CHAPTER TV 

 FARM METHODS FOR THE CONTROL OF INSECTS 



THE old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of 

 cure," is never more true than in the control of insect pests, for in 

 almost all cases their successful control is by prevention before the 

 injury has become acute, rather than by destruction after the 

 injury is noticeable. Even insecticides must be applied so that 

 they will kill the insect before it has done serious damage, for after 

 damage is apparent it is too late to prevent the injury, so that 

 the use of insecticides for the protection of crops must be of a pre- 

 ventive nature. In the control of insects affecting the staple 

 crops which are grown over immense areas with a small profit per 

 acre, it is evidently impracticable to use insecticides and mechani- 

 cal methods which are used in the orchard and garden. For the 

 control of staple crop insects we are compelled to rely largely on 

 general methods of farm management, which may be carried out 

 in connection with the farm operations at small cost, and which 

 will fatally interfere with the development of the insect to be con- 

 trolled. To do this intelligently involves an understanding of 

 the life-history of the insect, revealing the time at which it is most 

 vulnerable and the reason for the method of control advised. The 

 importance of such a knowledge of the life-histories and habits of 

 insects to be controlled by farm methods will become apparent 

 in the following chapters. 



Though the insects affecting staple crops are more largely con- 

 trolled by farm methods, those of the garden and orchard may be 

 much reduced by the intelligent application of the same princi- 

 ples, and he who adapts his methods so as to prevent insect attack 

 will be much more successful than one who depends upon artificial 

 means for their destruction. 



Looking Ahead. In planning the management, of their land 

 and crops for the coming season, few farmers consider the effect 



29 



