The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-10-13
TRADE UNIONS,
GRASSHOPPER RAVAGES.

ED. JEFF. Doubtless you have all
Leard and read about the grasshoppers
and their depredations in the North
vest, but perhaps a pen picture from
1.-THE scene of conflict, a slight account
of their actual extent from one who
resided thirty years in Hancock county,
and who has seen and felt the full
force of this grasshopper business. ,nay
be of some interest.
Three years ago last June our coun
try was infested by the pests, and
everything eatable which was then
growing, ives pretty generally de
stroyed. They deposited their eggs
and the following summer brought out
full stock, which again destroyed a
large portion of what was planted, and
then took their departure. Those two
years discouraged us TO great extent,
but still we lived in hopes. The spring
of rs came and found more land under
plow in our county than ever before.
Crops were put in, the season ad-
vanced, harvest came, and we were
once more made glad; a good yield was
the result of our labor. This restored
confidence, and when the Centennial
year opened up we were sanguine that
we would now make up fo- the draw
back of 1878 and 1871, and be once more
set upon a solid foundation of prosper
ity.
To have gone out upon any Of the
surrounding farms on the 18th of July,
you would have beheld as fine prospect
for bountiful crop as you could have
desired. Wheat was little thin, but
had good kernel; oats was unusually
good; corn and potatoes extra. but we
were doomed to fearful disappoint-
ment. We had been hearing of them
North of US through Minnesota for
sone time, but hoped the scourge
would not reach us.
The 22nd of July dispelled those
hopes. About 10, A. NJ, they came,
saw and conquered. The destruction
was more corplete than was even sup
posed. The oats they clipped as thor
oughly as ''header" could have done;
The wheat they damaged by eating
away the top of the husk, and then
sucking the berry; the ccrn, by eating
the leaves SO that instead of corn
stalks. your Geld looks more ike
field of sohip stalks, and by eating
away the ''silk:," which, if the grain is
not already developed is sure death to
corr, The potato patches look like
thick patch of weeds after a fire has
passed through. Garden vegetables
seemed to be the delight of their
hearts; cabbage, turnips, beans, onions,
parsnips, carrots. &C.. were only a
passing mouthful for them. Old boot
legs, coats, vests &C., they played with
in their leisure tiIne-eatipg holes
through them for the fun of the thing.
Willows and poplars, too, they evil
IDENTIFY relished, having left them in
appearance great deal more indica-
tive of Christmas than midsummer.
The grass and weeds also came in for
their share Of this ''strippin" process,
but from the illimitableness of these
articles the effect IS not noticeable to
any great extent. / give vou positive
assurance there is no exageration in
this account, and the story not all told,
as you will readily see may be the case
when l give you an idea of tEeir num-
ter. / heve seen the cleer MONDAY
sun gazed upon steadily with the naked
eye looking through the Grasshoppers
in the air, while lowering close to the
earth Oh their march of destruction,
they exactly resemble heavy eastern
snow storm when there is no wind
blowing, but the feathery hakes falling
thick and fast.
They roost whereve. night finds
them. except those in the Immediate
vicinity of trees, which gather there
on, and I have seen willows of 5 years