tabulation of the insect enemies of the apple already recognized 

 in this country shows 281 species, of clover 82 species, and of so 

 new a crop as the sugar beet 70 species. The insects of the vine, of 

 the orange, of the wheat crop, and, in fact, of all of our prominent 

 staples, show equally startling figures." 



In another place Dr. Howard quotes statistics showing that 

 half the cattle received at the Union Stock Yards of Chicago in 

 1889, Avere afflicted with the ox bot fly, or ox warble, resulting in an 

 actual loss of over three million dollars in six months from that one 

 insect alone. Instances of insect ravages might easily be multiplied 

 ad infinitum. The only redeeming feature of this situation is the 

 wonderful industry of our scientists, who in all parts of the world, 

 have studied the problems of fighting and exterminating the foe. 

 The public has been educated, also, in a few of the fundamental 

 principles of economic entomology, especially in regard to the value 

 of birds in combating insects. We are becoming more than ever 

 impressed with the dangerous character of flies and mosquitoes. 

 Experiments in the eradication of mosquitoes have been carried 

 on in many parts of the country. We all know what has already 

 been done along this line in some tropical regions. Reference will 

 be made in another paragraph to the extraordinary battle waged 

 in California against the scale insects. Indeed, we may say, in 

 summing up this part of the subject, that no warfare was ever more 

 scientifically waged than the present warfare of civilization against 

 noxious insects, allowing, of course, that there is still ample room 

 for improvement. 



But there is another side, a brighter side, to the insect ques- 

 tion. Dr. Howard says : 



"Insects are beneficial : 1. As destroyers of injurious in- 

 sects. 2. As destroyers of noxious plants. 3. As pollenizers of 

 plants. 4. As scavengers. 5. As makers of soil. 6. As food 

 (both for man and for poultry, song birds and food fishes) and as 

 clothing, and as used in the arts." 



It is needless to add that our Department of Agriculture, 

 under the lead of such experts as the late Dr. Eiley and Dr. 

 Howard, whom I have just quoted, has spared no efforts to reap a 

 profit from the insect world wherever possible. These men have 

 raised the science of economic entomology to a position of inter- 



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