The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-08-10
Tfotr me Chinese and Philippine IsiGHder'
E.rfermjuete the Pests--StretchiHJ Nets
burning Rubbish, etc,


i.rferu,inate the s-Strrtchb'g Nets,
burning Rubbish. etc,
From the Chicago Tribunel
In March lasta letter was dispatched
from the Tribune Office to a gentleman in
Hong Kong asking him for information
concerning the Chinese methods of de-
strovinr locusts. HIS answer, published
below gives an outline of the means EN-
ployed, which may be operated etficN-
ciouslv in the destruction of the grass
hoppers with which the western country
has been for years afflicted. So far the
only remedy devised has involved time
and tedious labor, and it is doubtful If
hauling a tarred iron drag over a field OF
'hoppers will ever become general so rs to
rid the country ofthe pest. Mr.. Souza
has kindly forwarded some chilly seeds,
which the Tribune holds in trust for farm
ers, who will be supplied on demand, as
far as they viii go:
HoXG KoNG, CHINA, May %, 1877.
I am in receipt Of your letter Of the
! 18th of March, ultimO, requesting me to
supplv YOU with information regarding
| the method adopted by the Chinese for
| the discrimination Of lOcusts. | am glad
to be able to inform you that the Chinese,
from time immemorial, have always sue
cessfully destroyed these cursed yeTmln
! bv means of nets thrown across their
| rice-fclds. They also make large pyra-
! mids. at a distance of one Il Ia quarter OF
| a milel between each other, composed oil
all sorts of inhsmmabe rubbish, with a
quantity of dry chillies sulphur, and
| some tar. On the approach OF . cloud
/ of locusts the pyramids are always set on
| IRE. and the dense smoke issuing there
| from soon makes the lOcusts alter theil
| course. and very often, after a short
pause in the air, turn backward and dis
appear. even against the current OF the
wind. ii not too strong.
In the Philippines, where the plague
is verv prevalent, the natives have con
stantIv a regular deposit of rubbish, dry
leaves. etc, round their plantations
ready for the first alarm of the approach
inc danGsr. They also fire rockets ,s. the
cloud OF locusts with good effect, anC
discharge firearms loaded with paddy
All locIsts found in the fields are eagerly
collected. cured and devoured by the
natives. who consider them a enc of thu
best delicacies Under the name o
L,ngosta they are sold in all marke
towns in the Philippines.
The law forbidding the destruction o
birds, and the periodical importation o
large quantities of Chinese martins
which subsist on young loeusts, hav'
contributed a great deal to the destruc
ton of the insect in the Philippines.
Dry chillies may be obtained in an.
quantity from India at about 200 RUPEES
a picui Of 1888 pounds. / send yol
herewith some seeds, which, if Plante,
in the beginning of the summer, vii
hear frpit IN three months. The smok
OF the chilly will kill any insect.
As you will see in the accompanyln!
number of the China Mall / have VENT
lated the subject, and any turthe
inlevf r4isv obtained will be zstt-f6si
iIi4a.11 49, ~ Ia 5u Thanking yolrfs---0
opportunity granted to me to be usetu
to you, and with kind regards to on
? mutual friend, MIR. Lassen, | am, your
faithfully. J. SoUZA.