The Lamar register., 1913-08-27
Contzoalins the Gr.ssshopper

ty mas during the PAST 0edoSA QUA
fered losses amounting to thous-
ands of dollars. The loss to the
alfalfa crop alone is more than
enough to pay the cost OF entire
ly destroying the insect. Around
the edge Of nearly every field Is
a strip varying in width from ten
feet to two rods where the grass
hoppers have taken all the hay
and another strip as wide where
about half Is destroyed. Other crops
have all sustained more or less in
jury.
The life history OF the grass
hopper Is very intereting and from
it we get valuable hints as to the
best means OF fighting it. The fe-
male deposits abouts 100 eggs in a
mucilaginous sack about a quarter
of an inch below the surface of the
ground, usually in an elevated spot.
This sack is waterproof and pro-
tects the eggs during the winter
The warm sunshine OF the spring
causes the eggs to hatch and the
young hopper makes his way to the
surface OF the ground aud begins
his work OF devastation. If it hap
pens to be in an alfalfa or wheat
field that he begins his active ex-
istence SO much the better Tor hlm'
and his chances of Longevity are
much better than If he had been
matched out in an unprotected and
barren field. The wheat or alfalfa
is the favorite laying place for the
female since there is where she is
most likely to be at egg laying time
Ii the eggs can be thrown to the
surface OF the ground in the fall
or early spring the birds will de-
YOUR many of them and the wealth
err will destroy many more. Very
lew eggs will hatch after being
exposed to the elements. How ma!
this be accomplished? Evidently
stirring the surface OF the ground
is what Is needed. Give the wheat
field a good narrowing in the spring
and put the disc on the alfalfa. You
will thus be"killing two birds with
one Notwithstanding the hoppers
and establishing q dust mulch to
Aeep the moisture in the soil. II
will do no harm to harrow your
wheat twice. The disc ON the al
falfa should be set nearly straight
The harrow with the teeth set al
most straight will be very effective
on the alfalfa. Late fall plowing
after the eggs have been deposit
cd, and early spring blowing before
they have Matched will bury them
80 deep that the young hoppers VIII
not be able to dig their way OUT
and will die in the ground. After
they have once Matched and found
a feeding place the use of the hop
per dozer and poison are the only
effective means OF fighting them.
The shell of the grasshopper is
hard, serving as an armor of pro
lection. In order to grow he mus'
shed this hard coat. This he does
about six times, and it is not uh-
til the last time that he emerges
with a pair of wings. SO the soon
ar he IL attacked the less chance
he has of flying away. His habits
of feeding are peculiar. too. In
the early morning he begins to
climb the stalk of the plant he If
feeding on, and continues eating
on the upper stalk till about ten
O'Clock when he begins feeding low
err down in the shade. The time
to apply poison is when he is Oh
the ground in the morning. Thi'
calls for early rising for it shoult
be done before sunrise.
The hopper has several na'ura
enemies besides men and turkeys
one is a fly much like the common
house fly which lays its eggs II
the body of the hopper, and tn'
larva kills it by feeding upon 1t
Another is the praying mantis' th'
long grey bug which is sometimes