Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-27
RAPACIOUS CRASSHOPPERS.
Serious DevastationS in Moorefeld Town
ship by the Winged Kangaroos
Who Have Come by Millions.
pamag" Accomplished at "C"dnr Lawn
X. l.. HoImnn's Farm. North of the
City-Swect Potatoes, Wheat. Oats.
Small Fruits, and Even MediCi-
InRI Herbs suffer.

Gra>>h"pp"rS have made their appear
anC" in terrible numbers" in MourrhrId
township, and reports from that locality, re
celNed at late hour yesterday afternoon.
show that very serious drya>tationS have
been accomplished. The worst damages
thus far noted are upon the farm of r. l.
Holman, one Of the prvttit~t and most val
uahie pieces of land in Clark county. and
situated five miles north of the city on the
Irhana pike. 1t is called "Crdar Lawn. :"
Mr.. Holman was in the city yesterday after
noon. The graSShopperS seem to be muy-
ing from east t" west. They tr>t tackled Il
field of grass, Of twenty-fOur acres. and
riddled it completely. leaving nothing stand
ing but the stalks and these d~colored and
broken So as to be ValurlcN~ They next
turned their dcpredatory attentions upon a
ten acre field of wheat, which they have
literally stripped of its blades, and began
| on the heads, many of which were drop
ping,
The field was also well set with clover
which Is likewise totally destroyed Mr.
tliNt put blitNltI ~ Nbl n Oh lllt
wheat field and is saving what he can of il.
| The first few bundles cut were attacked bv
graSshOppers who cut the twne as fast as
the machine threw off the bundles Mr.
| Holman finally resOrted to the device of
dipping the binding-twine in a strong So
luton of clove-oiI and carbulic acid. The
remedy was etfectual and no more bun
dies were cUt.
The field of grass looks like an army
had passed over it. 1t was intended
for pasturage, but in its present condition
would cause a goat to loose its appetite.
| The best that can be done is TO NOW it down
| and rake il off. and then turn in the cattle
to forage as best they can. The appearance
of the field is indiScrbable Mil
| lions upon millions of the winged little
! kangaroOS of the insect world, are hopping
and flying about SO thick that at a distance
| it looks as if dark fog had settled over
the earth Closer up, it has the effect of a
body of water in a heavy rain, when the
drops bounce up from the surface.
| Pat Mahan. who lives just east of 'Cedal
Lawn" reports that that his sweet-potatC
patches have been nearly ruined by the
graSShoppers. Mr.. Holman's small fruits
such As currants and blackberries. have suf,
fered greatly. and his cabbages are almost
destroyed. SO thorough is the rapaCity OF
the insects that they have attacked and con
sumed vast quantities of wormwood. hoar-
hound and other medicinal YARDS" growing
on Mr.. Holman's place. They
also stripped the thistles bare
Jacob Young, of the same locality. re-
ports that large field of oats on his place
were ruined. Lewis YerkrS, who lives be,
| yond Mourrtield village, lost a valuable field
of clover.
The insects first made their appearance in
April and have been receiving accesSiOns III
numbers ever since. They are of the
ordinary yellow and green variety. with
ultra-pcwerful hind-IegS and as much at
home flying as hopping. So far no solution
Of the problem has presented itself.
| Ont near fremont if is reported that the
| SparrowS are making terrible depredations.
| They are sworn enemies 10 the grasShopperS
| but are bosom friends as united against the
| farmers.