41 



was frequently asked for information as to the advisibilty of large expenditures for 

 entomological purposes, and that although entomologists frequently spoke of the large 

 losses from insects, we did not provide politicians — and particularly himself — with data 

 by which they could explain and justify these expenditures, which those who understood 

 them knew to be of such enormous importance, and when we wished to point out the 

 great injuries done by insects we had to go back continuously to old published records 

 which we had all been quoting for upwards of ten or twenty years. Now we find upon 

 investigation that accurate estimates of damage done by insects are exceedingly difficult 

 to arrive at, and the figures are so large that we are rather afraid to quote them ourselves 

 lest we should prevent rather than encourage investigation, and it has been the custom 

 of entomologists to minimise the estimates for fear they should not be believed. Now 

 the necessity has arisen, I think, and I lay it before the Association for action, in the 

 direction of gathering together some reliable recent statistics in a sliort form, which may 

 be printed for distribution, and which will cover the more important injuries to date, 

 and the part the work of the entomologist has played in reducing injury or preventing 

 loss, so that we may overcome this difficulty and provide legislators and ouiselves with 

 data with which to meet this argument. After a careful examination and great effort to 

 obtain data I have found that there are certain of these large estimates which appear to 

 be reliable. I think better results will follow the publication of a few quite reliable 

 statistics, which may be taken as typical instances, than by accumulating a large number 

 of items which would increase the chance of error and might not be read so carefully. 

 By way of example T will refer to the Chinch bug. I have examined carefully the esti- 

 mates which have been published concerning that particular insect, and the following are 

 probably quite reliable and appear to have been made with due regard to all collateral 

 considerations, as the increased value of the saved crop, the cost of remedial measures, 

 and similar subjects. 



In 1864 Dr. Shimer's estimate, which I find was drawn up with very great care, put 

 the loss in the one state of Illinois to the corn and grain crops at $73,000,000. In Dr. 

 Riley's Reports on the injurious insects of Missouri, we find in 1874 there was a reliable 

 estimate of the loss to that State by the same insect of $19,000,000. In 1887 Professor 

 Osborn's estimate, founded upon the reports of the correspondents of the State Agricul- 

 tural Society' of Iowa, put the loss in that State on corn and grain at $25,000,000 ; and 

 lastly, Mr. Howard's estimate, as given in the entomologist's report for 1887, for the nine 

 States infested by the chinch bug in that year, was $60,000,000. 



Now, gentlemen, I think these statistics of the injuries to crops by one insect alone 

 are probably as reliable as any that we can get, and they give a good argument which we 

 may use as showing the depredations of insects ; but it is not sufficient that we can con- 

 vince people that great injury is going on ; we must show that we are doing something 

 to mitigate this injury. In Professor Comstock's Report for 1879 the estimate of the 

 possible annual loss in years of general prevalence of the cotton Aletia is placed at $30,- 

 000,000 through the cotton States. The injuries by grasshopers in the different States 

 of the Union and also occasionally through the British North American provinces have 

 been so enormous that figures hardly give an idea of the injury they do, but they are 

 known by all to be enormous. 



As an instance, however, of what may be done to mitigate their attacks I would 

 merely mention those for this year, which seem to have been very considerable. In the 

 States of North Dakota and Minnesota it is probable that at least $400,000 have been 

 saved on account of work done by direct advice of entomologists — work they have in 

 some instances forced upon the farmers. Two hundred thousand dollars is a probable 

 estimate of the amount saved by plowing the land last autumn. Another equal amount 

 has been saved by the use of " hopperdozers." Professor Bruner tells me that a sufficient 

 number of grasshoppers have been actually taken this year, wliich if left alone and allowed 

 to lay their eggs might next year have devastated the whole crops of those two States 

 and the adjoining parts of Manitoba. These successful operations have been carried on 

 by the state entomologist of Minnesota, Professor Lugger, and by Professor Waldron, of 

 North Dakota, ably aided by the advice and assist mce of the agent of the Department of 



