﻿192 SEVENTH ANNUAL HEPORT 



ally disappeared. As food failed them, they would occasionally take to wing in small 

 bodies and go off; but generally " took it afoot" in search of fresh pastures. Every- 

 thing green in the gardens, turnip patches, wheat-fields, etc., was devoured ; and much 

 of the Winter or Prickly Mesquit Grass {Siipa setigera) so as greatly to lessen the 

 weight of pasturage, and stint the stock. 



When I reached home, about the first of December, they were busy depositing^ 

 their eggs, and had been so for some two or more weeks before. The female selected 

 high and dry spots, and especially little ridges of hard ground on paths, roads and 

 beaten yards, formed by the washing of water. 



They were preyed upon by birds, animals, and other insects. What few hogs were 

 hereabouts, devoured them greedily, as did poultry: they gradually disappeared with- 

 out being able to say how. 



We had some very bad freezes for this latitude, the ground being frozen to a depth 

 considerably below the nests of eggs ; and this more than once freezing and thawing^ 

 during the Winter. We were in hopes that this would have destroyed them, and in 

 rich, black, prairie soil, many thus perished. But enough were left to produce untold 

 myriads of the pests. They began to hatch early in February; when first seen, they 

 were about the size of a big tlea ; but a few continued to appear for six weeks or more. 

 I perceive, from my "Jottings on the Farm," in the Houston Telegraph, that on the 2Sth 

 of March they began to move — having hitherto fed about close by where they were 

 hatched — though only about five-eighths of an inch in length, and without wings. 



I quote from these jottings : "My garden is located on rich, stiffish valley land,, 

 and, by the way, is in a very promising condition. Until yesterday there was not a 

 Locust within the twenty acre lot, of which my garden now forms a small part. But 

 two days ago, the varmints began to move, on their ' nor'-west coorse,' and accumula- 

 ted in fearful numbers along the east and south lines of the fence. Strange enough, how- 

 evei', they did not seem inclined to cross over, which they could easily have done by 

 hopping through between the rails. After a day or two of hesitation, they made a 

 fresh start yesterday morning, and poured in on me in myriads. By niglit, I should 

 say, at a rough guess, that about one hundred bushels, more or less, if carefully meas- 

 ured uj), were within the limits of these twenty acres I They took a line diagonally 

 across, hopping along at a rate that would take them over the ground about a mile per 

 day. They present a very singular appearance indeed ; not one diverging from ' the 

 way they should go,' or are impelled by their instinct to go. The advance soon 

 struck the north line of the fence; vast numbers, still behind, made no movement 

 beyond a certain strip of prairie sod, left as an intended carriage drive. But, instead 

 of crossing it, they followed it down ; clipping the leaves partially from a nice young 

 hedge of Marietta rose, and threatening the potato patch. I could not stand thai. So,. 

 taking a branch in each hand, I hurried them up, at the same time fending them off 

 from the potatoes. They submitted to be driven quite as readily as a flock of sheep, so 

 that I still hope to save my garden." 



" April 3. These locusts have taken possession of a young orchard of Peach and 

 Almond, and of a lot of fine dwarfed Pear trees (of many varieties, and about eight 

 feet in height, full of blossom) which were very promising. They roost on the trees at 

 night; breakfast on the leaves and young fruit, before lunching and dining on the 

 grass and buds. Yesterday I could not drive them, and to-day the ground is so wet,, 

 they won't be driven. And, worst of all, the bulk of them ai'e to the southeast of my 

 vegetable garden." 



" April 11, Still keeping up the fight with the locusts. I fought with fire ; drove 

 them into the stream of water, and in everyway in my power, helped them on their 

 way or destroyed them. A large flock of blackbirds came to my assistance, and did 

 great service. They are now nearly gone, and I hope will soon take fliglit. 



"April 18. I have* been consoled to-day with the assurance that there are more 

 locusts in this valley (Glenblythe) than anywhere else in the county. 



