The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1876-06-15
BrOaaYIeH ON GIpsum Creek.

Br0aaYleW on Gypsum Creek.
EDITORS OF JoURNAL:-As in nature
there is calm after storm, so there is
now lull in the excitement after the
storm of ,r0rms on our wheat. In
soldering, We find the fright is greater
when the attack is unlocked for. We
had began TO feel secure in our crop OF
wheat, and felt that nothing short of a
storm of hail would prevent US from
having good yield. But to carry our
army illustration q little farther, we,
like prudent soldiers after an assault,
have been looking around in order to as
certain tho extent of the damage done,
and find that some of US were more
scared than hurt. This voracious worm,
and Improbable consumer of wheat,
came, as it were, in night and persisted
in day. At first, some farmers dis
covered that their wheat was being
eaten, but could not discover the eater,
and in some fields it seemed to be an in
vincible as well as an invisible foe. At
last, by close observation, q green worm
was seen ascending the wheat stalks
late in the evening and descending early
in the morning. But only in very
few pieces has the damage been consid-
cradle, and now, after run OF some
thing less than a week, they have al
most disappeared. The very early red
wheat was but little damaged. Some
pieces oflater red wheat were injured one
half some pieces of very early white
wheat damaged good deal, and later
white wheat very little. Altogether,
we think the whole extent of the injury
done in this neIghborhood does not
amount 10 near onc-ffth Of tho crop.
Taking into the account the much larger
breadth sown than last year, we think
the yield will be equal to or greater
than last season. Where this worm has
gone or how, or where it secreted itself
in the light of day while working on
the wheat, is a question of more impor
lance to us than who struck Billy Pat
terson or WHIP killed cock robin. In
searching it could net be found hidden
about the blade or stalk of the wheat.
You have heard of things going into a
hole and pulling the hole in after them.
As no holes could be seen in the ground,
il they hid away in the ground,
they must have pulled in the holes. After
all, we may not have been sufficiently
alert IN observing the habits of this vcr-
min, and that YOU have been informed
about it and we are publishing our stu
pidity.
The hail of last Thursday did not do
us much harm. Corn blades were split
some, and the potato vines pock-marked.
We hear that south Of US fields of
wheat were destroyed.
Last Saturday afternoon we had o
wild thunder storm, and fine rain con-
tinued from three o'clock till near night
fall. The air was heavily charged with
electricity, and there were some grand
displays. Just after sunset there APP
peared in the west magnificent and
beautiful ocean-or rather lake-vicw
The scene being so mingled, and yet so
marked, as to reflect the appearance Of
water beneath and the sky above. The
rcceding clouds presenting the appear
anco of hill and forest, and those nearer
to tho view giving the idea of vast
bridge and islands, under and around
which flowed the clear blueish waters.
The mind, though clancy. free;" could
"body forth" waterfalls, cataracts and
numerous indescrbablc scenes. As the
shades of evening gathered round, oil
was merged into delightful panorama
"A beautiful picture-on tho like of
which one will probably never look
again. And when the sable curtain of
night dropped on the scene, we felt that
the genius of man and the labored
efforts of art had been eclipsed by this
exhibition OF nature.
Yours, etc., OCCASIONAL.