Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-07-16
The Cost Of Raising Bugs.
COOPERATIVE DEMONSTRATIONS ON BUG
ELIMINArIoN.

/ IL Maine farmers were told that they
had been robbed OF several millions Ii
cash during 1917, would they not take
precautions to prevent similar theft in
1882 Yet, according to a conservative
estimate this is the loss which Maine
farmers suffered by insect enemies oI
home grown products last year.
This indemnity was collected by the
bugs directly from food that was grow
ing in the gardens, fields, and orchards.
And when it is stored, another set of in
sect pests begin their depredations. No
type of vegetable growth or livestock is
exempt. Even the little war gardens
pay their tax to the insect depredators.
Silently but constantly food is extracted
by the insects who eat all day, and then
give place to others who feed by night.
Even the unnoticed work of the bugs
when totaled up makes huge amount
of loss. The most faithful and constant
assistants the Kaiser has In America are
the ipsectsi Not only 10 Maine did they
work last year but 10 the 4S states their
damage as computed for 1917 by Expert
ment Station workers and Government
Entomologists amounted to 10 per cent
Of the total farm products of the United
States. In other words, 81, 400, ,000, 900
worth of food was eaten by insects in
stead of men. An amount sufficient to
turn the balance of the war!
How is this loss accomplished? Sup
pose, since beans are grown everywhere,
we consider this crop as an example.
According to the United States Crop Re-
ports there were $500 acres planted to
beans in Maine in 1917. With an aver
age yield of ten bushels to the acre this
meant $4,000 bushels worth on the
farm 81, ,673, 900. Cutworms, msggots,
aphids, and beetles in hordes got liv-
ing off this crop and their damage was In
excess of 10 per cent. Now 10 per
cent loss does not show up in the field
at all. 1t is seldom noted as due to in
sects even at harvest time. But when
the insects are sucking the plant juice
that would have gone into the forma-
ton of bean pod, unseen loss occurs,
and when this loss Is distributed over
many plants and many acres the total
loss is significant. This 10 per cent
damage through insect attack indicates q
money loss of more than quarter OF .
million dollars to Maine farmers and
80, 900 bushels of beans to the consumers.
Plants cannot produce . maximum OF
beans and bugs at the same time. The
more bugs the less beans is the unvary-
ing rule. And beans are only one OF the
many useful plants affected by insects.
The Indications are that Maine culti-
vators have determined TO increase
their productive efficiency by reducing
the insect board bills. In this work the
State and Federal Bureaus are offering
encouragement in the form OF coopera-
tive demonstrations Of old and new
methods OF combat. The Maine Agri-
cultural Experiment Station Staff is
directing work on insect control and
plant diseases in cooperation with the
College of Agriculture. Already men
are in the field to assist the County
Agents in combating pests. The returns
TO the cultivator for spraying will be
far more important this year than usual
because the farmer must offset lack OF
labor and fertilizer deficiency by increas-
ed spraying, or suffer decreased yields.
Every instance of crop protection this
wear is a guaranty to the American EI-
psditionary Forces that less food will be
destroyed by the Kaiser's allies In
America.
II any grower has any insect or plant
disease trouble be Is urged to inform DIS
County Agent or the Maine Agricultural
Experiment Station at Orono, and all
possible help will be afforded.-Chss. ID.
Woods, Director.