The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1932-03-03
U.S.. PREPARES TO
WAGE HOPPER WAR
Science Maps Campaign to
Save Fields of Northwest
Next Summer
CAN'T REACH ALL AREAS
Congressman Selvig Pictures
Need of an Appropriation
of 81, 100000

Washington, Feb. 27.-Through-
out the northwest, science Is pre-
pairing to wage war, on one of the
most insidious and implacable
pests that threaten the growing
crops Of the fields.
Biblical lore tells of the swarms
of locusts that swept down upon
the land eating 1t bare, and the To-
Gust is not far removed from the
grasshopper. The latter has an in
significant name, a title that robs
him of dignity and of Importance,
but If his title pictures him as hop
ping aimlessly on the grass. his
answer is a devouring appetite
that scorns nothing that grows
and a fecundity that makes him
omnipresent.
Where he dwells ordinarily and
why he appears only at times in
huge and menacing numbers Is
one Of natures secrets. But obser-
walton shows that he appears and
1t was natural that last year he
should have appeared in the north
west. Some regions in Minnesota
were swept bare but his chief
menace was left behind in the
form of posterity. Eggs by the bill
lions, laid in the soil, are prepared
to spring forth with the warming
spring sun into swarms Of grass
hoppers that will make last years
infestation seem harmless. Nine
states are threatened by the, spring
Matching of eggs now dormant in
the soil and it is to fight them that
a bill, sponsored by Senator Ship
stead of Minnesota in the senate
and by Representative Selvig in
the house is in progress Of passage
which will furnish the sinews Of
war against the plague.
Even in the period of depression,
1t is planned to appropriate $1,45o,-
900 to wage this war on the I'M
Matched srasshopper, with which
serum poisoned mash will be utiliz-
ed to "catch 'em young.
Representative Selvig, who init
lated the movement to declare the
war on the hoppers and who is an
expert on the subject, has outlined
the nature of the menace, and tells
what is being done to combat It.
'The serious grasshopper In
festation Of 1881 over a large area
&, 49, ,,o;dxxoztO LAWS Danracaxfo
tive Selvig has caused great APP
prehension as to their prevalence
in 1882. Only period of protracted
rainfall and cold weather during
the grasshopper egg-hatching per-
iod next May and June can save
millions Of acres Of crops from de-
struction.
Man has not perfected a com
plete or adequate protection
against the recurrence of a severe
infestation for the simple and OBJ
vious reason that it is impossible
by means of the poison bait mash
plan to reach every area infested.
There are roadsides and ditch
banks which will escape treatment
and there will be other neglected
areas that will, if weather condit-
ions favor Matching the grasshop-
per eggs produce millions of hop
pers.
It is fair to expect that congress
will recognize the grasshopper
menace and provide means to
wage a fight against the infesta-
ton. Beginning with the introduce
ton of bill providing for an APP
preparation with which to pur-
chase poison bait, followed by a
hearing before the director of the
budget who was at first unyielding
in his opposition and then by one
before the secretary of agriculture,
the result was a recommendation
from the budget bureau for 81, 450,-
900 to be used in nine states under
plans to be administered by the
secretary of agriculture.
This money will be used for the
purchase and transportation of
poisoned bait and the states shall
be responsible for its local distri-
button and utilization.
BY action Of the senate appro-
priations committee this item has
been included in the agricultural
appropriation bill. Middle west
senator's have been advised in re-
gard to the grasshopper pests and
will urge adoption of this amend
ment when the bill comes on the
floor Of the senate.
If adopted there every effort win
be made to secure its approval by
the conference committee of the
house of which Representative
Robert Simmons Of Nebraska is a
member.
The money must be made inn
mediately available in my opinion
as was provided for in the bill in
troduced in the house and Senator
Shipstead introduced in the senate,
DIR. A. G.. Ruggles, Minnesota en-
tomo1ogist, states the funds must
be available not later than March
10.
Plans for carrying out the pro-
visions of the grasshopper aid APP
preparation will be formulated as
soon as possible. State and county
officials will be asked to cooper
ate, especially county agents who
in many areas did good service
with limited means In 1881.