The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, MAY 17th, 1924.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, MAY 17th, 1924.

INSECT VERSUS MAX. Aj-tkh food, cotton is the one commodity tlie need J'or which in human existence is almost universal. Anything that effects rotten either in the way of supply or distribution, touches the world to the utmost point of eiivuiufeienee. Hisfwry, says an American commercial journal, is making just now in the cotton marled; in fact, histoty has boon making in cotton over sintu ti.e boil weevil crossed tin- border lino oi Mexico and invaded an area which lias been recognised as the greatest cotton producing section of the world. Strange that currents of trade and the degree of human comfoit should he thus strongly influenced by an insect pest so insignificant in size as vo be scarcely envisioned. This is not the first time in the world’s history, however, that humanity has been disturbed anti stopped in tlio steady progress of affairs by causes so small. Scientists tell us that the real war of the world, a struggle almost for existence, in that between insect and man. I whevked ami unrestrained, insect life would literally overwhelm humanity to the destruction of civilisation itself. 'I no passing of Greece and the fall of Home have been attributed to a thousand different circumstances, but the practical scientist of to-day does not laugh at the theory that those empires jeiished or lost their prestige because of low vitality traceable to the ravages of the malarial mosquito. It is safe to set down this theory as partly true. Here and there man makes progress against his insect foe. as witness die wiping out of yellow fever in sore stricken spots of the tropics, and the conquering of other diseases that originate from parasites lower in the plane of existence than visible insects. Even now vigorous action is lieing taken to check the continued ravages of the gypsy moth in the eastern states of America, and Canada fears for the future of her coniferous wealth, traceable to the silent hut deadly onward march of the blister pest. Almost vearly rumors came out of the groat wheat producing areas of dnmage to man’s principal 'food crop, ruined or pa rt ly mined by bl.Aek rust. lnscctwor-

oils in oiigin and only I’nitly to lie' Prevented by the most strenuous action. 'Hie San Jose scale is the bugbear—without- using that term in the .sense of a pun— of the California citrous funner, and so in every section of the world insects and parasites oppose tlieiiieslvcs ;\s a deadly army against civilisation. 'While it cannot be said that man has won the battle, he will in time pose as the victor; blit he must be ever vigilant and must be willing lo throw the reserves and resources of wealth and of work into the fight. Coming had: to cotton, which for the moemnt represents the greatest illustration and one that is likely to be most costly in its consequences so far as damage of insect origin is concerned, the world will have to pay more attention to what is happening in this commodity than it has been pleased or willing to do so far. The world may for the moment avoid the consequences hy using a little less cotton tliTm otherwise Mould go into consumption. Indeed, trade statistics indicate that this is already the ease. The law of supply and demand with price affiliations accounts for the application of ilii.s first of all to be tried remedy. TTow far this remedy will apply is doubtful. It can be used only to a limited extent before the need of other resources becomes apparent or necessary. The unsatisfied demand for a commodity, particularly one heretofore sectional in origin, means a sharp price advance. It also brings its own ameliorating factor, in the common human impulse to take advantage' of a suddenly more profitable market. In a word, such a condition inspires mankind to an eflort to supply demand at an increasingly higher level of profit. This we are witnessing now in the attempt to promote cotton production in parts of the world where heretofore cotton has not been regarded as a natural crop, and to increase the production in other sections where cotton has been raised indifferently or without spccilisation.