•2S ^rOXTAXA EXI>ER.i:\lEXT STATIOX BULLETIN 294 



The actual amounts of i)oisoned bran mash (dry weight) used 

 in fiftj'-one Montana counties dui-ing- the 1934 season, together with 

 tlu^ amounts estimated (November 1933) for these counties are given 

 in table 1. Tlie figures fen- the whole state are of some interest: 



Estimated X'ov. 1P33 Actual 



Xumbcr of counties requiring bait 31 51 



Tons of dry bait 18,017.7 16,254.4 



Acres treated 3,613,058 3,320,405 



Had it not been for the extreme drought in eastern Montana 

 which stopped all poisoning operations, except on irrigated land, by 

 the first week in July, the estimated and actual figures would have 

 been even closer. 



Figure 1, the prediction feu- 193-4 as published in November. 1933, 

 should be compared with figure 2 which gives the location and inten- 

 sity of the grasshopper outbreak as it actually occurred in 1934. The 

 prediction map indicates the rating given to the whole county. For 

 instance Blaine County was rated 60 per cent infested so far as the 

 crop acreage was concerned and as shown on the map all of it is in 

 the dark, heavy-outbreak area. This does not mean that grasslioppers 

 were expected to occur at this rate over the whole county. The gen- 

 eral agreement between the two maps is good. No survey' of Powder 

 River County was made in 1933 and other southern counties were 

 rated on very little information. 



THE OUTLOOK FOR GRASSHOPPERS IN 1935 



As shown in figure 3 only one county. Cascade, is given a rating 

 of 50 per cent for 1935 whereas for 1934 (figure 1) eighteen counties 

 were rated 50 per cent or higher. Only four counties may expect 

 infestations from 25 to 30 per cent. These are Liberty. Teton. Park, 

 and Sweet Grass. Infestations in other counties will be of minor 

 importance compared with what occurred in 1934. All counties have 

 been informed in regard to this survey and the estimated amounts of 

 poisoned bait required. 



The total amount of bait needed for 1935 is 3,073.7 tons. There 

 is on hand at the present time in all counties 3,254.6 tons. There will 

 have to be some shifting of i)ait from counties having far too much 

 to those which have too little. The policy has been adopted, though, 

 of leaving plenty of bait in a county long enough to make sure 

 whether or not it Avill be needed. 



