30 
of fall plowing to disturb the hibernating quarters of field insects, will 
almost certainly be accompanied by comparative immunity from insect 
pests. 
The vigor and healthfulness of plant growth has also much to do 
with freedom from insect injury, such plants seeming to have a native 
power of resistance which renders them, in a measure, distasteful to 
most insects, or at least able to throw off or withstand their attacks. 
A plant already weakened, however, or of lessened vitality from any 
cause, Seems to be especially sought after, is almost sure to be the first 
affected, and furnishes a starting point for general infestation. Any- 
thing, therefore, which aids good culture in keeping plants strong and 
vigorous, such as the judicious use of fertilizers, will materially assist 
in preventing injury. 
To the constant cropping of large areas of land year after year to 
the same staple is largely due the excessive loss from insects in this 
country as compared with European countries, because this practice 
furnishes the best possible conditions for the multiplication of the 
enemies of such crops. A most valuable cultural means, therefore, is 
a system of rotation. of crops which will prevent the gradual yearly 
increase of the enemies of any particular staple by the substitution 
every year or two of other cultures not subject to the attacks of the 
insect enemies of the first. 
With such insects as the Hessian fly, the squash borers, and many 
others which have regular times of appearance, much can be done, 
also, by the planting of early or late varieties, or by deferring seeding 
so as to avoid the periods of excessive danger. Wherever possible, 
varieties should be selected which experience has shown to be resistant 
to insect attack. Familiar illustrations of such resistant varieties in 
all classes of cultivated plants will occur to every practical man, and a 
better instance of the benefit to be derived from taking advantage of 
this knowledge can not be given than the almost universal adoption of 
resistant American vines as stocks for the regeneration of the vineyards 
of France destroyed by the phylloxera and for the similarly affected 
vineyards of European grapes in California. 
In the case of stored grain pests, particularly the Angoumois moth, 
or so-called fly weevil, the chief danger in the South is while the grain 
is standing in shock or stack, after harvesting, during which period 
the insects have easy access to it. This source of infestation may be 
avoided by promptly threshing grain after harvesting and storing it 
in bulk. This will prevent the injury of more than the surface layer, 
as the insects are not likely to penetrate deeply into the mass of the 
grain. 
These general notes are by no means new, but their importance jus- 
tifies their repetition, as indicating the best preventive measures in 
connection with the remedial ones already given. 
