Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-09-05
agricultural.
Tae Grasshopper on the Var Path.
The Desolation OF Fields, aud the Despair
of Farmers.


the farmers OF Maine. Readers OF the
Press, who have not been in the country.
have but small conception of the ruin
that has been wrought by this prolific
insect. which is now entitled to The full
dignity Of his scientific name, GTylt'tS
TulgariS. Having laid waste to the
whole of the central part of the State.
and desolated entire townships, he may
fairly complain OF ill-usage if still referr-
ed to by the belittling name Of grass
hopper" His rule is by no means over
yet. | hear OF certain localities which
he has abandoned, ostensibly on account
Of rain. But more plausible reason Is
the failure of the means OF subsistence.
GryllHS FulSariS is not person to be
discouraged by such showers As have oc-
CURED so far. l know by personal OBJ
servation that he decidedly approves OF
them, and that he rises from them re-
freshed, invigorated, cheerful and-hun'
cry. He laughs at showers, and thrives
ON the rain that adds TO his stores. Very
peculiar are his manners and customs
this year, and though am not sufficient
" versed in natural history to give with
any pretense to technical accuracy 4 de-
scription of this maraudcr, can tell
what he does. The grasshopper OF 1871
disdains to Jump. That act which used
TO be so characteristic of the GrylluS
family, is now voted vulgar in all polite
grasshopper circles. Provided with good
wings. some OF them richly Digit and
bordered with yellow, they al emulate
the butterfly, and fly from course to
course in their eternal banqucting. There
is little green relative OF the family,
the Sam Patch OF the race, who alone
keeps alive the tradition that hopping
was ever one OF its accomplishments
All the rest-greeu, piebald, black and
the hoary old Quaker, clad in complete
drab-hy at all hazards. The prevalence
of this custom, makes the loss OF leg
or two, misfortune to which they are
peculiarly subject. a matter OF no conSe-
quence. Whenever they DO take q little
respite from the arduouS labor of eating,
they seek a sunny spot, and there, rest
ing on their stomachs, as if to get relief
from the pains Of repletiou, their long
legs tucked Snugly under them. they
seem still intent on thegreat problem Of
their existence. thruSting out their pGLpi
in IN anticipatary way, while their long
attenna are moving inquiriugly here and
there This preference for the sun,
causes their ravages to appear much
more noticeable by the roadsides, the bor-
der of eart-roadS and on the margin of
corn and grain fields than elsewhere.
1t is not eXtrayagant 10 say that the
damage directly and indirectly inflicted
by the grasshoppers in the State the pres
ent year, must be measured by millions
of dollars. In some places. both on the
AndrOseoggin and kenuebec, the farm
ers are turning their starving cattle into
their grain fields to pick up what their
arch enemy has LETT. There are many
square miles Of territory where not a
bushel Of grain will be raised, though
before the descent OF the destroyer, there
was an unusual promise OF q crop. Hun
dredS Of farmers, who two weeks ago
were expecting at least good crop OF
corn, will hardly get an ear. The wing
ed ieebOo.ers do everything but dig the
potatoes, and they would not stick at
that if they could not work as destruct-
lively by eating the tops. The fields look
IS il fire had run over them. The scene
is indeed gloomy one. Why has an
tiquiiy. which is so prolific in nymphS OF
trees and flood, given us none to weep
over this ruin-to join tears in her mourn
ing for this untimely loss OF ProSerpine :
The eXuberant fruitfulneSs of nature,
which usually strikes the observer so viz
idly at this season is sadly missed. The
weeds, wild flowers that commonly in
trude themselves in every vacant spot,
and embelhsh the roadside, the pasture,
the stone-wall and the fences. are driven
from their old hauntS. For your grass
hopper is no epicure He will make his
meal rs cheerlully on the outer rind OF
bulrushes or thistle as on more delicate
viands. ii hard pressed he will even at
tack the smart weed. and the new theory
OF the origin of cancer in the stomach,
does not deter them from reluctant nib
bic at the tomato vine. The bitter worm
wood fourished alone, for even the all.
destroyer ShunS il. Never was such a
desolation rs this seen in Maine. 1t IS 4
desert on which rests q cloud OF grass
hoppers. The cricket hardly utters a
note, but the shrill cicadia. king f the
cOnquering army, sends forth his piercing
cry of triumph into the hot air of noon.
day.
The moral quality OF the invader is
best seen in the incredible maIiguity OF
his method OF attacking corn field
One would suppose that the broad leaves
of the corn would provide the grasshop-
pers with a field of operations, where
he might appease his hunger without Sc
riously impairing the health o. the plant.
But the assailant carefully shuns these,
and unhesitatingly attacks the silk This
OF course, is fatal. The silk, as you
know, is made up OF the pistils of the