New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-25
AN IDLE PANIC WEST.

IN EASTERN KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI
WIDESPREAD But GRoUNDLEss ALARM ELSE
wHERE-THE GOVERNOR OF MISSOURI APPOINTS
ApAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER-PAcrs ABOUT
THE INSECT.
roTAs Editor Of The r. sbNne
SIR: West of us there is some destruction and
great panic. Over a very wide area farmers are
alarmed and in some quarters are even abandoning
their fields The "grasshoppers,' so-cailed, nave
appeared in Eastern Kansas and q few counties on
the western border of this State and though young
are destroying crops and gardens mercessly. Far
beyond the region in which the insect has actually
appeared, however. it is feared that the Young,
moving eastward and southwark as the mighty
hosts did last Fall, viii spread devastation over
the State. little knowledge Of the nature
of the insect would bapish these fears. But
the Governor instead of stating the facts has issued
a proclamation appointing day of general fasting
and prayer In which he says that the devastation
possibly may extend to the whole state" anu re-
sult in sore distress and famine The Governor is
very pious, but has not much knowledge His proc
lamation has greatly intensified and extended the
ALARM caused a great panic in many counties really
in no danger, and through large region trade v
arrested. Some of the papers. instead OF giving the
facts have increased the alarm by highly sensational
articles. Even so sensible paper as The CA,caso
length demonstrating dire destruction TO the gar
dens of Chicago and the crops of Illinois.
No doubt you would like the facts. The multitude
of farmers in this State Kansas and iowa. not TO
speak Of Illinois, really need them. Ia brief, the
facts arc these:
l. The destroying insect is not a grasshopper, but
the young Of the Rocky Mountain locust I0rdism
spretus) Matched this Spring from eggs deposited
during the great invasion last Fab.
O. These insects have appeared in the narrow belt
already described but will not get wings, nor be
able to travel muc beyond it, before the latter part
of June.
8. The young locust, Matched In this climate, n
neither IS active as voracious as the original
stock, cannot reproduce itself, has already begun To
die off in great numbers and can still less endure
the more uncongenial climate farther eastward
4. No injury of consequence is to be apprehended
atany point farther east than Sedala or Des Moines
and even west of that line the damage will be much
less than Il was in the same localities last year.
These statements are warranted not only by past
experience but by tho investigations of men OF
science Prof c. V. Riley, the State Entomoogist
vhoseinvesfi CATION of this insect like all his work.
il marvel OF careful research, predicted years ago
that no serious injury would ever be done by this
locust farther east than 10 west of Washington. His
prediction was remarkably verified last year, when
not single county lying east OF that Line was over
run ana the statements of his report for last year,
respecting the danger to be Appreciated this spring
have thus far been sustained by all the facts Ii the
Governor had glanced at the latest report OF the
State Entomoogist he would hardly have issued his
eminenty foolish though very pious proclamation.
J The Rocky Mountain locust should not be CON
founded with the gr1shopper, the ordinary locust,
the small migratory locust of NewEngland, nor the
so-called thirteen year locust" 1t breeds IN tire
high and dry plateaus and valleys of Montana, Wy
oming and Colorado but at intervals Of apparently
from seven to years, down in vast swarrns,
riding on the wind feast the grain OF the West
TO deposit eggs and 10 perish. Its lght, directed
/ by the prevailing winds from the mountains, Is
enthusiastically; Its march, when it dev&staes the
country is in the same direction and even its
young before they get wings hop south-eastward
also. But, being adapted By nature to high and
almost ranless REGION its swift journey of 800 miles
ends first in a feast. but speedily in destruction.
Millions perish before the eastward limit is reached ;
millions more they push forward, become ex-
hausted, and the invasion Of 1866 and That OF 1874
terminated in almost precisely the same counties.
Different conditions Of air. temperature, and guam
tity of rainfall, not rs yet fully asceraned Tx
limit beyond which serious ravages from this in
sect have ever occurred are to be apprehended.
For the insect of the second generation Matched in
an unnatural climate, is from the fast unhealthy,
comparatively weak, ard very perishabe creature.
In the dry regions of the higher elevations, where
scarcely IL inches Of rain fall in a year, and the
ground is rarely if saturated, the eggs deposited
in glutinous pods 30 to 100 in each. about an inch
beneath the surface hatch out an insect capable Of
flying 500 miles, devastating enormously, and pro-
ducing many eggs. But in our lower regions. where
the rainfall is from 80 to 10 inches, and
where the Spring opens even later than the noun
tains, millions Of eggs destroyed and millions
. more of the young when first Matched, and those
which live long enough to do mischief cannot repro
duce themselves, and speedily destroyed by the
climate and by parasites. Predictions to this effect
made last year by Prof Riley, already begin to be
verified in many countries where the young insects
are observed TO disappear and die OFF in large num-
bers. In the drier regions of Western Kansas and
Nebraska it is believed that the second generation
may sometimes produce a third. but even there Prof
Riley says: Eventually they vanish from off The face
of the earth unless fortunate enough to be carried
back By favorable winds to the Ia III and dry country
where they flourish. That they often instinctivey
seek to return to their native hauuts Ii proved by
tue fact that hey often flying eaEly in the
season in a north-westerly direction
The eggs hatch earlier in the warmer climate. It
is therefore possible that some damage may yet 10
done in counties in Iowa and Nebraska IN which, at
latest accounts, no insects had appeared, and the
eggs were supposed to have ,been killed by tho
weather late in April But in this State and
Kansas it is believed that all the eggs that VIII hatch
at all have Matched already. Even on the northern
slopes least exposed 10 the sun the eggs Matched
four or FIVE days in most of the counties infested.
The young insects do not get wings until about two
months after Matching. Consequently, those in this
State and Kansas cannot begin to fly earlier than the
end Of June. by that time not only will their num-
Der have greatly diminished, but the more Important
crops will be mainly beyond harm. After that time