federal bureau of entomology has pre-
pared list of 5000 insects alone not
% speak of the large number of plant
diseases, which has not yet been com
,iled, that would be harmful TO our ma
i've plants, but which have not yet
cached here. Many of these are sure
o come if we continue to bring in plants
which are the natural carriers of these
tests.
We are already spending more money
early, fighting imported insects and
liant diseases, than the value of all the
lants imported and the loss caused by !
hese imported plant enemies is over
ne hundred times the value of those
Other countries have leg !
slated against imported plants but the
inited States continues to be dump
NJ ground for these pests. Our system !
! haphazard, endangers our resources,
nd is unjust to the producers of our h
BOD.
The Hessian fly, alfalfa weevil, San
ose scale, codling moth, citrus canker, n
lestnut blight, pine blister rust, gypsy
10th, brown tail moth and leopard moth Il
re only few of the well-known insects H
nd diseases that are costing the coun
y millions each year, There are scores II
grubs, blights, wood and bark bores :
having away AT our resources. F.
There Is only one way to avoid in :
easing this tremendous burden and
lat is the prohibition of imperialism of
ant materials. Senate bill No. 1914
Nv before Congress seeks to do this
I'd it should have the support of every
oducer and consumer of food stuffs
lille it will prohibit the wholesale i'm
'rtation Of plants it does not prevent
from obtaining new plants for propa
ting purposes through the department
agriculture.