The herald. (Big Stone City, Dak. [S.D.]) 1883-1890, 1883-04-13
commissioner Of Agriculturc's Re.
port.

port.
From the Report Of the Commits.
sioner of Agriculture. 1882 just at
hand, we CLEAN the following of spec.
ial interest to farmers. Prof. Riley,
the buggist, in making his report on
the chronological work Of his depart
ment. says:
The work Of the chronological divi-
sion has progressed satisfactorily dur
ing the year. The report Of the ento.
mologlst includes observations on
many insects that have attracted at
tention during the year, while special
study has been given to those affect.
ing the principal staples. Yet the oh.
servations on these form but a small
part Of the work of the division, since
unpublished notes Of observations and
experiments have been made on 500
different species more or lass injuri.
Gus, and about which little or nothing
was hitherto known, while many aa.
ditions have been made to our knowl
edge of the habits of species that had
previously been but partly studied.
The chief staples have during the
year suffered mparatlvelv little, as
a rule, from destructive insects. Yet
many serious complaints have come
| from several sections, and the ento-
mologlst has given particular atteu-
ton to such, visiting the localities
that suffered either personally or by
proxy.
The aggregate damage done to our
products by injurious insects is enor-
nous, and few fields Of inquiry prom
ise more substantial and practical re-
suits than systematic and intelligent
investigation into the habits of these
tiny marauders. and the best means
of counteracting their ravages. AS
an evidence of the interest in and ap-
preciation Of the work Which the de
partment is doing in this field, some
$500 letters of inquiry have be en- re-
! ceiyed during the year, most of them
requiring full replies. This cores
pondence consumes a large share Of
the time Of the e.toMolugist and his
assistants.
Special agents under the direction
of the entomologist have been engag-
edlln several widei V separated parts
OF the country making observations
and experiments on species affecting
the orange and the cotton interests;
while party has explored the north
west regions OF the United States and
British America with view Of OBJ
tanning data in reference to that
scourge of the West, the Rocky Noun
tain locust.
The course Of exploration was
through Dakota and Montana to Fort
Mcleod and back down the South
Saskatchewan via. Winnepeg-the OBJ
ject being to depart froa beaten routes
and to make excursions, by the way,
into the great plans. The results OF
the journey warrant the conclusion
that the destructive insect is yet in al.
tog her insufficient nuiG bcrs in these.
its ha.ive }launtS, to threaten any SO.
rious migrations or injury to crops in
the more fertile sta tes to the south
east.
Dr. Riley has 70. some years past
made it a point to endeaver to collect
such data as uoula warrant anticipa-
tion of locust injury Immunity, and
the inticipatioEs, AS set forth on re.
peated occasions, have been verified
in remarkable degree.
The farmers Of the West have.
therefore, SO far as the data obtained
warrant an opinion, the pleasing as
surance that their crops will not be
ravaged by locusts in 1888.