Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-01-31

The packing at points given exceeds
the number to corresponding dates last
season 233 900. The points not heard
from packed total of 179. 720 during
season 1872 49, The aggregate falling
off at interior points will be in round
numbers 100000. The estimates for
the season exceed packing to dates of
reports near 100000. The whole pack
ing in the West, ST. to Jan. / is approx,
mately 800, 600 at interior points, and
,, 500, 600 at the six larger cities, or
total of 100000, which is 1,410,000
less than entire season 1S72-73.
As regards the six larger Western pack
ing points, we do not esteem it practi-
cable at this time to undertake an esti-
mate of what will be done during the
remaining two months of the season.
The packing to date at these points ag
gregates 2, ,495, 900 against 1,945, 900 to
same time last season, or an excess this
season amounting to $50, 900, and leav-
ing 900, 600 more to be packed to equal
last seasons numbers Our latest ad-
vices give unmistakable evidence of
light supplies of hogs yet to be mar
keted.
The Price C,arrent also refers to the
phenomenon of much greater shrink
age, and says "Many of the larger
number of hogs this year shrink more
than one-tifth of the gross weight,
whereas last year Is per cent. would
cover the shrinkage in many instances,
and we doubt if the average was more
than II per cent. In some test cases
made with meats it is found that the
shrinkage in curing also is more
than double what it was last
year. The cause of this is gen.
orally attributed to the inferior quality
and deficient quantity of corn, but
whether this is the true explanation or
not. the fact remains the same"
Migration Of Insects.
The following historical facts will
give an idea of the enormous magni-
tude sometimes attained by migrating
swarms of insects. After the defeat of
Poltava, while retrcating through Bes-
sarabia, Charles XII. S army was march
ing through detile when suddenly the
men and horses were brought to Il halt,
being blinded by living hail precipi-
tated from thick cloud which inter
ceptcd the light of the sun. The COM
ing of the locusts was heralded by Il
whizzing sound like that which pre-
cedes storm of wind, and the noise of
their wings and their bodies as they
clashed together was greater than the
roar of breakers on the sea shore
General Levaillant saw, at Philippe
vile, Algeria, cloud of locusts twenty
to twenty-five miles in length, which,
xr,l,n : Il TO ha rfh cd
layer over an inch in thickness.
Toward the close of 1864 the cotton
plantations of Sinegal We're destroyed,
and IA living cloud was seen to pass over
the country from morning till night ;
and this was only the vanguard, for
when the sun went down a still denser
cloud was moving on. The English
traveller, Barrow, states that in South
ern Africa, in the year 1897, these in
sects covered the ground to the extent
of two square miles, and that having
been driven by the wind toward the sea,
they formed a drift near the coast near
ly four feet in depth and fifty miles
long After the wind changed, the
stencil of their putrefying carcasses
was recognized at the distance of a
hundred and fifty miles.
The famine produced by tie voracity
of these acridians are not the only evils
they cause to men and animals pesti-
lential epidemic is oftentimes the result
of the foul emanatlons from their rot
ting bodies. The invasions of these in
sects are veritable national calamities.
In 1885 China was ravaged by them,
and the sun and moon were obscured
Wherever they alighted the finest and
richest crops were instantly devoured
and the fields left bare, even the con-
tents of the barns were to great ex-
tent consumed by them. The people
fled IN alarm to to the mountains. In
the submerged districts, where there
were no crops to devour, the locusts
penetrated the houses and destroyed
the peoples clothing. These ravages,
which began in April, continued with,
out interruption till the season of frost
and snow.-I'op"lar Science Month5
for Ja1'uary.