The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-02-15
LOCUST PLAQUES.
OnSIauqht of the Ravenous Tribe
During an Invasion.
GLUTTONS BY THE MILLIONS.
The Devastating Armies Fly In Clouds
Dense Enough to Obscure the Light
Of tho sun-The Hoppers That Come
After the Crops Are Devoured.

of the migratory locust, which are
mostly to be found in dry, semitropical
countries, such as the south of Eu-
rope, Egypt, Syria and Morocco, for
their native home seems to be In the
countries bordering on the Mediterra-
mean, though migratory locusts are to
be found in regions as remote as South |
Africa and South America, where they
form a veritable 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 a
few hours.
A locust invasion, writes John D.
Leckie in Chambers Journal, is an
event not easily forgotten. The first
sign of the approaching incursion is
usually ii long. dark cloud low on the
horizon. But the dark cloud is no
%forerunner of rain. Instead of the
precious liquid, which the farmer has
probably long expected in vain, it por-
tends the approach of his greatest en-
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 opaquely, as
through a mist, although the sky is
cloudless and the air clear.
Now we are in the midst of a dense
swarm of flying, whirring locusts,
which dash into our faces, enter u
houses and fill II 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-
vancing hordes. They simply fatten on
the locusts as they run around and
gobble them up. But this is no bless
ing to the farmer-far from it, for the
flesh of poultry becomes SO tainted by
this form of diet as to be quite un-
eatable, 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 one-third Of their
former figure, and even then there are
few buyers. All the animals about the
farmyard seem to be affected adverse
", 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 a few pioneers,
the advance guard Of the vast army,
then the main body of the army, a host
which is as %invincible as it is destruc'
tive. All true locusts are migratory by
nature, for the simple reason that, be
ing gregarious in their habits, it would
be impossible for them to exist with
out continual migration.
The ground on which they settle Il
completely cleared in a few hours, ant
they must perforce seek other fields
and pastures new, where they can re
peat their depredations. For the sam
reason the destruction which they eft
feet is purely local. One district may b.
completely devastated, while another
few miles away is altogether spared
from their presence.
When the locusts have eaten thei
fill the females commence to deposi
their eggs, which they do by making
an opening in the ground, in whicl
the eggs are laid. The infant locust
soon make their appearance, scarcel.
so large as a pea, hopping about il
countless swarms. In this stage o
their existence they have no wings
but progress by hopping. While /
this state-that is, before their wing
are developed-they must be ruthlessl,
destroyed.
Long trenches are dug, into whicl
the choppers" are driven by rows o
men, women and boys armed wit
branches Of trees, with which the
beat the ground, driving the insects
the direction of the trenches. On tn
opposite sides of the trenches sheets Q
galvanized iron are placed upright 8
as to form an effectual barrier.
On arriving at the trenches the "hol
pers" fall into them and cannot easil
make their way out, especially a
their progress is barred by the wall {
galvanized iron in front Of them, tn
smooth surface of which affords thel
no foothold.
The trenches are soon filled with mi
lions Of young "hoppers," the weigi
of those above crushing to death tt
under strata Of their fellows. Fart
is then shoveled on the top Of tt
seething mass of insects, and they al
thus smothered and killed.
This is the most effective method
discriminating the locusts, but In ord
to insure the success Of the operate
it is necessary that the attempt shou
be properly organized and that oil tt
neighbors should act In concert.
Providence Journal.
The Right Spirit.
did Mrs. Brown take her husband
failure in the right spirit?'
ooh, yes! Just as soon as she kne