The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1912-01-18
LOCUST PLAQUES,
Onslaught of the Ravenous Tribe
During an Invasion.
GLUTTCNS BY TIE MILLIONS.
The Devastating Armies Fly In Clouds
Dense Enough to Obscure the Light
Of the Sun-The Hoppers That Como
After the Crops Are pevoured.


After the Crops Are pevoured.
There are several species or varieties
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 agrl-
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 u.
LeclSie in Chambers Journal, is an
event not easily forgotten. The first
sign of the approaching incurslon Is
usually 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 whirrlng 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 dense
swarm of flying, whirring 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
" covered or they Will be polluted.
Fowls and turkeys welcome the ad-
yancing 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 I'M
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 theil
| former figure, and even then there are
few buyers. All the animals about the
farmyard seem to be affected adverse
ly, for even the horses have strong
aversion to eat grass which has beer
polluted by the presence of locusts. an(
unless very hungry they will not touch
it.
The advance Of the lOcusts take:
place as follows: First a few pioneers;
the advance guard of the vast army
then the main body of the army, hos
which is as invincible as it is destruc
tive. All true locusts are migratory b.
nature, for the simple reason that, be
ing gregarious in their habits, it woul'
be impossible for them to exist with
out continual migration.
The ground on which they settle i
completely cleared in few hours. an
they must perforce seek other field
and pastures new, where they can re
peat their depredations. For the sam
reason the destruction which they Ell
feet is purely local. One district may b
completely devastated. while another
few miles away is altogether spare
from their presence.
When the locusts have eaten thei
fill the females commence to deposi
their eggs, which they do by maxim
| IN, n if.
the eggs are laid. The infant locust
soon make their appearance. scarcel
so large as pea, hopping about
countless swarmS. In this stage
their existence they have no wing
but progress by hopping. While
this state-that is, before their wing
are developed-they must be ruthlessl
destroyed.
Long trenches are dug, into whic
the ''hoppers' are driven by rows {
men, women and boys armed wit
branches of trees. with which the
beat the ground, driving the insects
the direction of the trenches. On tt
opposite sides Of the trenches sheets {
galvanized iron are placed upright
|
On arriving at the trenches the Tho
pers" fall into them and cannot east
make their way out. especially {
their progress is barred by the wall
galvanized iron in front of them, tt
smooth surface of which affords the
: no foothOld
The trenches are soon filed with m
) lions of young "'hoppers," the weig
of those above crushing to death Il
under strata Of their fellows. Ear
q is then shoveled on the top of t
seething mass of insects, and they a
thus smothered and killed.
This is the most effective method
DISCRIMINATING the locusts, but in ord
to insure the success of-the Operati
q it is necessary that the attempt shor
q be properly. organized and that all
neighbors should act in concert
a Providence Journal.
Is The Right Spirit.