The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-05-28
THE HOPPERS.
Ravages of the Hungry Pests i'm Missouri
and Kansas-A Gloomy Outlook for the
Future.

Ravages of the Hungry Pests i'm Missouri
and Kansas-A Gloomy Outlook for the
Future.
The Chicago Times, of May %, has
extensive telegraphic reports of the east
ward march of the grasshopper pestilence,
from which we take the following ex-
tracts
A dispatch from Liberty, Mo-, gives
the following discouraging report of the
progress of the pests "The warm
weather of the last few days has caused
the grasshoppers to increase alike in
numbers and voracity, and matters are
becoming worse here, though in some
localities they are said to be dying. At
this place, there is nightly illumina-
ton of gas and coal-oil dispensed. Nj
merous torches appear in nearly every
garden, and millions of grasshOppers,
dreaming sweetly of the harvest of the
morrow, are rudely awakened, and meet
death at the hands of the fire-fiend. In
this manner much has been saved, and
it is now the common way of fighting
the insects. In portions of the county
they are now making depredations on
wheat and corn, which were hitherto
but slightly injured. A prominent attor-
ney of this city has just returned from
Bates and Cass counties. In the former,
he confirms the report of perfect desti-
tuition. In the latter, the hopper is
sweeping everything, and farmers are
making no futher efforts at crops. y
An Atchison telegram gives the follow
ing account of the ravages of the pests
in Kansas: eff any difference could be
detected this morning, the grasshoppers
appear more abundant than ever, at
least in Atchison. In the southern and
western portions of the city the ground
is literally covered with them, aud they
appear to be going in a body toward
the southeast. But very few are noticed
with wings, and they appear to be flying
away shortly after the transformation.
From certain localities we hear the most
dismal reports of their depredations In
portions of Doniphan county, especially
along the line of the railroad, they are
reported as destroying everything
corn, wheat, flax, barley, and oats
hardly leaving spear to mark the fields.
Farmers are fighting them desperately,
by every means known. In Brown
county whole neighborhoods work to-
gether, pursuing some systematic and
thoroughly tried plan, and bushels of
the little red legs are disposed of. The
same course is being pursued In many
parts of Atchison and Doniphan coun-
ties. Nearly every farmer we have con-
versed with from Atchison and the coun-
ties adjoining express themselves as
somewhat discouraged, but not at all
disheartened, and they are even now
making arrangements to plant as soon
as the pests take their departure.
Lawrence, Kan, sends the following
report: 1.-The grasshoppers received a
severe punishment here to-day by a Sc
we're storm of hail which passed over the
city this afternoon. Thousands of them
were pelted to death by hail stones.
which were so large that many windows
were broken. AS the season advances
the 'hoppers grow larger. 1t is evident
the damage will not be as serious as at
first supposed, still the crops have re-
ceived very great injury, and not more
than half growth of wheat may be ex-
pected."
A Leavenworth (Kan. telegram says
"Observations confirm previous reports |
that the grasSnOppers are on the move. |
Columns of the insects can be seen skip /
ping along in southwesterly direction. |
Many farmers are going over their corn. |
fields, replanting the hills that have been /
destroyed. Owing to the backwardness
of the season, many say they will con-
tinue to plant corn until the middle of
June, with a fair prospect of q crop"
The report from Lexington, No., is
equally gloomy: The grasshoppers are
still with us, in countless numbers.
Myriads of them passed through this
city to-day, going east. 1t was quite
to see whole families-men,
and acknowledging them, in
4 vain attempt to keep the "nasty little
critters" out of their gardens and flower
beds. Farmers on the prairies are burn
ng them by the millions. They organize
INTO platoons, drive the grasshoppers