70 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 7 



succeeded in getting Ford County to organize for a systematic fight. 

 The county commissioners realizing the seriousness of the situation 

 agreed to appropriate mone^' out of the county funds to furnish free 

 poisoned bran mash for every farmer in the county. The county was 

 organized through the township trustees, every trustee being held 

 responsible for the work in his township. The governor of the state 

 was requested to urge upon the count}' commissioners of the adjoining 

 county to cooperate in the work. Monday, July 14, was set as the 

 "grasshopper day." The county commissioners had distributed over 

 the entire county the following printed circular: 



Grasshopper Fight Next Monday 



"In view of the alarming numbers in which grasshoppers are appearing in Ford 

 County, and the untold damage which they are causing to growing crops, the board 

 of county commissioners has ai>pointed Monday, July 14, as the date on which to 

 make a united and determined effort throughout all the townships of the county to 

 destroy the pests as completely as possible. 



" In order to enlist the help of every farmer in the county, in one big effort to exter- 

 minate the grasshoppers on that day, we have directed the trustees in every township 

 to purchase at county expense the supplies which are needed in his township for poi- 

 soning the grasshoppers, using the formula which the State Agricultural College has 

 found to be most effective. 



"We appeal to every farmer, every landowner and every tenant to take up this 

 matter at once with the trustee of their township who will furnish all the supplies 

 and have charge of the work in that township. The situation demands that we deal 

 with this pest promptly and effectively. Please get in touch with your trustee at 

 once by telephone or otherwise, find out where you are to go to get the materials and 

 interest all your neighbors in the campaign. 



"Get your supplies in time so that j'ou will be ready to spread the bait early Mon- 

 day morning before the grasshoppers have begun to move. 



"This is one of the most serious situations Ford County has faced for several years. 

 We must have everj' farmer in the field early next Monday morning it we get the 

 best results. All that remains for the farmer to do is to go to the trustee and get 

 the materials which the county is furnishing and spread them on the infested fields. 

 Please give every assistance in j^our power. 



G. W. Artweix, W. J. Davies, C. R. Aten, County Commissioners." 



This summons was electric in effect. It was as if an army were 

 moving on the country. Farmers who had stood helplessly by watch- 

 ing hordes of grasshoppers devour field after field and even orchards 

 and shade trees, now assumed a fighting attitude. The plan pro- 

 posed by the demonstration agent met with the approval of all. Every 

 township trustee was to call by telephone or see personally every farmer 

 in his district and tell him where to call for his portion of the poison. 

 Distributing points were established at four towns in the county. The 

 poisoned bran mash used was to be made and distributed according 

 to the plan recommended by the Department of Entomology. It was 



