THE OKTHOI'TEKA OF MINNESOTA. 13 



near Dulittli, and caused considerable damage by ahnost de- 

 nuding the lawns and gardens. They were at first most 

 numerous in the more elevated places find upon the slopes of 

 the hills, but as soon as the food became scaixc in these 

 localities the locusts invaded the lower portions of the city 

 and vicinity, and destroyed almost ever}^ green thing in 

 fields and gardens. As the_y reached their adult stage 

 numerous swarms left the infested region in search of feed- 

 ing grounds, and became thus established in many localities 

 south and southeast of Duluth. In this manner the region 

 about Pine City, Rush City and Taylor's Falls became in- 

 fested. During the year 1895 some 230 hopper-dozers were 

 operated near the places mentioned above, which required 

 95 barrels of kerosene oil. The work was commenced rather 

 late, but was successfully performed, and nearly all the crops 

 were saved. Of course the use of hopper-dozers is only a 

 makeshift ; the proper remedy-is the plowing of all land con- 

 taining eggs, as will be explained elsewhere. In 1897 locusts 

 were again rather numerous near North Branch, but only 

 the lesser migratory species [atlanis], the pellucid one hav- 

 ing entirely disappeared. 



Mr. E. B. Forbes, who took charge of the work in the 

 absence of the entomologist, reported as follows: Mr. Hov- 

 ton, of North Branch, Isanti Co., reported on June 17 

 locusts in destructive numbers in an old r^-e field belonging 

 to a farm not in operation. The field had not been plowed 

 since the spring of 1895. The locusts had spread from here 

 in all directions but principally across a road to the south, 

 and into fields containing rye and wheat. At that place 

 the}' had spread over 200 acres, and commenced to cause in- 

 jury. The farmers were very much excited, and had hauled 

 several loads of straw onto the grass and brush separating 

 the old field from the growing grain. The locusts had col- 

 lected in considerable numbers on this straw and many were 

 burned with it. In a number of other places locusts had 

 also hatched in large numbers in old and un plowed fields. 



