12 



the annual saving, to the producers of the crops mentioned, resuhing 

 directly or indirectly from the efforts of economic entomologists: 



Table II. — Values of certain crops in the United States, and the percentage and 

 value of the increased production due to economic entomology. 



Class of crops. 



Orchard f rui*:s 



Grapes 



Subtropical fruits _ 



Truck crops and small fruits . 



Cereals 



Cotton _ _ 



Total annual increase . 



Value in 1899. 



Percent- 

 age of in- 

 creased 

 produc- 

 tion. 



183,751,840 



14,090,937 



8,549,863 



98,894,319 



1,484,231,038 



370,708,746 



Value of in- 

 crease. 



$20,937,960 

 2,818,187 

 854,986 

 19,778,863 

 74,211,551 

 37,070,874 



155,672,421 



Notwithstanding the progress which has been made in reducing 

 loss from insects, this loss, by reason of our increased plantings of 

 crops of all kinds, continues to be very great. Estimates have been 

 made from time to time indicating, in dollars and cents, the losses 

 caused by one or more species over a greater or less territory. Re- 

 cently, interesting comparisons have been made by Professors Webster 

 and Slingerland of losses to crops in certain States and the countiy 

 at large as compared W'ith the amounts of money required for the 

 sujjport of our various institutions. Thus we are told that the 

 annual loss occasioned by insects in the United States amounts to 

 more than is required for all educational purposes; nearly twice as 

 much as is required for the support of our Army and Navy; over 

 twice the losses from fire, and nearly three times the estimated value 

 of the products of all fruit orchards, vineyards, and small fruit farms 

 in our country. 



Careful estimates have shown that the total annual loss from insect 

 depredations in the Ignited States at the present time is not less than 

 $300,000,000. In the face of such figures it would appear that we 

 have scarcely entered the threshold of achievement in conquering 

 injurious species. It may not, however, be argued froiii tlio figures 

 given that little has thus far been accomplished. It will be remem- 

 bered that years ago, in 1800, insect losses in the country at large 

 were placed by Walsh at not less than $300,000,000 annually. If 

 these estimates are correct the losses appear to have been held sta- 

 tionar}^, notwithstanding our great agricultural development during 

 the forty years intervening. Present-day estimates are based on a 

 10 per cent reduction of all crops by the combined attack of the vari- 

 ous species which prey upon them. In Walsh's time the percentage 

 of injury nnist have been much higher, as determined by the A'alue of 

 farm products at that time. 



