ECONOMIC VALUE OF OUR BIRDS 49 



only a faint reflection of the hand-to-hand fight 

 that tree-owners and tree-protectors are called 

 upon to wage each year against insect enemies. 



In order that we may approach our subject in a 

 thoroughly chastened and humble frame of mind, 

 let us make a brief survey of the damage inflicted 

 in a stated period upon agriculture, horticulture 

 and forestry in the United States. 



In 1903, the Department of Agriculture very 

 wisely ordered a group of its expert investigators 

 and statisticians to examine and to report upon the 

 annual damage inflicted by insects upon the leading 

 industrial interests of our country. The investiga- 

 tion was directed by Mr. C. L. Marlatt, and the 

 results were published in the departmental Year- 

 book of 1904. It is no exaggeration to say that 

 they profoundly astonished the public. The figures 

 representing damages were arrived at by obtaining 

 estimates of the percentage of loss for 1903 to the 

 various plant industries of the nation and to forests, 

 and from the known value of the various crops the 

 amount of damage to each was figured out. So far 

 as I am aware, the accuracy of the published figures 

 never has been disputed. The annual loss to the 

 various crops ranges from 10 to 20 per cent. The 

 following is the statement of annual losses on farm 

 and forest products chargeable to insect pests : 



