Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-12-03

After the Crops Arc Devoured.
There are several species or varieties
of the migratory locust. which are
mostly to be found in dry. srmitropical
countries, such as the south Of Eu-
rope. Egypt. Syria and Morocco. for
their native home seems to he in the
countries bordering ON the Mediterra-
mean, though migratory Iocusts are to
be found in regions as remote as South
Africa and South America. where they
form Il veritabe scourge to the agri-
culturists. In Argentina. especially
the northern half of the country. they
are very destructive, for they will an
initiate the farmers entire crop IN
few hours.
A locust invasion. writes John d.
Ieckie in Chambers Journal. Is an
event not easily forgotten. The first
sign Of the approaching incursion Is
usually n long. dark cloud low on the
horizon. But the dark cloud Is no
forerunncr of rain. Instead Of the
precious liquid which the farmer has
probably long expected In vain, 1t por-
tends the approach Of his greatest ell
envy, the omnivorous locust
AS the dark cloud comes nearer it Is
seen to be composed Of countless mil
lions of locusts on whirring wings
Soon the cloud appears overhead and
is sufficiently thick to obscure the sun.
which is only seen ulmuuey. as
through mist. although the sky Is
cloudless and the air clear.
Now we arc in the midst OF dense
swarm of flying. whrring locustS.
which dash into our faces. enter our
houses and fill our rooms with their
presence. The air is simply alive with
them. All open wells must be instant
ly covered or they will be polluted.
Fowls and turkeys welcome the ad.
vanring hor'lcs They simply fatten on
the locusts us they run around ana
goDble them up. But this is no bless
Ing to the farmcr-far from it. for the
flesh Of poultry becomes so tainted by
this form of diet as to he quite I'm
eatablc, and even their eggs have an
unpleasant taste.
SO we'll Is this fact known that as
soon as the locusts make their appear
ance in the locality the price OF eggs
drops to one-half or oncthird Of their
former figure, and even then there are
81 animals ol,nllt tho
farmyard seem to be affected adverse
ly, for even the horses have a strong
aversion to eat grass which has been
polluted by the presence OF locusts, and
unless very hungry they will not touch
1t.
The advance of the locusts takes
place as follows: First few pioneers.
the advance guard Of the vast army,
then the main body of the army, host
which is as inyincible as it is destruc-
tive. All true locusts are migratory by
nature, for the simple reason that. be-
ing gregarious in their habits. 1t would
be impossible for them to exist with
out continual migration
liz Ou WIN ivy SSNN-N ~
completely cleared in few hours, and
they must perforce seek other fields
and pastures new. where they can re-
peat their depredations. For the same
reason the destruction which they CT
feet is purely local. One district may be
completely devastated. while another
few miles away is altogether spared
from their presence.
When the locusts have eaten their
fill the females commence to deposit
their eggs. which they 40 by making
an opening in the ground. in which
the eggs are laid The infant loclsts
soon make their appearance. scarcely
so large as ii pea. hopping about in
countless swarmS. In this stage OF
their existence they have no wings,
but progress by hopping. While In
this state-tlat is. before their wings
are dcveloped-t!e must be rutl''ssly
destroyed.
Long trenches are dug. into which
the choppers" are driven 10y rows OF
men. women and boys armed with
branches of trees. with which they
beat the ground. driving the insects in
the direction of the trenches On the
oDposite sides of the trenches sheets OF
galvanized iron are placed upright so
as to form an efrcctual barrier.
On arriving at the trenches the hop
pers' fall into them and cannot easily
make their way out, especially as
their progress is barred by the wall OF
galvanized iron in front of them. the
smooth surface Of which affords them
no foothold.
The trenches are soon filed with MIL
lions of young choppers" the weight
of those above crushing to death the
under strata of their fellows. Earth
is then shoveled on the top OF the
seething mass of insects. and they are
thus smothered and killed.
This is the most effective method OF
exterminating the locusts. but In order
to insure the success Of the operation
It is necessary that the attempt should
be properly organized and that all the
neichbors should act in concert
Providence Journal.
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