The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-05-20
THE GsAssH0PPRRs.
rkeir pepredatisns-Tbe Modes Of Destroy.
ing ThcM-Pro.Pect. Of Relief.

The grasshopper question is just now the ques-
tion of vital interest and Importance to the ag-
riculturalists of Colorado. The nature and hab-
its of this interesting insect have been the SUBJ
iect of much close and careful study. There have
been elaborate speculations in regard to the
effect of the severe Winter upon the eggs; and
upon the question as to whether the constitution
of the infant grasshopper could Withstand late
frosts and SHOWS, and severe rain storms. But 1t
has been demonstrated, within the past few
weeks that an intensity of cold and severity of
storms sufficient in many instances to ruin stock,
cannot in the most favorable circumstances in
lure CrasshOppers' eggs; and that froSts ana
SHOWS, that blast fruit and grain, and kill early
chickens and turkeys, ard young lambs and
calves harm not at all infant grasshOppers.
fter the hardest rosts and the heaviest falls OF
snow, a few hours of warm sunshine will restore
myriads of those tiny insects, scarcely larger
than min heads to active and vOraciOus life.
The depredations of the grasshoppers have al
ready commenced. The Pueblo Chieffdin says
that in that town they sit around the mills and
grain stores, observe the farmers as they come
in and buy seed grain, and then follow them
home to be on hand for the sprouting grain.
And they are said to be acting in like manner IN
all our towns. Aud all over the Territory the
Young grasshoppers sit in thick rows on the
fence. and in some cases have devOured board
fences and the posts of wire ones, and in few
instances, have commenced on the wires. InO5e
that are Matching out in the mountains are har-
ticles of diet In the yards of some of the smelt-
ing establishments they have destroyed several
tons of valuable ore; with the common perversi-
ty of animal pests thay will select the latter to
eat up when there is plenty of good, delicate Stag
lying around. ~
Here in Denver the grasshoppers seize the dai-
ly papers rs soopas they are ont, to look over
the local colgsnns, aud learn If any carloads of
Salt Lake potatoes or Michigan apples have ar
rived; and when they note any such arrival, they
move for the railroad track, and never wait for
the cars to be opened, but just eat their way
through. p.
But the Colorado Farmer tells us that the pros
pect is not without hope. The grasshopper is a
migratory insect, the carpet bagger of the tribe,
as it were. Without waiting for the early corn
or the delicate potato plant, as soon as his wings
are grown, he will be off to other fields of green
grass and waving grain, and forests of tender
foliage and palatable trees. Already it is said
the grasshoppers have commenced to move to
the southeast, perchance to drink of the strong
alkali waters and devour the delicate cactus of
Southern Carolina and Northern New Mexico.
And then farms surrounded by irrigating bitches
have sure protection. Water has fatal eff
fects upon grasshoppers as upon Democratic ma
lorities And by keeping the irrigating bitches
tull and utilizing the activity of small boys to
drive them into creeks and rivers, many can be
destroyed. Again grasshoppers can't stand fire
better than did some of the Democratic Generals
during the war. And by scattering straw around
for them to seep in and setting fire to it early in
the morning, many more can be ruined.
The Farmer also expresses the opinion that
after the grasshoppers shall have migrated, there
will be time to plant many crops and bring them
to maturity. Corn will ripen if not planted till
the middle of June And barley can be sOwn at
the same date or late the first of July, with
the assurance of good crop.-DeBrer Tribune.