﻿138 SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



the race had about vanished from the invaded country — at least from 

 its more eastern portions. I shall here bring together a few items and 

 communications that will serve to continue the chronological history 

 of the pest during these two years; confining the extracts to those 

 cases where I have, in each instance, been able to verify, by speci- 

 mens, the species referred to, as the genuine spretiis. 



In passinor over into Kansas, the corn for a few miles was of a splendid appearance 

 and rapidly maturino:, but we soon came into the "frasshopper countrj^ where corn, by 

 the thousands of acres, was stripped as clean as a tield of bean poles, and entirely cov- 

 ered. The gardens had been completely denuded of all vegetables, and all that were 

 used west of Fort Kiley were carried from Leavenworth and further east. In returning 

 throuo^h Northern Missouri, we found better prospects for all the crops ; at Cameron 

 Station we were shown stalks of corn sixteen feet high, heavily eared, as a sample ot 

 many lields.— [H. D. Emery, in Prairie Farmer, Fall of 1SG8. 



On Saturday, the 8th of August, the grasshoppers returned. During the night of 

 the 7th, a strong wind commenced blowing from the northwest, which steadily con- 

 tinued during the next day. As early as nine o'clock a. m., large numbers of grass- 

 hoppers could be seen flying very high up; at about three o'clock p. m., the wind 

 ceased to blow so strong although a good breeze was kept up. The grasshoppers com- 

 menced lighting, which they did in fearful numbers, in many places bending the tops 

 of the corn-stalks on which they settled, and commenced their work of destruction. 

 They are yet with us, and have already injured the corn crop, in many fields, much. 

 All the early corn is too far advanced to receive anj' damage Irom them ; but much of 

 the corn crop is late because of the work of the grasshoppers hatched out here last 

 Spring. This late crop will be much injured from the fact that it is just tasseling and 

 shooting, and the pesky things appear to have a great liking for the tender silks and 

 shucks on the ends of the just forming ears. With the silk eaten off, and the tassel 

 much injiu-ed, fears are entertained that inferior ears will be formed. * * it 

 — [S. H. K., Page county, Iowa, ibid, Aug. 10, 18GS. 



On Saturday, the 7th, in the afternoon, the "red-legged " locusts began "to pour 

 into" this region of country, and they have been as industrious as "circumstances- 

 would permit." The cabbage, potato-vines, beets, onion-tops, and other vegetables 

 were " jiressed into service " in a short space of time. Some of my peaches are stripped 

 of leaves ; other trees only in part. The apple trees and Kirtland raspberry canes were 

 denuded of their foliage ; they even devoured the leaves of the walnut and'other forest 

 trees. Many of the weeds indigeneous to the country shared the same fate as the ten- 

 der vegetables. The cherry and some seedlings of the wild cherry tree of Pennsylva- 

 nia are exempt from their attacks. The foliage of the hickory appears to be a favorite 

 dish with them. 



The grape vine leaves have not escaped entirely, but Concord, Rebecca, Diana and 

 some other varieties appear to be preferred to Clinton, Franklin and that more excel- 

 lent Isabella, together with some other kinds. My young pears have been so far 

 uninjured, but the trouble is that the ground in certain spots is literally covered with 

 them. On Sunday, there were millions of them that made an effort to leave, but a 

 Southeasterly wind prevented them, and they lit on the ground again. 



They have, as yet, done very little damage to the" blackberry plants. The rare 

 kinds of this region that I am testing, such as the Missouri Mammoth, Wilson and 

 Kittatinj^ I covered with prairie hay, which being old they will not eat while there is 

 anything green and tender. They do not appear to be devotedly attached to the Doo- 

 httle raspberry, as but few canes are yet leafless. On Sunday night v/e had a heavy rain, 

 accompanied with thunder and lightning, which will prevent them from starting in 

 large numbers this morning. They are evidently bound for the south. A great many 

 left this forenoon for that direction. Many would rise a few rods in the air, but again 

 return. They have denuded thousands of acres of corn in this region, but the extent of 

 damage done at a distance from here I have not yet learned.— [A. M. Burns, Riley 

 county, Kansas, ibid, Aug. 22, 1868. 



We have many grasshoppers. When they are small they seem most destructive. 

 Early in the season they stripped oats and wheat indiscriminately ; now they work on 

 tiie wheat principally. Some wheat-fields are entirely destroyed bv them, and on 

 other fields they are eating off all the blades and youngest shoots. They have com- 

 menced on the corn. Some few are now getting their wings. Enclosed I send yon 



