115 



fUimnula pcUucida, Scucld), althoiigli much harm was doue in the NicoUi 

 Valley by a species closely resembling the Rocky Mountain Locust, but a 

 rather smaller species, called MeUinoplufi affinis, Coq., which has the same 

 habits. In Manitoba the Rocky Mountain Locust and the Lesser Migratory 

 Locust have done by far the largest proportion of injury to crops. 



Tlie eggs of the Rocky Jlountain Locust are laid by preference in light 

 soil with a firm surface, such as is in-esented in a field under a grain crop. 

 So much is this the ca.se that, when such conditions are available, hardly any 

 eggs will be laid elsewhere. In Manitoba the young grasshoppers hatch in 

 May. become full grown and have wings about the 1st July, when they begin 

 migrating in swarms to fresh feeding and breeding grounds. Egg laying 

 takes iilace mostly in August, and the numbers drop off rapidly from the 

 beginning of September, although a few may be found lingering on until 

 frost comes. 



Remedies.— For the migratory species the remedies are: (1.) The 

 ploughing down of the eggs in autumu or before the young hatch in spring. 

 This is rendered easy by the fact mentioned above that the eggs are laid 

 almost entirely in land which is or has recently been under crop and hardly 

 ever on the bare prairie. (2.) The destruction of the young before the wings 

 are developed, by iiloughing down, poisoning, or b.v burning in windrows of 

 straw placed as traps for them, and to which they will resort in large numbers 

 at night. (3.) Catching in implements known „ite hopper-dozers, consisting 

 of a light frame covered with canvas or sheet irOn, in the bottom of which 

 some water with a little coal oil on the top is placed. — Fig. 30a. (4.) Poison- 

 ing. This has been very satisfactory either with the poisoned bran-mash or 



(t'li;. :;oa. I Ilopper-Uozor. 

 with the recently devised Criddle mixture. In JIanitoba, where for some 

 years grasshoppers were very destructive, after a thorough trial of hopper- 

 dozers, the implements have been entirely superseded by the use of the 

 Criddle mixture, which was widely used and gave general satisfaction. The 

 latest improved formula for making the Criddle mixture is as follows : — For 

 convenience it is made in quantities of half a barrel at a time. TalvC fresh 

 horse dropiiings 100 parts, Paris green 1 part (:=1 jiound) and salt 2 pounds, 

 dissolved in half a pail of water, and mix thoroughl.v. In this connection Mr. 

 Criddle, the originator of this mixture, says : " We usually measure with a 

 three-gallon patent pail, because It is more convenient to farmers than to 

 weigh the materials. Five pails, we caloilate. approximately e(iual 100 parts 

 of horse droppings^ and each part equals in liulk one pound of Paris green. 



