The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-11-12
NOR MON CRICKET
DRIVE SUCCESSFUL
FIRST LARGE SCALE CAMPAIGN
IN STATE PRODUCED
RESULTS
Saved S5,166,O98 Worth of Crops in
Control Operations ON 7,487,695 Acres
Of Crop and Range Land; Total Cost
$436, 881.42, Says State Entomologist.

In the first large scale campaign
to be carried on in Montana against
the Mormon cricket, il Is estimated
that $5,166, O98 worth of crops were
saved during the past summer in
control operations involving an in
Tested area of 7,487 SOS acres of
crop and range Land at a total cost
of S436, 881.42, says DR.. Harlow b.
Mills, state ~entOm0logiSt, in q sum-
mary just issued.
DR.. Mills points out that the battle
against the crickets over a wide area
wa made possible on q large scale this
year through the ALLEGATION of WPA
funds which were administered gen.
orally by the bureau of entomology and
plant quarantine of the department of
agriculture and in Montana by the
state entomologist's office.
That the campaign was successful,
he attributes to the cooperation of all
agencies concerned, individuals, coun-
ties, and through funds made available
largely through the continuous efforts
of Montana's congressional delegations
and other interested individuals.
Going back, DR.. Mills points out
that the 1887 infestation, which in
than the previous year, dates back to
1881 when warm of crickets migrated
out of the Pryor mountains in Big
Horn county. In 1882 the crickets de-
creased somewhat in that territory,
but in the north-central part of the
state they appeared in considerable
numbers. In 1888 the Big Horn area
was again heavily infested, consider
able migration took place and crops
were attacked. The Indian service in
1884 extended control operations which
u,oro ~ o,1o11rotoH in 1921 onH o1thpl1ph
some crop damage was prevented, eggs
were laid over a wide area.
Control Measures Sporadic
The control measures in 1885 and
1886 were sporadic and at the same
time crickets greatly increased through
the central third of the state. Despite
little control work was done and that
largely on the initiative of individual
farmers. 1t was estimated that 4,679,-
983 acres of range and cultivated land
were infested in 1886.
The i%nfestation this year increased
nearly 60 percent and conditions were
especially favorable for the develop
ment of the cricketS. This infeStation
covered nc 1858 cultivated acres and
6,511. 1872 acres OF range land or a to-
tai of 7,487, sos acres. This represented
1Or CNe SGdCe DIS d WllOlc oil ulCIcdSC
of 1901 12 acres, or 500 percent over
the previous year.
Losses Show Increase
In computing the losses it is esti-
mated that they amounted in 1896 to
$439. 800 and in 1887 to $500 $50, an
increase of $6O,750. o. 1873 percent.
However, DR.. Mills points out, these
figures do not tell the entire story be-
cause much more crop land was in
danger of cricket invasion in 1887 than
in 1886. While the ~infestation in 1897
increased approximately 60 percent, the
losses increased but slightly over 10
percent. The fact that the increased
percent of loss was so small in proper
ton to the big gain in infestation is
due entirely to the control work car
ried on during the past season.
Saving Estimated at S5,166,0 9S
Then DR.. Mills puts it another way:
The crop saving in 1897 is estimated al
SIS. 166, O98. This saving plus the loss
should give the loss which would have
been sustained during 1887 without a
control program. This amounts to S.
666, GAO. On the other hand in 1896. a
year of very little control work, small
amounts of crops were saved, the exact