Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-05-01


cada originally composed one great
brood, and that insufficiency of food
or unfayorable temperature at one
time broke up their regular and uni
uniform periodicity. Scattering indi-
viduals now appear the year before
and the year after great broods are
due. In fact, some periodical cicadss
come out of the ground each year in
various sections, but all these fret
serve their long apprenticeship below
ground.
DWARFs IN EACH BROOD.
In both races there always appear
together large cicada, averaging an
e1panse of three inches from tip to
tip of outstretched wings, and dwarf
companions always in the minority,
about two-thirds this size. The larg-
er form precedes the smaller both in
emerging from the ground and in dy-
ing out, and is characterized by orange
brown tints upon its abdomen.
Only the male cicada sings. His mu-
sical apparatus isa pair of small, she'll
like, inflated drums on his under side,
and at his waist line. He vibrates
these by the action of very powerful
muscles, which snsp the drum in and
out, as you would the bottom of an
oil can, but with incomprehensible
speed. Their sound is modified by
adjacent disks and sounGng-boards.
Soon after growing his wings Mr..
Cicada will be heard to utter a note
which can beat be written thus "Phs-
r-r-r-aoh." 1t will sound in mourn
full cadence and a lowering pitch at
its termination. 1t has been conf
pared with the whistling Of a train
passing through short tunnel. La
ter he will change his note to "tsh-e-e-
E-E.E-E-o-ou," continued for from
two to twenty seconds. A third note
will be similar to the clicking of a
chimney swallow or the chirping of a
field cricket.
DOES He sTING2
The Government entomologists an
ticipate that sensational report, Of
painful stings inflicted by the cicads
will be circulated during the coming
season. So great was the consterna-
ton on this account in the great 90
Gus" year, 1868, that people ran in
terror from the harmless insects, while
fruits and even drinking water were
under suspicion Of having been Pois-
oned thereby. While these scientists
after continued experiments have failed
to provoke the cicada to sting them,
and while he is neither possessed Of
sting proper nor any poisonous secre-
ton, he may, rarely, perhaps, and by
accident, insert his slender besk into
the skin, causing only momentsry pain
like the prick ofa needl. point. The
insect cannot defend itself against it,
insect enemies, much less man.
The greatest Locust year" in the
memory of men living today was 1863,
when appeared the grandparents Of
the brood due this spring, together
with the largest Of the Southern, or
13-year broods, whose great-grsnd-
children are due south of Mason and
Di1on's line in 1907. Again In 1885
the parents Of this years cicsdas ap-
peared in conjunction with the second
largest Of the 13-year broods. But a
simultaneous appearance Of the larg-
est Northern and Southern broods
will not occur again until 2087. We
will bequeath the woes Of that year
to our great-great-great-grsat-great-
grandchildren.
DANGERS AND PRECAUTIONS.
Nursery stock and small fruit trees
will fall as the chief victims OF the
overzeal of Mrs. Cicada to deposit her
eggs and thereby effect general
twig- pruning. not especially injurious
to forest trees.
If you contemplate the setting out
of orchards this spring, you should as
certain from old residents of your sec
ton whether the cicadss appeared IN
the immediate vicinity II years ago.
If this is the case, you should by all
means delay the trapsplsnting oftress
until fall or next spring. In orchards
the less pruning done this spring, the
les. damsg. trees are likely to suffer.
Likewise budding and grating should
be avoided. Such is the advice which
Uncle Sans Department Of Agricul-
ture has on tap for all who wisely in
quire thereof.
"Now, here" said the salesman, sis
very 6ns umbrella. The handle,