33 



research over sufficient territory will show that the June migrations, from the eastern 

 limits of the locust area, will be towards the north-west, and the July, August, and 

 early Septembar migrations, from the Rocky Mountain plateau, will be in a general east- 

 erly and south-easterly direction. 



" It is not only of great scientific interest, but of high practical importance, to collect 

 all facts bearing on the return migrations, in order to know where the locusts go in their 

 return migrations the second year, as we only know that they do fly Of certain distance 

 northwestward. We want to ascertain the extreme western limits of this return migra- 

 tion. We also want to learn whether they return to their original breeding-places on the 

 eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, or whether the westerly winds, if they are westerly, 

 drive them back and scatter them, so that they do not breed extensively. 



" It will be seen by the reader that all grounds for a reliable working theory of 

 locust migrations are based on the work of our Signal Bureau and local observers, and 

 that the observations of the meteorologists and entomologists must go hand in hand. 

 The government has provided a well-organized corps of meteorological observers, and we 

 submit that a number of competent entomologists should take the field, under government 

 auspices. Not only should the border States, especially Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Min- 

 nesota, and Iowa, employ competent entomologists, following the liberal policy of Missouri, 

 which for eight years has had a state entomologist, whose reports have proved of incalcu- 

 lable practical value, as well as of great scientific interest, but the habits of the locust 

 need first of all to be thoroughly studied in the Territories, particularly those of AVyoming, 

 Montana, Idaho, Dakota, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and in the State of Colorado. A 

 commission of entomologists should be appointed to make a thorough detailed study for 

 several successive seasons of the habits of the locusts in the Territories mentioned. It 

 would seem that the recommendations made at the recent meeting of Western Governors 

 at Omaha^ that an appropriation be made by Congress, and a commission be attached to 

 the existing United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, is the 

 most feasible and economical method of securing the speediest and best results. 



Let us for a moment look at the losses sustained in the United States from the 

 attacks of insects. The annual agricultural products of this country by the last census 

 amounted in value to $2, 500, 000,000. Of this amount we in all probability annvally lose 

 over $200,000,000 from the attacks of injurious insects alone. Dr. Riley avers that the 

 losses during 1874 in Mi.ssouri from locusts — and it will be remembered that only the 

 western third was invaded — exceeded .$1.5,000,000. This would make the losses in othar 

 parts of the West at least twice as much more, or .$45,000,000 in all. The estimated 

 money loss occasioned by the chinch bug in Illinois in 1864 was over $73,000,000 , in 

 Missouri, in 1874, it is estimated by Dr. Riley to have been $19,000,000. The annual 

 losses from the chinch bug are greater, Mr. Riley says, than from any other insect. The 

 average annual loss to the cotton crop from the attacks of the cotton army worm alone is 

 estimated at .$50,000,000. Adding to these the losses sustained by the attacks of about 

 a thousand other species of insects which affect our cereals, forage and field crops, fruit 

 trees and shrubs, garden vegetables, shade and ornamental trees, as well as our hard and 

 pine forests, and stored fruits, and it will not be thought an exaggeration to put our 

 annual losses at $200,000,000. If the people of this country would only look at this 

 annual depletion, this absolute waste, which drag's her backward in the race with the 

 countries of the Old World, they might see the necessity of taking effectual p^e^•entive 

 measures in restraining the ravages of insects. With care and forethought based on the 

 observance of facts by scientific men, we believe that from $50,000,000 to $100,000,000, 

 or from one quarter to one half of this annual waste, could be saved to the country. And 

 the practical, most efficient way is for the States to co-operate with the general Govern- 

 ment in the appointment of salaried entomologists, and of a United States commission of 

 entomologists, who should combine the results of the State oflicials, and issue weekly, or, 

 if necessary, daily bulletins, perhaps in combination with the Weather Signal Buieau, as 

 to the conditions of the insect world, forewarning farmers and gardeners from week to 

 week as to what enemies should be guarded against and what preventive and remedial 

 measures should be used. 



" The Weather Signal Bureau, first suggested and urged by the late I. A. Lapham, 

 :i 



