The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-02-28
FIGHTING GRASSHOPPERS.

: FIGHTING GRASSHOPPERS.
Efficient Aid Possible from the Government
.-S20O, O,OOO, 900 Annually Lost to ARricul.
. ture.
The question whether the Western
| States and Territories are to be peopled
by grasshoppers to the exclusion Of the
white man, is one of some interest,
writes A. s. Packard, Jr., to the 1ri-
6,t,ae. In the year 1875 it is said that
10000 settlers left the State of Kansas,
driven out by grasshoppers, the offspring
of swarms which the year before travel
ed some 500 miles or more from the
Rocky mountains. Locusts do not
swarm in this way every year, but the
intervals between their visitations have
been shorter of late years than formerly.
The great breeding places are in our
Western Territories. The most extern
sive pastures ale the fertile prairies ex-
tending from Minnesota to Texas. Gov
eminent aid has been invoked in o con-
vention of the governors of the afflicted
Territories and States, and it is to be
hoped that the national government will
set on foot such inquiries by scientific
men as will lead to practical measures in
fighting the locust.
In dealing with this fearfully destruc-
tive insect, it is of prime importance to
have thorough knowledge of its breed
ing places, the frequency and extent of
it's migrations, and to seek for the con-
nection between the direction of the
wind and the meteorological phenomena,
and the flights of the locust. The To-
Gust is quite or nearly as destructive in
Africa, Asia and in southern Europe as
in this country, but the laws of their
migrations and their connection with
meteorological occurrences have never
been studied in those regions, and it re-
mains for the United States, with its in
valuable weather signal bureau, to insti-
tute, in connection with the scientific
surveys of the West, investigations re-
garding the nature of the evil and the
best means to overcome it.
! It appears that locust years are years
of unusal drouth that these dry seasons
come around every seven or eight years.
In such summers grasshoppers breed in
untold millions the supply of food be-
ing short, they are forced to fly off hun
dreds of miles. For example, O swarm
of locusts observed by Professor Robin
son of the University of Kansas, near
Boulder City, Colorado, Travelled dis
tance of about six hundred miles to east
ern Kansas and Missouri. Though the
swarm was first observed at Boulder, it
was then on it's way from the north, and
may have come from some part of
| Wyoming 200 or 300 miles northwestward
or northward We know enough of the
winds in the Western States and Terri
tories to lay down the law that the gen
eral direction of the winds in July and
August along the eastern slope of the
Rocky mountains and on the plains is
! from the west and northwest, and accords
with the eastward course of the locust
swarms. The relations between the aver
age direction of the winds and the mi
grntions of the locusts have not been srf-
ficiently studied. We need more light.
Indeed, if we would intelligently study
the causes of the excessive increase and
migrations of the locust we would ex-
imine the meteorological features of the
Western country, ascertain the periods of
drouth and of undue rainfall, the average
direction of the wind for the different
morths, in order to learn how far they
correspond with the phenomena of locust
life. That there are cycles of dry and
hot seasons recurring at irregular inter-
walls, while the general average may re-
main nearly the same, century after cen
tury, is supported, though it may be
vaguely, by observed facts.
So the question arises, can the weather
signal bureau after while predict the
coming of seasons of undue heat and
dryness, and consequently can we pre-
dict locust years? It does not seem un-
reasonable to believe that we shall in
the course of time be able to foretell with
good degree of certainty locust inva-
sions, and be able to provide against the
losses thus incurred. It will be seen by
the reader that in studying the habits
of the locust the observations of the
meteorologists and entomologists must
60 hand in hand. The government has
provided O well organized corps of
weather observers, and we submit that
few competent entomologists should
take the field under government auspices.
Not only should the border States, cs-
pecially Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Min
nesota and Iowa employ entomologists,
following the liberal policy Of Missouri,
which for eight years has had State
entomologist, whose reports have proved
of incalculable practical value to the peo-
pie of that State, but the habits of the
locust need first of all to be thoroughly
studied in the Territories, particularly
in those Of Wyoming, Montana, idaho,
Dakota, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona,
and the new State of Colorado. A COM
mission of entomologists should be ap-
pointed to make thorough study of the
locusts in the Territories mentioned. II
would seem. that the recommendations
made at the recent meeting of Western
governors at Omaha to the effect that
an appropriation be passed by Congress,
and commission be attached to the ex-
isting United States geological and geo.
graphical survey of the Territories
(Hayden'sl, is the most feasible and
economical method of securing the
speediest and best results.
Let us, for moment look at the losses
sustained in the United States from the
attacks of insects. The annual agricul-
tllral products of this, country by the
last census amounted in value 10 81, 500,-
100000 Of this amount we in all prob
ability annually lose upward of $780,
100000 from insects alone-at least
were it not for the attacks of insects our
agricultural products would realize so
much more. Prof. Riley AYERS that the
losses during 1874 in Missouri from To-
Gusts exceeded SIS, 100000. This would
make the losses in other parts of the
West at least twice rs much more, or
s45, 900, ,OOOin all. The estimated money
loss occasioned by the clinch bug in Hi
nois in 1864 Mas over S73. 000. 600: in