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per cent, and in some cases amounting to total destruction of a 

 crop. The campaign against injurious insects other than the boll 

 weevil is therefore becoming of much more importance than 

 heretofore. The fruit-growing industries, for example, cannot 

 be successful, one year with another, unless the fruit-growers 

 possess reliable information regarding the methods of controlling 

 the insects which yearly threaten the fruit crop. 



It is unnecessary to call attention to the many insect enemies 

 which affect sugar cane, corn, alfalfa, pecans, oranges, garden 

 and truck crops, etc., which annually levy a heavy toll. Many of 

 these insects are practically unknown, so far as their develop- 

 ment, habits and natural enemies are concerned, and until they 

 have been carefully studied means cannot be successfully de- 

 vised for mitigating the damage for which they are responsible. 



The experience of other States has shown that in the past 

 the average annual destruction by insects has been equivalent 

 to at least 10 per cent of the agricultural products. The value 

 of Louisiana's agricultural produce, exclusive of live stock, is 

 approximately $111,000,000 per annum. The insect damage in 

 Louisiana is undoubtedly higher than the 10 per cent mentioned, 

 owing to the fact that insects, both sub-tropical and temperate 

 in their distribution, occur here in unusual numbers, and also 

 owing to the fact that several extremely destructive pests have 

 already been introduced into the State from foreign countries. 



The damage by insects in the State of Louisiana must exceed 

 ten millions of dollars annually. Space cannot be taken here 

 to present statistics regarding the insect damage done to various 

 crops and products, but it is sufficient to call attention to the fact 

 that an unlimited field is here presented for the State Crop Pest 

 Commission to bring about a saving of thousands of dollars an- 

 nually to our farmers and planters by furnishing them with 

 reliable information concerning the means by which these ene- 

 mics may be controlled or destroyed. 



The Secretary, therefore, has no recommendation to make, 

 other than that the Commission continue actively the work begun, 

 and by preventing the dissemination of dangerous insect enemies 

 by suitable quarantine measures, by investigating and devising 

 remedies for insect pests and by disseminating information re- 



