Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-07-26

scientists. and the learned of al the land, not
withstanding the war waged by all manner
OF mechanical devices, and that most potent
instrument the quill of the agricultural edi-
tor, that terrible enemy to yegitation, the
grasshoper, is here again, and is moving
down the grain fields of our farmers more
rapidly than they could themselves with the
most improved machinery. One farmer e-
Inmates that one field of oats to which, he
paid particular notice vanished in twenty
minutes by the watch. They are general,
so far as we can learn, throughout the Mis-
souri, valley, and are represented as thicker
than ever before. However, they seem to
be conOned principally to the fields, and do
not cover the whole face Of the country as
has been usually the case. Whether other
valleys are being devastated to the same ex-
tent as the Missouri valley we, at this writ
ing, are unable to say, but they have already
done much damage there. The farmers are
out in fall force dragging ropes over their
grain in the vain endeavor to keep them
travelling, while the women folks are busy
in the gardens doing what they can to save
something. This is the only way we know
Of to fight them after they have wings.
The surest way is to sow early. The winter
and early spring wheat will not suffer to the
extent of that sown at the usual time.
1t is indeed discouraging to our farmers to
see their promising fields being so rapidly
destroyed. But we can suggest no remedy
other than those we have previously given
in these columns. 1t is idle to talk of quit
ting the business or fleeing the country.
There is no country one could emigrate to
that has O either grasshoppers or some
other pest equally as bad, and there is no
other business as good as farming, even with
the hoppers to contend with, except that of
stock raising, in which every farmer should
be interested in connection with farming to
the extent.of his means, for they are one
business and should be conducted together.
The exigencics of the times require that
the %grasshopper problem be solved, and we
have an abiding faith that man will do it
sooner or later. Grasshoppers have existed
at intervals for many years. They are said
to have been numerous on the Pacific slope
in 1746, and invaded the Sacramento valley
In 1853, 1864, 1865, 1896, 1907, later in 1923,
1888, 1916 and 1866, which last is chronicled
as the great locust year of the Pacific coast,
A. L. Taylor, in the Smithsonian Institute
reports of 1853, says of them: "The cul-
mination of the swarms in North America
during this century was in 1868, when these
insects, III the language Of a California
writer, covered the entire Territories of
Washington and Oregon, every valley of the
State of California, ranging from the Pacific
ocean to the eastern base Of the Sierra Ne
yada, the entire Territories Of Utah and
New Mexico, the immense grassy plains ~
ing on the eastern slopes of the Rocky
Mountains, the dry mountain valleys OF the
Republic of Mexico and the countries of
Lower California and Central America, and
also those portions of the State OF Texas
which resemble in physical characteristics
Utah and California" The California 4qrs
~cultuaist aud Aytisaa says they have made
their appearance this year in sections of the
State, particularly the San Joaquin valley.
The interval between theip coming seems to
have been greater than any that has yet
transpired to Montana since its settlement,
but the destruction has moi been SO general
here as in those countries visited less fire.
quently.
The only hope for our farmers is to war
against them, and not wait for u season
when there are none to bother. If proper
exertion is made they can always provide for
homa nerassitipS. nv SaNinu early. Sowino
such crops Us are least likely to be destroyed,