Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-13
THE LOCUSTS

We have received the following letter from G. B
Smith, Esq, of Baltimore, in relation TO our notice o
the expected coming OF the Locusts. Our ntten
ton was drawn to The subject by the simultaneous
predictions of their appearance this year by the Rich
mond Wing and Enquirer and it seemed remarkable
10 u.s. that while they forth in such numbers IL
This region in 1884, they did not show themselves at al
about Richmond at that time, which goes to subslan
tiale the idea entertained by Mr. Smith, that they ap
pear in certain districts of country, and at dieren
periods though the interval always TO be the same
viz seventeen years. Up 10 The present writing, We
have nothing of them here, but correspondent
the Richmond Wing, from Henrico county, writes tc
the editor, that his prophecy has been fulfilled, he hav
ing observed numbers issuing from his ground, an6
ascending The fences and trees The periodical appear
ance, at so long interval Of the Locusts is worthy
Of investigation, and should be pleased to see The
ahepomeuon 'lnt pafd more dnehii0h 10 Il Than
ourselves.
BALTIMORE, May 10, Is43.
Editor Of The MartinsGurg Gazette:
have iust seen your paper of the 18th instant in
which you notice the snbe Of the Locust in reference
10 couple Of articles from the Richmond papers, stat
ing that the Locusis are TO appear Ms year. Excuse
me for saying To YOU and if you please TO your read
ers that the Locust does not appear at the period
or year in all parts of the country have sixteen dit
ferent districts of the Union marked my map, where
The Locusis appear in different years. or entirely dis
connected with each other. Thus they will appear this
gear in Fauquier county, Va, and South possibly,
as far rs Richmond but not far North as Berkeley
county. Berkeley county belongs TO the Locust Dis
trrt of all the middle and Northern portion of Mary
land, Southern and Eastern portion Of Pennsy lvana
and Delaware, and the Locusts will appear in this
district till the year 1851 having appeared in it in 1884,
1917, 1900, DC, &c. few scattering insects may
make their appearance, but the great swarm will be in
1851
There is portion of Virginia, in which the Locusts
have appeared every or years. and they appeared IN
the Southern part of Loudoun comfy IN l766 l775,
1888, 1892 1900, 1907 1877 1896 1884, and will again
in 1e43-ihat they are there, have no doubt
The of this is that The borders of our Maryland
and Northern Virginia district embraces that portion
Of Virginia. and hence the appearance OF the Locusts
in 1894, 1917, &c And the boundaries of the Fau-
quer and more Southern portion Of Virginia district,
also embrace the same portion Of territory, and hence
the ocuss appeared there in 1896 and are there
q have no other knowledge that they are there, than
that aorded by my records) You observe that there
is mnpIing Of the districts in this case, and hence the
ppearance this double border territory, of Locuss
in every alternate eighth and ninth year.
The Locuss are TO appear this yfar in Western Con-
necticut, Sosth Eastern New York, and Western
forming dislrct-in Middesex
county, New Jersey, and adjacent territory, forming
mother district, and in Fuuquier county Virginia. and
South, forming another district. Possibly, they may
appear at other places, but have other in my
norandum Respectfully,
GIDEON B. SMITH