Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-07-25
THE PEOPLES FORUM.



FORT worth, TEX, July 22.-Edltor
GAZETTE; wish to call your attention
20 the fact that the "rattle OF the cicada
IL heard In the lane" This may not at
nrst seem to be very startling assertion,
yet when one takes the pains to notice
the continual chorus heard on every hand
from morning until night and is thus
made to realize the vast number OF this
destructive insect that Is now with us, the
Importance Of the assertion will be clear
~ demonstrated and again, If one Will
take the trouble to notice the appearance
OF the timber along our Internationally
the Clear Fork, where have made most
OF my obseryations-he will be struck With
its general resemblance TO its usual appear
anCe after the first frosts OF autumn.
Some Of the trees are apyramid OF golden
yellow from the lowest TO the topmost
branches Others have the golden and
green colors artisticaly interviewer on
the same trees. He may be led TO eX-
claim chow beautiful" but II he will
stop to think that this beautiful array of
colors means death he will add, "and yet
how sad" Upon closer inspection he
will lnd many trees almost, and others
entirely denuded OF foliage. This is the
handiwork Of the cicada, or what is COM
monty and enormously called the seven
tecn-year locust, when the fact Is they
are not locusts at all, the true locust, OF
which there ale a great many varieties,
being what Is commonly called grass
hoppers."
The principal object in writing this com
munication is, II possible, TO enlist the
/ valuable services OF The GAZETTE In &C
curately mapping the district covered by
| this brood, which has evidently never be
! fore been observed. Iamled to this con
cluslon from the fact that entomologists
/ IN giving the localities TO be visited II
| this ana the next succeeding seventeen
years, make no mention OF 1exas, Up L
! the present time twenty-one separate anC
| distinct broods have been noted and the
! territory covered by each is pretty accur
ately mapped, so that II is now quite gen
crafty known throughout all the oldel
4 states OF this Union what years and wha
particular localities will receive the al
ways unwelcome visit of the cicada, ant
| IL Is OF the first Importance that our pres
ent visitation by these insects may be
come matter OF record so tina
in after years when the time draws nea
for them to make their temperance the,
may be met with whatever remedies ma,
be known, and thus save great many o
our fruit and ornamental trees from tota
destruction, or what Is almost as bad
| permanent def0rmity Prof. Riley II
speaking on this point says; "In the per
feet state the emale IL capable OF doinl
great injury to trees In ovipositing, ant
although this injury in the forest is imma
terial IL may become very serious il
1 orchards, and Is OF still more consequence,
In the nursery"
II THE GAZETTE would request its nu
merous readers throughout the state {,
observe the cicada, giving as near a
4 possible the date OF It's first appear
ance, stating whether there appears to b,
1 few or many, together with snch othe
Information as their observations mal
lead them 20 think Of Importance, tn,
thing would be done The present Wis
Z itation could be accurately mapped GU
and their next appearance as accurately
I foretold, when, as before stated, they
could be met with whatever remedies ant
preventive measures entOmologists haC
discovered In addition TO those alread,
I known. ii. PTRRA.