The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-22
FA' aABgEBaND HOUSEHOLD,
'sclslltIls agTeEtmehs Of G9aAeh0ppeINg.

ocESsltAlf5 N4feStRenE OF GRahSlIOppeH'3g
It was reported some two weeks age
that .Genatnr ingalls, u Kansas waa
about to introduce n bill in the Senate
asking an appropriation ofS25, 1000, and
the apE9intm9nt pf 6 ;Commission to e.
certain tfie t5est fueaiis OF destroying "
providing remedies against the Tavages
Of The locust or grasshoppef. The $25,-
600 was TO be for salaries and to pay the
expenses of five learned entomologists or
men Of culture in tho matter Of bugs
Not having noticed any subsequent action
in The Senate or House In the matter, It
is probable that, in the excitement cf
canyassing the Electoral vote, an unin-
tended slight has. been put upon the
grasshopper. . q
The duty Of the Commission, when or
gapized on $4,000 cash basis, is in
tended to be to examine into the history
and habits of the insect. They are not
TO be confined to the nomadic or grega-
rious caprices Of the Kansas and Ne
braska hopper merely, but are expected
to make careful study of the tastes and
temperament of the isolated insect as oc-
casionally found solemnly viewing the
romantic scenery Of New England. This
Is calculated to equalize the investigation,
so fas as the $25, 600 appropriation Is con.
cerned. The Commission are. to have
power TO send for perons and papers.
Whether the grasshopper will respond TO
a subpoena duces tecum or not remains 10
be seen. }stf
Professor Packard has been for some
time past engaged in the Western Terri
tories, where the lively little insect most
| does congregate, in collecting q mass OF
information concerning its migratory and
dietary habits. and thinks he has suffi-
cient data to begin The construction of q
mae7+a .grasshopper map Of the United
States--indicating in colors its distribu-
ton and migration. He has consulted
Professor Able, of the Weather Signal
Bureau. They have, Jointly como to
these conclusions I. That there Is an in
innate connection between the prevailing
winds and their migration-that their
rigging is not adapted to sailing against
the wind, or oven close-hauled; and, Q
That their periodical visits s'coincidcd
with unusual seasons, and that there arc
cycles of years recurring, favorable OF
unfavorable to insect life."
i Therefore it will be possible , predict
their arrival and Ps1fSSro fer stcm. II
fact it is thought that the country may be
provided at small expense with Grass.
hopper Bureau and Grasshopper "Prob.
abilitiesY AZ well as q Weather Bureau
and Weather Probabilities, and that
i they may be of mutual assistance, thus
utilizing the gra;shoppei as we'll as some
of our supernumerary Professors. The
inability Of the insect, Us at preseut con.
sttuted, to sail against the wind, enables
i us, knowing Its direction and velocity, to
calculate with reasonable certainty the
course AID speed with which he will
travel. Preparations can be made ut diff.
ferent points to discourage and demoral-
ize him. Denunciatory resolutions could
be prepared to confront him, and his
fayorite food supply removed beyond his
reach or SO tampcrcd with as to affect his
stomach detrimentally.
If the fact of his advent could possibly
be known year or two in advance, the
farmer might circumvent him by omit
ting to plnnt his favorite food crops, snch
| as grindstones, Canada thistles and rag.
wced-having laid in good stnre' II
these delicacies for family use year be-
forehand-thus providing for year OF
scarcity, rs did tho ancient Egyptians.
We are aware there is q prejudice
among certain class (the undeveloped
Berghs of sociptSf against anything like
an organized = conspiracy against the
peace and comfort Of any species of. sni-
NAL life-more especially where that con-
spiTacy. has S25,GG0 appropriation il
tho belly of 1t. But it should be borne
in mind that the grasshopper, of all the
beasts of the field or birds of the mir, OF
insects that infese both earth and air, il
unreasonably and unjusti6ably prolific
and lays hinfelf open'to . strict applica.
ton of the Malthusian doctrine Of sell
preserva.ion--o- 20 The extent o.. s25,
600 and O crop of chronological pro.
fessors.-N+ Gnoiahdti Star. y; lt~.J{ 4 =