age absolute loss of the farmers of
this country from such pests is fully one million dollars per annum.

Gail Hamilton said of her squashes:

"They appeared above-ground, large-lobed and vigorous. Large and
vigorous appeared the bugs, all gleaming in green and gold, like the
wolf on the fold, and stopped up all the stomata and ate up all the
parenchyma, till my squash-leaves looked as if they had grown for the
sole purpose of illustrating net-veined organizations. A universal bug
does not indicate a special want of skill in any one."

Not liking to crush the bug between thumb and finger as advised, she
tried drowning them. She says: "The moment they touched the water they
all spread unseen wings and flew away. I should not have been much more
surprised to see Halicarnassus soaring over the ridge pole. I had not
the slightest idea they could fly."

Then the aphides! Exhausters of strength--vine fretters--plant
destroyers! One aphis, often the progenitor of over five thousand
million aphides in a single season. This seems understated, but I accept
it as the aphidavit of another noted helminthologist. I might have
imagined Nature had a special grudge against me if I had not recalled
Emerson's experience. He says: "With brow bent, with firm intent, I go
musing in the garden walk. I stoop to pick up a weed that is choking the
corn, find there were two; close behind is a third, and I reach out my
arm to a fourth; behind that there are four thousand and one!

"Rose bugs and wasps appear best when flying. I admired them most when
flying away from my garden."

Horace Greeley said that "No man who harbors caterpillars has any moral
right to apples." But one sees whole orchards destroyed in this way for
lack of time to attack such a big job. Farmers have been unjustly
attacked by city critics who do not understand the situation. There was
much fine writing last year in regard to the sin and shame of cutting
down the pretty, wild growth of shrubs, vines, and flowers along the
wayside, so picturesque to the summer tourist. The tangle of wild grape,
clematis, and woodbine is certainly pretty, but underneath is sure to be
found a luxuriant growth of thistle, wild carrot, silk weed, mullein,
chickweed, tansy, and plantain, which, if allowed to seed and
disseminate themselves, would soon ruin the best farms. There is a
deadly foe, an army of foes, hiding under these luxuriant festoons and
masses of cheerful flowers.

Isn't it s