291 
“ About the 10th of April the young grasshoppers began to appear in myriads, 
and farmers grew alarmed. Some, however, went on with their work, remember- 
ing that ‘it is God who giveth the increase ;’ while others showed a disposition to 
wait. I was among the latter, but the former course resulted favorably in most 
localities, though in Salt Creek Valley, where the best farms of the State are 
located, not only are the ordinary grains devoured, but the finest timothy and 
blue grass meadows are entirely killed out. Farms lying next to timber and 
brush, however, fairly escaped, owing to the supply of vegetation thus afforded, 
and the constant fright given to the insects by workmen. When once driven 
from a place they scarcely ever voluntarily return, as I demonstrated this spring 
in saving a garden and potato patch. This was done by taking bushes and 
driving the grasshoppers out at about 11 o’elock a. m., and again at near sun- 
set. They are very destructive during the night, and should always be driven 
off before sunset. 
«T first noticed these insects on the wing this season on the 27th of June at 
Fort Leavenworth, when I saw a large number above the tops of the trees fly- 
ing off in a southeasterly direction. Upon leaving the egg they are of a milky 
white color and very tender. When they first began to appear jn the spring 
the cool nights destroyed many. Indeed, during the entire time they have 
been constantly dying by millions; those that remained alive devouring the 
dead carcasses with the utmost avidity. 
“No general damage has been done in the State this year by the grasshop- 
pers, but some localities have suffered extensively. As before remarked, as 
soon as they had developed wings they left us, apparently governed in their 
course by the wind. We are now quite free of them, and nearly as good crops 
will be raised as usual. It is thought here that they are natives of southwest- 
ern Texas and of Arizona, where these doubtless came from. 
“Yours, respectfully, 
“W. EF. GOBLE.” 
; : ABORTION IN COWS. 
The following has been received from A. Loomis, of Little Falls, New York, 
who deems Dr. Parker’s views on the “disgusting and filthy practices to in- 
crease their milk,” as charged upon dairymen, to be incorrect and slanderous : 
“In your monthly report for March, under the head ef Abortion, you quote 
from Dr. S. J. Parker, of Tompkins county, New York, his views of the causes 
of that scourge of the cheese dairymen in this region. The doctor evidently 
knows nothing about it, and has formed his facts to suit his theory. Calves 
are not killed before they have sucked; and cows are not doctored or drugged 
to increase their milk. The Farmer’s Club of this place has for several 
years past made this subject a speciality. The investigations extend to thous- 
ands of cases, and the correspondence with intelligent and observing farmers, 
who have seen and suffered from the disorder, and with men of science, has 
been long continued and extensive, endeavoring to find a cause or a cure. The 
State Agricultural Society has now undertaken the investigation, and has pro- 
curred an appropriation from the legislature, and is about to send several 
scientific men into the dairy regions to make a thorough investigation, in ad- 
dition to that of the Farmer’s Club of this place.” 
FROM DENMARK. 
W. Marsh, esq., consul at Altona, writes to this department, under date of 
July 27, as follows : 
“Nearly all the early kidney potatoes were affected, and now that the round 
