Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1895-06-19
HOPPERS AND HOPPERS.
Millions Of Them Have Appeared
in Chisago County.
Prof. Lugger Has Taken Charge OF the
Work of determination Which Is
Being Carried on by
the State.

Taylors Falls and vicinity is this year
threatened by a grasshopper plague
that is more to be feared than any
thing that has threatened the crops for
years, and such an army of grasshop-
pers as has made it's advent this season
was never even dreamed of before in
this vicinity.
The seriousness of the situation can
be seen when it is stated that the hop
pers cover territory of nearly go
square miles, and if they are allowed
to get their wings there is no telling
where they will stop. At present they
are in a hopping stage and cannot travel
far. The danger is so threatening that
the state has taken hold of the matter,
and war of determination is being
carried on under the personal super
vision of Prof. Otto Lugger, and if this
is kept up it is believed the pest will
be exterminated.
The work has just begun, and already
40 hopper dozers have been sent out
into the country, and more will be
manufactured right away. Prof Lug
ger says that the situation is worse
than he expected to find it, and unless
the hoppers are killed the crops will be
rnined. The insects, he says, are the
California and White Mountain species.
and are more to be feared than any
other kind, because the multiply so
fast
The hoppers made their first appear
ance in the vicinity two years ago, but
were not interfered with until this year
Last year they destroyed many crops,
and the farmers are considerable
worried.
The hoppers are similar to an ordin-
airy hopper, but are black in color.
They have reached size of about one
half inch in length, and will have wings
in about five weeks At present they
are simply hopping around by the mill
ion and are not spreading fast They
are already eating the grass, and will
stick to this as long as it is fresh.
After this they will make for the crops,
and only those far advanced cam escape
them.
They have reached the farm of Luke
Standard, / a miles north of this place,
but the storm center is about Fraconia,
three miles south of here, and they are
numerous as far south as Center City.
All the crops between these points are
threatened with decentralization and it
is well that the state government,
through Gov. Cleugh, awoke to the
seriousness of the situation and began
an effort at determination. Mr.. Stan
nard has three of Prof. Lugger's ma
chimes at wook on his farm and yester-
day gathered in five bushels of dead
hoppers. Saturday he got 10 bushels
more, and Prof. Lugger estimates that
only one-ffth are canght in the ma
chimes. The rest hop out and die.
The number of hoppers at present is
about so, GOO to the bushel, and the kill
ing of rs bushels does not begin to rid
Mr.. STANDARDS farm cf the black pest.
One can see how numerous they are
from the fact that man killed AZ of
them with one stamp of the foot.
Representative August Anderson is
looking after the state work somewhat
and already has quite a force of men at
work fighting the hoppers- He is also
taking Prof. Lugger around the coun-
try where the insects are the thickest.
A message was received from Gov.
Clough telling the farmers to make the |
fight and the state would stand the ex-
pense. Prof. Lugger believes that the
crops can be saved this year, but the
entire country will have to be ploughed |
mp later to kill the eggs and completely
exterminate the hoppers.