The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-04-02
The Grasshopper.-Eis History
and Peculiar Habits.

grafton DtGtlti III NtDtdSht, Oilc vi tilC
States ravagc,l i'll part by the gr5sssIop-
perS, has led me to inquire into the his
tory and peculiar habits of these de-
Structive insects. | have consulted many
persons who have given the subject
much attention for many years. The
statements and opinions of these umc
Gus persons do not entirely h~armonizc,
but agree substantially i'll the most i'm
portant respects.
The abiding home OF the grasshOppcr
is found on the high, dry plateaus OF
New Mexico and Arizonia, and the
southern foot hills of the Rocky Noun
tains. They are there always, for it IS
their conGenial home. In some seasons,
especially adapted to this end, they null
tipIy with astonishing rapidity, and be-
come too numerous 10 Subsis1.
Then, like bees, they swarm and mi
crate to other countries. They follow
no rule of emigration, but 90 with the
wind. They fly until they become weary
and hungry. and then drop down to rest
and eat. They DO not al 20 at once
nor to one place. They become widely
separated and much divided after start
irg; but almost in any case, whether
the grand army or some principal de
tachment, they are rs the sands of the
sea, myriads of millions. Coming i'll
the distance they look like 4 light Cloud
RAPIDLY riding on the wind, and under
the blazing n00n-day sun they glitter
/ like >nowtlakcs. extending from near
the ground to the height CT hall Il mile,
hut cast Il gloomy shadow on the earth.
, When they drop down to feed, every
green and gay thing is covered i'll Il
moment, and the earth Is gray and
dismal. Only Il few things do they dis
relish-as sorghum, broom-corn, and
the peach. Wheat and oats, when the
straw or grain is green, are dcvOured IN
L few hours.
When tue straw or grain is some-
what dry and tough, they eat off the
stem lust below the head, and the grain
fails lo the ground.
Corn Is their staple; they 90 for the
tassel and silk iii these are OUT then
the tender grain. scramhling and crowd
ing each other like hungry piGs. They
are very fond OF Potatoes. beans and
cabbugc: but onions are their most de
licious mor>cl-they will dig into the
ground fDr the last particle.
Usually they remain not more than
81 or IS hourS III ii place, il the weather
is warm and the sky clear; but III
times Il week. if the mir is chilly and
very damp. and tie sky cloudy. Alter
leaving their native home. they have
never been known to propagate Ill their
colonies more than three wears. and
but twice in the history of the United
States. Somewhat more frequently
they have been known to hatch during
the second year. But out of twenty
swarms this happened only three times.
In other cases they have ended their
existence and their race, in any given
| time, in IL year.
OF those which invaded Nebraska
this wear, 1874, the first swarms laid
emgs in several counties; but the long,
dry fall Matched them out, and thus
stopped further production
The swarms that came last seemed to
have been Matched too far north and too
late in the season to come to maturity.
and consequently they laid no eggs. All
these pcrished in the first trosts.
1t Will be several years before their
native land will be oycrcrowded, ard
when they rise up to emigrate they will
be as likely to 90 III one direction as
another.
From extensive correspondence in
Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota,
it is aScertained that no eggs have been
laid that will hatch next spring, except
in Il part of one county in Kansas.
Ever since the year 1Sf9, the plains
have been travelled over constantly, and
the movements OF this Desert Locust, as
it should be called, have not been noted.
In ali this time there has been no Such
devastation us this year, nor is 1t likely
| that there will he Il recurrence OF this
calamity for many years. and let us hope
never.
The number of persons made desti-
tute and dependent on aid from abroad
for the next six or eight months, is not
fully ascertained. But for the last two
or three wears there has been Il heavy
tide of immigration to the interior OF
this fair State, where millions OF rich
acres have been awaiting the brave plo-
neers, and the number who must be
helped or suffer actual hunger or naked
ness, will probably be found to be be-
tween 5000 and 10000. To all these
the State Aid Society will issue an al
lowance of food for about 300 days
Clothing also sufficient TO prevent suf-
fering will be judiciously bestowed
through the same efficient and watchtul
agency, and seed to plant the smitten
district will be furnished either by the