The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-16
THE TRANSFORMER PLAGUE.

THE CHRISTOPHER PLAGUE.
THE MINNESOTA aRAssHoPPERs ON THE RAM
PAoE-How THEY PROPAGATE AND WHAT
THEY EAr-ExTEzsr OF THEIR RAvAGEs
AND THE POSSIBLE DESTRUCTION.
A report sent from st. Paul, Minnesota, to
the Chicago Times, gives this account in re-
gard to the threatened insect devastation ia
that state: Gov. Davis lately addressed let
tiers to all the members OF the resident CON-
mittees which aided in the distribution Of
the state relief fund in the region devasted
by grasshoppers last season, and has re-
ceived quite full reports as to the present
situation in Lyon, Martin, Jackson, Mobiles,
Waterman, Book and Cottonwood counties.
Piperton and Murray the two extreme south
eastern counties. are yet TO be heard from. The
REPORTS received are substantially agreed, and
it appears from them that the grssshoppers
came last year full grown from the south
west. In some places there were q few eggs
Matched last fall, but otherwise the eggs re-
manned In the ground all winter, Matching
out early this spring, on lighs soils with
warm exposure, continuing since to hatch out
daily, till the ground is fairly covered. IL is
noticed that on grouHd which was plowed
over they have not yet Matched out, and il is
possible the eggs were covered so deep by
blowing that the eggs may not hatch this
appearance the young grasshoppers make for
the tender shoots of grass, and the tops of
young vegetables. r-T, aa--ifsI.l
EATING EVERYTHING
above ground generally. The grain is not
seriously injured by them. though manv
fields have been stripped bare. With favor
able rains they will be likely to grow again.
So far. nothing can be told of the future
movements of the "hoppers,", since they
have not developed their wings. But it is
hoped they may fly away Tor as long dis
lance as they went from st. Cloud and vicin-
ity several years ago, when they were heard
ofin Texas. This hope is strengthened by
instances of their disappearance nom some
places where they hatched out early, which
are noted in the reports to the governor and
by ramors of their being seen flying away
10 the southwest The red insect, which
has been noticed as destroying the
eggs of the grasshoppers, is not larger
than grain of wheat, and, under the
microscope appears to be q spider with eight
legs and teeth TO match. Its instinct leads
il TO bore in the ground where the cocoon is,
and, eating that, destroys the 10 or 10 eggs
contained in each COCOON The grasshopper
country ia also supplied at this season with
immense focks OF pigeons. blackbir etc,
which are feeding almost entirely on grass
hoppers. But they dc not seem To diminish
the numbers OF the destroying insects, and,
unless they shall migrate when they have
obtained their wings, the southwest counties
of our state will be desolated. If the chop
pers" do not leave the country the people
must, for they are generally too poor to sub
sist themselves another year without raising
crops. In Jackson county grasshoppers are
Matching ont on the prairie and fields not
plowed last fall
~ IN GREAT NUMBERS;
but as yet they have not appeared on fields
that were fall plowed. The only enemy
that have yet appeared are the birds, which
destroy a great many. The grasshoppers
were full grown when they came here in
June last, and came from the southwest.
Those which have Matched this spring are in
some cases taking the whole crop, and in
other cases just commencing to eat. They
destroy all kinds Of grain and flax. II they
leave very soon, small grain will not be
damaged 10 any great extent. In case the
grasshoppers remain any length of time. it
will be- necessary to procure all kinds of late
grain, buck wheat, beans, and early
corn, etc., that will mature if planted
late. The prospects for an abundant
harvest have never been better, provided
the grasshoppers do not destroy them.
They do considerable damage for day or
two after they hatch among wheat and oats.
right where they hatch. Then they seem to
leave it alone; and with the rains they have
been having lately, it seems to he sprontino
again. They seem TO prefer garden plants
TO grain, such as onions, radish, lettuce, etc.