Nature's Penalty for Interference 153 



fought by every means in our power, we are not certain 

 that we can ever control them. 



The codhng moth, whose larva is the little apple worm, 

 causes an immense loss in our fruit orchards. The cotton- 

 boll weevil, which destroys so much of the cotton, is, like 

 the codling moth, an insect imported from another country. 

 The San Jose scale reached CaUforhia from China and has 

 now spread throughout our coimtry. It has a special fond- 

 ness for the sap of fruit trees, and, being so small, was not 

 noticed until it had got beyond control. This scale causes 

 more loss than any other of the tree insects. 



The Hessian fly, introduced from Europe more than one 

 hundred years ago, causes during certain seasons a very 

 great loss to the wheat crop. The Argentine ant has been 

 brought to us from South America and is proving a most 

 destructive pest. The Norway rat was brought to our 

 coimtry on sailing vessels and causes more loss than most 

 of us realize. The EngUsh sparrow has spread over much 

 of the country and is- driving many of the native birds from 

 their homes, because of its quarrelsome disposition. It 

 makes itself a nuisance on all our city streets. 



The mongoose, in its home in India, is a great rat killer, 

 but does not there increase so as to do much harm. Wher- 

 ever it has been carried for the purpose of using it as a rat 

 killer, this little four-footed animal has become a terrible 

 scourge. After it destroys the rats it goes after the snakes. 

 Then it attacks the other small animals and birds. Finally 

 it begins upon the chickens, and even the vegetables in the 

 garden are not safe from its voracious appetite. 



Men are now watching at every port to see that no more 

 dangerous insects and animals are brought into the country. 



