﻿132 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT 



The most important results are likely to How from a thorough- 

 study of the Rocky Mountain Locust in its native haunts and breed- 

 ing places. By learning just when and how to strike the insect, so as 

 to prevent its undue multiplication there — whether by some more 

 extensive system of irrigation, based on improved knowledge of the 

 topography and water supply of the country, or by other means of 

 destroying the eggs — we may hope to protect the fertile States to the 

 East from future calamity." 



One of the best means of checking the increase of the species in its 

 native haunts, will be found in the encouragement and increase of its 

 natural enemies, especially the game birds, and the example of Kansas 

 should be followed in enacting stringent laws for their protection. 

 The introduction of the English sparrow has been recommended. 

 From what I know of the bird both here and in its native country, I 

 should expect little aid from it in this line, and if it can thrive to the 

 northwest, it will soon spread there, as it is rapidly multiplying at 

 several points along the Mississippi. We may expect more good from 

 the encouragement of native Locust-feeding species. Prof. Thoma& 

 has suggested that inducements be offered to the Indians to collect 

 and destroy the eggs and young along the west side of the plains. 

 Some system of preventing the extensive prairie fires in Fall that are 

 common in the country where the insect naturally breeds, and then 

 subsequently firing the country in the Spring after the young hatch 

 and before the new grass gets too rank, might also be adopted. But 

 whatever the means employed, they must be carried on systematically 

 and on a sufiiciently extended and comprehensive scale; and this 

 brings me to the subject of 



LEGISLATION, BOTH NATIONAL AND LOC2VL. 



It is very evident that if anything can be done at all in averting^ 

 this evil, it must be done by national means. No one individual can 

 acquire the requisite knowledge. The importance of having the mat- 

 ter properly investigated by the national government has been re- 

 peatedly urged by many prominent persons in the west, best compe- 

 tent to judge. The feeling has been very general of late years, both 

 among scientific men and intelligent agriculturalists, that the work of 

 our Agricultural Department, in the line of economic entomology, 

 has fallen very far short of the expectations of the people. Whether 

 this is owing to the character of its present management, or to the 

 nature of the Department organization, is immaterial in this connec- 

 tion. The feeling has found expression in our agricultural journals, 

 and in resolutions passed by various agricultural and horticultural 



