54 



very probable tliat this, as well as the suitability and abunrlance of the 

 food, may be considered au important factor in the rapid increase of 

 the species in the last three or four years, an increase that has taken 

 place directly with the cultivation of alfalfa by irrigation. 



It would seem also that this habit renders the insect especially open 

 to attack, and I see no reason why concentrated effort may not entirely 

 prevent a repetition of the damage another year. 



MEASURES RECOMMENDED, 



The situation, it seems to me, is one deserving serious attention, but 

 one which offers every hope for successful work, if the residents of the 

 affected localities can but be induced to make a little effort at the 

 proper time. 



The injury for the present season is mainly past, as the grasshoppers 

 are in large part mature, many already pairing, and the loss of the 

 seed crop, the heaviest part of the loss, beyond repair. The effort, 

 therefore, must be toward preventing the damage another year, and it 

 seems to me very desirable that tke Division should distribute to the 

 people of this section a careful set of directions for their guidance this 

 fall and next spring in working against the grasshoppers. 



The means which appear to me from inspection of the ground to 

 promise most successful results would be as follows : 



(1) To thoroughly break up the surface of the ground in and along 

 the ditches before winter by harrowing thoroughly, cultivating or shal- 

 low plowing, thus exposing the eggs to winter weather and natural 

 enemies. 



(2) Wherever practicable, to flood the ground for a day or two at the 

 time young locusts are hatching. I was told that the young hoppers 

 were entirely unaffected by water, as they would crawl up the alfalfa 

 stems and escape, and it is probable that sufficient flooding to accom- 

 plish much good in this region is out of the question. My only hope 

 in this line would be in watching carefully for the time of hatching, 

 and using the water before the hoppers had obtained any growth, and 

 if abundant along the ditches, putting a little kerosene on the water. 



(3) A use of the hopperdozer as early in the season as possible, when 

 I believe the treatment of a strip eight or ten feet wide on each side of 

 the ditches would destroy so large a part of their numbers as to prevent 

 any serious damage. As I learned from a number of parties the hop- 

 pers are scarcely half grown when the first crop is cut, it would seem 

 that immediately after cutting the first crop would be the best time to 

 use the hoi)perdozer. The hoppers would be large enough to jump 

 readily and the dozers could be run ver^^ easily. It would be difficult 

 to use them at any other time than directly after a crop was cut, as the 

 dense growth of alfalfa would obstruct their movement. 



My strongest recorameudation would be the urging of effort in break- 

 ing up egg masses before winter, and then in case locusts still appear 



