Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-29
S20O,O(O,ODDLOSS
LAID TO EROS|ON
Scientists Are Told Future
Generations VIII Face
Problem as Result.
BY the Associated Press.

NASHVILLE. Tenn, December 90,
Farmers Of the Nation suffer a tan,
gible yearly loss of S200. 600, 600
through the removal of plant food
from their foods and pastures by the
process of erosion, scientists were told
today by II. II. Bennett of the Division
of Chemistry and Soils of the Bureau
Of Plant Industry of the Department
of Agriculture.
Urging soil conservation as a major
step in any fundamental system OF
food control, Bennett informed geog-
raphers and biologists attending the
convention of the American Associa-
ton for the Advancement of Science
that the country's increasing popuia-
ton a few generations hence might
feel very acutely" the evil effects of
erosion.
The replacement value of potash.
phosphorus and nitrogen in soil wasted
by erosion exceeds $2oo.ooooo0 each
year throughout the country. the
speaker asserted.
Soil Loss Is Great.
'.In this connection" he continued
s'it must be considered that not only
the plant food is removed by rain
wash, but the soil as well. The soil
that is washed out of fields cannot he
restored. except by those exceedingly
slow natural processes of soil build
ing that require in many instances
undetermined centuries to develop
con,parativelv thin layer Of soil.
a very considerable part OF the
eroded wastage obviously is an I'M
mediate loss to the farmer.
Another considerable part OF the
~ 20
channels"
Bennett suggested terracing of fields
and the growing of trees. shrubs and
grasses on idle lands and areas too
steep for cultivation and on soils
highly susceptible to washing as the
most important steps that can he
taken as a supplementary means OF
food prevention.
Very Little Being Done.
"bs a nation we are doing very
little TO abate the evil effects of the
scourge of erosion" he asserted.
Every one who knows anything about
1t admits the problem is serious one.
but few realize how exceedingly dew.
as.ating it Is in its wholesale opera
ton
Few sections of the country escape
the soil wastage. Bennett said. 1t has
destroyed valuable land. he pointed
out, in the South Appalachian Valley,
the Tennessee River Valley. south cen.
trail Kentucky, the Piedmont region.
the up'ands of the Mississippi and the
Missouri, the black lands" of Texas.
the drier lands of the West and even
the comparatively smooth prairies and
plains of the North Central States.
A development of more or less ex-
pensive modes to aid the farmer to
protect his seed grain from insects
was announced today at a meeting of
economic entomologists attending the
sessions of the association.
" P Flint. chief entomologist of
the State Natural History Survey of
Illinois, and Justus Frankenfeld,
Junior entomoloyiss of the DEPARTMENT
of Agriculture. in a joint paper
described series Of experiments which
were more or less successful The
most promising material tried, they
said. was a mixture of creosote and
hydrated lime. while copper carbonate
also gave very good protection"
Bee Regulates Working Hours.
The bee. IL seems. regulates his
working hours to meet the require
ments of his business.
Observers have found that bees are
most active about Q o'clock in the
mornings of normal Summer days. A
L. Bake and Setek Ling OF Iowa State
College told why In a paper today at
joint session Of the Biological Society
OF America and the Botanical Society
OF America.
Suspecting that the bees timed their
visits TO the blossoms 10 coincide with
the plants maximum production of
nectar. they made series Of hourly
measurements by means of a small,
especially constructed pippette. Their
study showed that the available sup.