INSECT ENEMIES OP WHEAT 187 



At least as early as 1880 insurance of crops against fire was 

 becoming popular in some sections of the United States. Dur- 

 ing the eighth decade 38 hail and tornado insurance companies 

 were transacting business. They were located in 12 different 

 states ranging from Florida to Ohio, Colorado,* Michigan and 

 Connecticut. There is apparently no hail in California. 



There are at present numerous companies maintained in the 

 north central states for the purpose of insuring crops against 

 destruction by hail and wind. This sort of insurance generally 

 seems to be confined to the co-operative, or assessment plan. 

 The rate varies from 3 to 12 per cent, according to locality. In 

 California several companies insure growing grain against 

 fire at a rate of about 1 per cent per annum, but in the 

 north central states no such insurance is written. In a few of 

 these states there have been excessive losses in some years 

 upon the hail loss branch of insurance. Canada also has a 

 system of hail insurance. Extensive hail storms occur in Ar- 

 gentina and in many districts insurance is generally secured 

 by the colonists. 



