The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-30
a Scientific Remedy for Locusts.

Enormous damage is inflicted every year
by the locust or grasshopper. 1t has been
most destructive, of late years, in Algeria
and Morocco and in South and East Africa.
Its ravagcs in our country have been most
severe in the States west of the Mississippi
from Texas to Minnesota and the destruc-
ton in some areas has, at times, been so
complete that farmers have left their
homes to seek employment elsewhere. 1t
is possible that Il remedy recently dis
covered in South Africa may greatly
restrict IL it does not wholly destroy the
evil; Mt least, there is ground for encour-
agement in the great success OF the expert
mcnts thus far
IL 1898 the locusts in Cape Colony APP
peared to be almost wholly destroyed by an
epidemic and an investigation by Mr. NJ. s.
EVANS seemed to prove cOnclusively that
the disease was the result of feeding upon
n fungus growth now known as locust
fungus, and til; a few insects infected with
the malady might communicate it to mil
lions of others.
In tho following year similar epidemic
occurred in Natal. and the idea began to
prevail that the maady might be propa.
gated among locusts wherever they were
troublesome. After repeated experiments
in the meteorological Institute at Ora
Jamestown, Cape Colony, Il pure culture was
obtained from the locust fungus and all the
insects brought into contact with it at tho
| Institute died.
In 1897 experiments on largo scale in
the artificial propagation of this disease
| were conducted in Cape Colony, Natal and
Rhodcsia with results that surpassed all
| expectations. Immense swarms of locusts
| persisted few days after the infection Of n
number of individuals in each group. 1t
was found that the best results were
obtained in periods of rain, when the locusts
remain longer in one place and tho spread
of the infection was thus facilitated. In
dry hot weather when the flight Of the
insects was rapid, the sick were left behind
and the majority escaped contagiOn.
The Institute at GrahamstOwn now puts
up the culture from the locust fungus in
tubes which have been sent thousands of
miles away, and the remedy acts with
the same excellent results rs in South
Africa. Several methods of application are
suggested One is to smear several insects
with the culture and then let them rcjoin
their swarm; another, to drop the contents
Of the tubes upon bits Of humid earth where
the insects are feeding; another, to enclose
locusts in bottle in which a little Of their
preferred food, covered with the culture
has been placed, and, after they hay" eaten
the food, set them at liberty Still another
suggestion is to dissolv" the contents of n
tube in n basin of warm water, immcrsa in
it a number OF insects and set them free
= Last year, the government of German
East Africa applied to the Institute for
some of tn" tubes and they reached Oar as
Salaam, the capital of the colony, in NovCm-
Der. The Germans say the culture was
: applied according tn instructions, but for
some reason, il had lost its efficacy and
= there was no result Another consignment
was received in the kilmandiaro district in
| July last, and the DcutSrh- OSidf rikdnischt
: Zeiilpg has Just published the results OF
I the experiment. Lieut. MAERKER and his
1 assistants treated ten lOcusts from each OF
/ five different swarms. His report says
t that in four days after the infection the
, five swarms were lying dead in heaps,
; Locust~ have recently been n terrible
: scourEc in German East Africa. If the new
: remedy will serve the purpose, the Govern
" mout proposes To cXtHrminate them. 1t has
l. Just ordered a larg" number of fresh cutur,
I tubes from Grahamstuwn for distribution al
a all the colonial stations and to be supple,
II EratuItously to planters, missionaries anC
= merchants. 1t will be a boon To many lands