The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-14
CLOUDS OF GRASSIl0PPERS.
THE oRhssHOPPER HELL PROVINo
TO BE INEFFECTUdL.
Devastating the Northern Part Of Iown-The
Descent Of the Dcstroycrs upon Colorado
A Dubious Prospect for the Corn Crop,
~

Devastating the Northern Part Of Iowa-The
Descent Of the Dcstroyer- upon Colorado
A Dubious Prospect for the Corn Crop.
From ne Chicago Times
DENVER, Col, Aug. s.-Colorado has
been singularly free from era,shoppers this year
until now. Last spring they haiched out here
10y millions, and fell upon the Young aud tender
crops. leaving scarcely root brancn. They
loaied around until another crop was planted
aud came up. and ate that up too. Then they
went on to Kansas, picking their teeth In Joy
and Rladness, and making music In the air. Then
we planted sun another crop for our planting
season lasts I'LL late In June), and raised some
thing after all. This spring not a hopper
batched out. Everybody plouRhed and planted,
the valleys nS were vast 6sehiyes n the esy
June. July, AuR-no, not August. On the fret
dly Of August the President proclaimed Colo.
RADIO u State, and the 'hoppefs came over the
range In clouds that darkencd the sun.
The pests dropped down nearly everywhere
cept the i'm elements. However, the wheat w.s
In shook, and the oats and barley were ripe, and
and the eraneers had nothing to do but fight tos
their fall cabbaRes and melon patches, and a few
odds and ends Of the crop that had obatinaten
lnat awful engine OF destruction. tho grass
hopper hell" was brought out. but II wouldn't
work. 1t Is fiery furn ce on wheels made OF
long and wide piece Of sheet lion. the lover
enge turned ~ and shaped Into trench or
archsa 70 mold the hre, ana the upper edge
rise anc cast them upUn the Goals, where they
l ICED Tue II mes for those that followed them.
ihe RrAshopper nell not only Killed the grass
hoppers, out utlhzed them. Driven across q
neld nt Young grain ae.inst a cloud Of young
but WIN advanced crops aud matured 'hoppers
IL He'd.
The principal loss suffered from the rnvaees OF
the past week IL the corn crop, which was de-
stroyed utterly In some octlties. while n others
II escaped entirely. But our corn crop Ia incou-
siderable In extent, the country not being adapt-
ed to Its culture. Very II tie corn has been raised
nsre esc eSp 81 s5e ssr d the 9a Object In
sas. The 'hoppers are very fond Of green corn,
and when they allght on aneld there Is no help
for lit II gone, a. II 1t had never been planted.
10 eating a field OF corn they make a noise that
can he heard at considerable distance. This
visitation promises to be ten porarv, however, as
the 'hoppers are moving east continually, clouds
OF them Departing daily, while others come for
hardly a hopper Is seen-then tho air Is dark
with them. Old settlers say they Will soon dis
appear altogether AS It Is too early In the season
Tor them to settle permanently anywhere.
FROM hs Globe Democrat
DIES NJ oINEs Aug. 6.-The plague Of grasshop.
pers Is upon Iowa again, and devas alton Is
stalking over the north western part OF the State.
Clay, Osceola, o'Brien, aud LYON counties are
being overrun by them, and reports from there
say they stretch away to tue british posses
sions, and extend one thousand miles east and
west. The ground is covered by them. In
twelve hours after they reach a field Of grain
ear Il as bare as a stubble Held. They connne
their present ravaees to grain; but their eegr,
which are being deposited by the million, give
| promise that the prairie Vt ,ss will be devoured
next year. When 1t Is considered that ~ Of
| these eggs nave been round IN a square iuch or
soil and l.3tO In space six inches square, the
| prospect Is rather dtsCouraging In that section
for farmers, many Of whom are now raising their
| first crop. aud needing every possible resource
| to improve their new farm and furnish food for
their families.
| The raid appears to be more extensive than a
| few years go, when the state, TO relieve the
sufferers. appropriated 100000. While In all
other parts OF the state TINS year Insects nearly
DESTROYED the wheat aud barley, and the corn
WAS but an average. IN these moi til western coun-
ties there was a prospect of an unprecede nted
crop Of all cereals, and especially corn, but II IL
| dubious now, while that Of the time to come,
| when the eggs already deposited shall become
| developed, Is worse yet.