The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-08-21
GRASSHOPPER WAR.
A Machine Used to Exterminate
an Insect Pest.
Hundreds OF Millions Killed Daily
BY It's Aid.

indeed the entire Northwest, are
Watching with great interest the prog
ress of the war wnged by Professor
Otto Lugger, State Entomologist of
Minnesota, against two species of
grasshoppers, which are becoming
uncomfortably numerous in certain
sections of the State. There is every
reason for them to manifest the deep
est concern ms TO the outcome of the
contest, for upon the failure or sue
cess of the efforts of the states oiiicii
bug SLAYER to cXterminate the pests
depends the making or marring of the
fortunes of many, and, in measure,
the prosperity of the agricultural and
stock raising region of the North.
west. The two species causing alarm
are the White Mountain or migratory
and the California hoppsrs. The
latter nre the larger species, but they
are not So formidable as the other, as
they do not multiply so rapidly. The
migratory hoppers are very prolific
creatures, aud furthermore nre en-
ceedingly hardy, thriving apparently
ms well on the toughest weeds as upon
tender grasses.
At present the authorized execu-
tioneer of bugs has decided advan-
tnge over his miniature foes, though
the latter outnumber him by count
less millions, for they havs no means
of defence except their little hop,
while he has the chopper. dozer."
This is an exceedingly ingenious con
trivance, designed especially for war
on the grasshoppers. In appearance
/ it conveys suggestions of lawn
mower, cat. rugged snilboat md big
dust pan. The last is suggested by
the body OF the dozar, which is n
trench OF tin or sheet iron, 3 feet
long, = feet wide and inches desp.
1t is mounted on wheels at either end,
and has along the front edge wide
hange OF tin, the front edge of which
reaches within about three inches
OF the ground. 1t is propelled from
| behind with double handle like that
OF a lawn mower, and between the
handle and the main body rises n wall
OF white canvas. This wall may be
extended by side wings slanted for
ward, to head OFF any of the more
wary hoppers who may direct their
brief hops away from the rear wall
and toward life and liberty.
There is nothing formidable to the
hopper in the canvas wall in itself.
The small creatures might butt their
heads against it all day aud suffer no
harm. II is on the rebound from the
wall that the hoppers get the full
benefit OF the dozer by falling back
into the sheet iron trough. This is
kept about half full OF IA cheap grade
of coal oil, touch of which is certain
death to the insect pests. The hop
pers that become immersed in the
huid die almost instantly, while those
that succeed in hopping ont, after be-
ing besmeared with the fluid are soon
overtaken by symptoms of paralysis,
and later die from their inability to
move about in quest of food.
The growth of the grasshopper pest
in Minnesota has been gradual during
the last three years. The first season
they were noticed in the Red River
Valley and in Pine and Chicago coun-
ties, where they are now the most
numerous. They were very few in
number and caused no alarm. They
planted their eggs and the next sea-
son there were more of them. This
season there are countless millions,
and in the sections in which they have
been bred they threaten the absolute
destruction of the crops unless they
themselves are exterminated before
they reach their full growth. They
are now little more than half an inch
in length. and it will be four weeks or
more before they have attained their
growth and are able to fly. Within
that time the campaign of the etomolo-
gist must be completed.
In the sections mentioned there are
now 400 hopper-dozers ut work. Each
machine catches an average of about
two and a half bushels II day, and the
hoppers run about $4,000 to the
bushel. 1t is estimated that the hop
pers carried off in the machines num-
Der not more than one-fifth of the en-
tire number destroyed, The balance
hop out to die later. Thus il will bo