Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-05
LOCUST HARVEST IN ARGENTINA.
Western Farmers May Learn a Lessou
From south America.

From so19h America.
From the Chicago Chroaicle.
Down in the Argentina Republic, where
the merry locust sings hiscsongs, a harvest
er has been contrived to tgather In the in
sects. There are at Rast three reasons why
the device is excellent. It does the work
it is cheap and the dead l6custs are convert
ed into fertilizing material which has a
commercial value. "a IL
A large oblong, covered wooden box, upon
supports ten or twelve feel high, presents a
wide aperture In front through. which the
insects are to enter.f Leading to this Ia an
inclined plane (termed trampolin), wide at
the end resting upon the ground and erad,,-
ally narrowing toward the upper end, mo-
tected on each side by zinc sheets about
twelve inches high, over which 1t fs inn
possible for the young locusts to escape
From these side pieces extend other bar
riers of the same height and about leo feet
long. each of which Is set up edgewise and
when in use so secured at such distances
apart at the outer extremities as to afford
a wide entrance to the locusts. The sWarms
Of insects are driven toward this Enclosure
and readily ascend the trampolin. which is
painted green (the color of the foliage),
into the box. which is then closed until
another swarm is collected and driven In
two men being required for this work.
The apparatus for destroying the locusts
Is roller sustaining a cylinder of iron SIM
liar in form to coffee mill or rooster. The
cylinder Is covered with knives extended
obiquely and revolves between high side
pieces which almost touch it at their lower
extremities and Is revolved by crank
This machine is attached to the back of
the box containing the imprisoned locusts
which are allowed to drop into it, when
they are cut to pieces. After this the re-
mains of the insects are dried and sold for
fertilizing purposes, there being constant
demand in Europe for this material, rich
in nitrogen.
An easier method Of destroying locusts
has been discovered, according to reports
which come from Cape Colony. South
Africa In 1895 the iocusts in that part of
the world appear to have been almost de-
stroyed by an epidemic, and Investigations
carried on by NJ. 8. Evans seemed to prove
conclusively that the disease was the re-
suit of feeding upon fungus growth now
known locust fungus, and that a few
insects affected with the malady might
communicate it to millions of Others After
repeated experiments in the archaeological
Institute at Grahamstown, Cape Colony a
pure culture is said to have been obtained
from the locust fungus and the insects died
that were brought in contact with it at the
institute.
In 1897 experiments were carried on on a
large scale Immense swarms of locusts
persisted after the infection of several indi-
VidualS in each group. 1t was also found
that the best results were obtained during
the periods of rain, when the locusts re
main longer in one place, and the spread
of the infection was thus facilitated In dry
weather the flight of the insects is more
rapid, and, the sick ones being left behind,
there is less chance for the spread of the
disease The meteorological Institute now
sends out the culture from the locust fun
gus with directions for it's use in tubes,
which may be conveyed 1000 miles or
more. -,.
A national commission of the Argentine
Republic several years ago investigated all
pans and means for arresting the plague of
locusts and finally hit upon bounty plan
for locusts and their eggs destroyed In six
months $4,000 was paid out In paper cur
rency for 27,0O0,OO0 pounds of insects and
eggs. Though this quantity seems enor-
nous. yet it is nothing when compared
with the immense swarms and prodigious
quantities of eggs that stili were to be seen.
And it appeared that the amount of money
paid out IN bounties would foot up more
than all the damage done by the pests.