Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-06-09
The E.OCUsts.
l7rom the Martinsburg Gdzette.

We have received the following let
Ter from Gideon B Smith, ESQ Of Bal
limore, 'in relation 10 our notice Of the
expected coming Of the locusts Our
attention was drawn TO tho subject by
the simultaneous predictions Of their ap.
psaranco this year by the Richmond
Whig and Enquirer, and it seemed re-
markable 10 US that. while they came
forth in such numbers 10 this region in
1894, they did not show themselves at
all about Richmond at that time, which
goes 10 substanliate The idea entertained
| by Mr.. Smith that they appear in certain
districts Of country, and at different
periods, though Tho inlerva always
seems to be the same, viz: seventeen
years. Up to the present writing, we
have seen nothing ofthem here, bat o
correspondent Of !he Richmond Whig,
from Henrico county, writes tothe edi-
tor that his prophecy has been fulfilled,
ho having observed numbers issuing
from his grounds and ascending the
fences and trees. The periodical ap-
pearauce, at so long an Interval, Of the
ocusis is worthy OF investigation, and
we should be pleased 10 see The pheno-
menon explained by Some one acquaint-
cd with tho subject who may have paid
more attention to it than ourselves,
BALTIMORE, May 10, 1884
Tothe Editor of ihe MdrtinSburg GoS.
j have just seen your paper Of
the 18th instant, in which you notice
the subject Of the locust, in reference TO
O couple Of articles from tho Richmond
papers, statng that the locusts are to
appear this gear. Excuse me for saying
to you, and If you please to your read
ers, that the locust docs not appear at
the same period or year in all parts Of
the country. | have SiGieen different
districts Of the Union marked on my
map where the locuSts appeari in dtIler
ent years, or entirely disconnected with
each other. Thus they will appear his
gear in Fauquier county. Virginia, and
south, possibly, as far as Richmond; but
not as far north as Berkeley county
Berkeley county belongs TO the locust
district of all the middle and norIherO
portion Of Maryland, southern and eOs
torn portion of'PennsyIvania and Dolu-
ware, and The locusls will not appear in
this district till tho year 1851. having
a appeared in It in 1884, 1917, 1900, &c,
A few scattering insects may mako their
appearance, but the great swarm will be
in 1851 There is a portion Of Virgin
10, in which the locusts have appeared
every eight or nine yerrs; and they up
poared 10 the southern part Of Loudoun
county in l766, l775, 1888, 1892 1900,
1909, 1917, 1926, 1884, and toH again
in lS43; that they are now there ! have
no doubt. The reason Of this is, the
borders Of our Maryland and north
0rn Virginia district embraces that por
lion Of Virginia, and hence the appear
ancc Of tho locuSs in 1884 1917, DC
Aud tho boundaries oI the Fauquler aud
more southern portion Of Virginia dis
iricl also embrace the same portion Of
and hence the locusIs appear
ed there in 1926, and are noao there, q
have no other knowledge that they are
there, than that afforded by my records.)
You observe that there is a minglIng Of
the districts in this case, and hence the
appearance on this double border terri
tory Of locuss in every alternate eighth
aud ninth year,
The locusls are to appear This year
in western Connecticut, southeastern N,
York, and western Massachusetts, form
ing ono district; 10 Middlesex county,
New Jersey, and adjacent territory,
forming another district; and in Fauquier
county, Virginia, aod south, forming an
other district, Possibly they may ap
pear al other places, but ! have no other
in my memorandum.
Respectable,
GIDEON B. SMITH.
WHO ARE THE GREATi