206 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



is no doubt that the efforts put forth at this time had a very appreciable effect upon 

 the numbers of the locusts, and much good was done in reducing the numbers during 

 the hot dry period which prevailed throughout the month of June. The importance 

 of ploughing down all stubble this autumn or next spring was impressed upon farmers 

 by the Provincial Department of Agriculture, so as to complete the work of fighting 

 the grasshoppers which was so well begun last spring. It will be noticed that the 

 area infested this year was not the same as that which was invaded by locusts north 

 of the Turtle Mountains during the two previous svimmers. A comparative freedom 

 of those localities in southern Manitoba must be attributed, I believe, to the good 

 work done by farmers last year. This serious outbreak was, no doubt, very much 

 aggravated, if not entirely caused, by the dry hot season, which not only checked 

 cultivated crops, but almost entii-ely prevented the growth of vegetation on the 

 prairies. The only green thing for the grasshoppers to feed upon was the young and 

 half-starved crops on cultivated land. Seeing the hundreds of acres in some places 

 swept bare, I expected to find large swarms of the Rocky Mountain Locust (Melanoplus 

 spretiis, Uhler^), but at only one place was this insect detected, and this was at 

 Douglas. The species which were almost entirely answerable for the destruction of 

 crops in Manitoba in 1900, were the native species Melanopolus packardii (Scudd.), 

 M atlanis (Riley), and Camnula pellucida (Scudd.). These were almost in equal 

 numbers throughout the districts mentioned, and probably the first named was 

 responsible for the larger proportion of the injury, being a large species somewhat 

 like the well known Two-striped Locust, but more active. It is easy to distinguish the 

 species by the broader margin to the thorax and its bright blue tibiae or shanks. There 

 were many other parts of the West where grasshoppers were more than usually 

 abundant, as is generally the case in dry seasons, but complaints were not made of their 

 attacks on crops. 



The following report from Mr. Norman Criddle, of Aweme, Man., gives a concise 

 account of the outbreak at ihat place, which was one of the centres of worst attack. 



' Aweme, Man., December 22. — With regard to the locusts, I forward some extracts 

 from my note-book which may be of use to you. There is no doubt that the poisoned 

 bran was far superior to anything else we tried. It was first used here with success 

 by Mr. Harry Vane of this place. 



April 24. — Locusts began hatching. 



May 8. — Bulk of locusts are hatched. 



May 14. — Several fields cleared off. Still hatching. H. Vane has tried Paris 



green with some success. Large numbers were ploughed under on edge 



of fields during night. 

 May 19. — Found a locust killed by Tachina flies; seven grubs found in ground 



beneath it. 

 May 24. — Locusts rapidly eating wheat. 

 May 25. — Locusts beginning to fly. 

 May 29.— Seem to have done hatching ; are not doing as much damage as 



formerly. H. Vane has invented a machine somewhat similar to the 



' hopper-doser,' only longer. It is made of sheet-iron and burns wood. 



With this and a mixture of Paris green and bran, the locusts are being 



kept under control. 

 May 30.— TToppor-dosers are being used at most places with some success, though 



not much. 

 May 31. — We are using Paris green bait with great success ; we are spreading 



it round all the fields. 

 June 6. — Half the locusts can fly. 

 June 7. — Still a few locusts hatching. Large increase of Tachina flies in some 



places. 



