The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-10
LIVINGSTON MAN TELLS WHAT
HE SAW.
LARGE AREA IS DEVASTATED
Carbon, Sweet Grass and Rosebud
Counties soreIy AHIicted-Pests
Invade Alfalfa Fields.

Much has been said and written
about the ravages of grasshoppers in
some OF the counties of Montana on
this side of the main range. While
some claim that the reports of de-.
struction wrought by the little pests
have been greatly exaggerated, others
contend that no more than the truth
has been told. Among the latter may
be mentioned j. l.. DeHart of Liv.
ingston, we'll known throughout east
ern Montana as solicitor for the Min.
nesota Transfer company, a man who
travels almost constantly over the
range counties. He was at Chicago
last week and in an interview given
the Live Stock World said:
Not having had ocular demonstra.
ton of the damage done in Carbon,
Sweet Grass and Rosebud counties.
you can have no idea of the situation.
q 6AS0L vi pasture CVV ulIlCS
square has been been entirely denuded
of verdure.
1--WE have been hoping that the
pests would sprout wings and get
away in a northern wind, but so far
they have shown no disposition to
leave. Last year, when they made
their first appearance, they ignored
alfalfa fields, but now they have de.
veloped a rapacious appetite for that
%succulent plant and promise to re-
luce ranchmen to a dire extremity.
When left the 'hoppers were now
ing down alfalfa in all directions and
it looks as though there will be no
winter feed.
Further east, in Custer and Daw-
son counties, the 'hoppers have not
yet appeared, but it is merely a oues-
lion of time. The prairie in our Sec
ton fairly swarms with them"
In speaking of the prospects for
cattle shipments Mr.. DeHart said the
Montana run of grass cattle would be
about a month later this year than
last, but that about the same number
would be shipped out. Along the
Great Northern, he said, grass was
good, but as that section had a hard
winter, cattle that survived came
through very thin and would need con-
siderable time to get them in shape
for the butcher.
AS to the range in general he said
it was spotty, some parts being ex-
cessively dry, others full of 'hoppers.
while in others grazing conditions
were all that could be desired.
An Official Statement.
Professor R. A. Cooley, state ento-
mologist. takes a less serious view OF
the situation than Mr.. DeHart and
some others. He, has been receiving
numerous letters from the east in
regah to the matter of the dispatches
sent out from the state concerning the
ravages of the '%hopeprs. Believing
that conditions have been greatly ex-
agerated, he has given out the follow
ing statement for publication:
THE situation in Montana as re-
CARDS grasshoppers is much less Sc.
rious than has been reported in recent
press dispatches. While grasshop-
pers have been unusually abundant
in certain sections, their injuries have
beer much more apparent on account
OF h very unusua weather OF the
past winter. These two conditions.
which unfortunately came together.
led to some apprehension in the vi
cinity of Forsyth.
The heavy rains of the past few
days have been a great benefit, and
natural parasites have already begun
to destroy the grasshoppers.
'"The situation is a temporary one
and the property holders in the at
fected region should not be discour-
aged.
"R. F. COOLEY,
estate Entomologist."