The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-07-24
GRasSzIOPPER PLAGUE.
Minnesota devastated by these
unWelcOme VisfI0rS-HDescrip
IfOR OfIheir habits.

Minnesota devastated Ey these
unWelcOHae Extraordinarily
IfOR Ofthefr habits.
Lacrosse, July 13.-During a re-
cent trip into Minnesota, your cor
respondent availed himself of the
opportunity to interview the grass
hoppers. Nothing short of actual
personal knowledge gained by in
spection of the country ravaged by
these insects can convey to the mind
the inter desolation of that country.
1t is absolutely stripped of every
vestige of q crop. Fields that but
few short weeks ago bid fair to
richly reward the farmer for his Ia
Dor, are now as barren SIS desert,
so far as present crops are concern
ed.
These insects are not the common
grasshopper, either in form or hab-
its. Neither are they like the To-
Gusts described in the Bible, that is
if the pictures of them found in the
Sunday school books are correct,
and of course no one will dispute
the authenticity of anything found
in a Sunday-school book. These
Fellows are about an inch in length,
legs the same size and shape of the
common meadow grasshopper, but
their wings are six in number, and
when at rest project beyond the
body about three-fourths of an inch.
They are
A VAST ARMY
about rs miles In width and from
100 to $50 miles in length, travelling
northeast. Their numbers are sim
ply beyond estimate. We have seen
them in such numbers as to cover
the ground to the depth of an inch,
while the air was filled with them
fully as thick as q swarm of bees
fly when about to alight. AS nearly
as we could ascertain their march is
as systematic as that of an army.
The rear of the army are constantly
rising and continue their flight over
the feeders, travelling always no. tn
eastealy until they pass the feeders.
Then they settle and go on feeding
until they again get TO the rear,
W hen they again rise and fly to the
front, SO that portions of these are
constantly flying, and portions feed
ing. The country in their line of
march is
LITERALLY STRIPPED
of everything in the shape of cQlti-
waited vegetables, leaving the far
mers as utterly unprovided for as
they would be if a furrow had never
been plowed. Great suffering must
ensue ifprompt aid is not furnished.
But, while the farmers mourn
over the loss of their crops.
THE PRAIRIE CHICKENS
(selfish things) rejoice and wax fat.
1t does one good to see the feathered
bipeds gobble down the hoppers till
gorged, and then stand on one leg
to rest, as if discouraged. If the
Lord would send prairie chickens
enough to destroy the grasshoppers,
what a capital arrangement it would
be. We would get right down on
our marrow bones now and memo
rialize him to that effect if we were
of the opinion that it would do any
good. Wonder why some of those
whose particular business it is to
talk to him about such things, don't
think of it?
Speaking of prairie-chickcns re-
minds Hme that your readers, some
of them at least. may be interested
in knowing that southern Mime
sofa is
THE PARADISE OF sPoRTsMEN.
From the 10Th of August until
snow flies there IS all abundance of
game. Prairie chickens open the
season, and are plentiful almost be-
yond belief. A good shot can easily
average 80 per day. Following the
varieties, sandhili cranes and brant.
The farmers and citizens generally
along the Southern Minnesota rail-
road, instead of looking upon a
sportsman as a Yandal to be driven
away, are courteous and gentleman
ly. Your correspondent has been
in the habit of spending a week
each year among the prairie chick
ems, at a little station called Hay
ward, near Albert Lea, on the line
of the Southern Minnesota railroad,
where in company with George y.
Woodward. that prince of good fell
lows, and king Of spOrtsmep, we
have spent the happiest hours of
our lives. Near the station is a far
mer by the name of Phelps. This
spring, when rolling his grounds,
he started from her nest q mother
prairie chicken. Although no sports
man himself, he stopped his oxen
and carried sods for several rods
and with them placed barrier be-
fore:the nest that carried the roller
over it without breaking the eggs,
and then sent me word that he was
raising that brood for my special
benefit. How is that for good feel
ing between sportsmen and far
mers ?-[ Chicago Post and Mail.