INJURY DONE STAPLE CHOPS BY INSECT PESTS. 5 



These estimates of losses due to insects are then very 

 largely comparative. Yet, to a large extent, they are still 

 real losses, the same as are those occasioned by fire and 

 storm. For though a small crop may bring better prices, 

 it is usuall}' at the expense of individuals or communities 

 which have sustained exceptionally heavy losses. AVere 

 these losses evenly distributed among all those producing 

 a given crop, there would be no real hardship to them; 

 but such is by no means the case. 



All this, then, goes to emphasize the fact that the suc- 

 cessful farmer — as the successful man in any other trade 

 or j)rofession — is the one who is able to overcome obstacles 

 which, though possibly ruining his neighbor, are making 

 a good market for his special crop. And these insect 

 pests can be largely overcome. The millennium will doubt- 

 less come before the farmer will be able to stop fighting 

 them, but a large part of the damage by them can be pre- 

 vented at a cost which renders it profitable. Rational 

 methods of general farm practice with the proper use of 

 ap23aratus and insecticides, even such as are now known, 

 and in which improvements are being constantly made, if 

 intelligently used by American farmers, would save to 

 them fully two-thirds of this enormous loss. 



•^^ 



