232 Transactions of the American Institute. 



grasshopper or locusts. 

 The Rev. James French, St. Loiiis, Mo. — ^They remain only one 

 season in a place. As soon as they shed their skin they have wings, 

 and then they emigrate eastward, filling the air so full that their 

 •wings, glistening in the sun, resemble a snow storm. They have 

 been known to destroy a field of young wheat in one day. They 

 eat red peppers, tobacco, weeds, almost every kind of vegetable. 

 Twice these insects stopped the cars by oiling the track. I have 

 seen the Missouri river nearly bridged across with them. They 

 were in Colorado a few years ago, and traveled eastward a few 

 hundred miles each year. Next 3'^ear, or the year after, they will 

 probably destroy the crops in Illinois. 



DEATH OF JOHN G. BERGEN. 



The Chairman, Mr. Nathan C. Ely, then arose and read the fol- 

 lowing preamble and resolutions on the death of Mr. John G. 

 Bergen, accompanied by eulogistic remarks: 



*' The Farmers' Club of the American Institute, deeply sorrow- 

 ing for their loss by the death of John G. Bergen, one of the 

 Ibunders of this Club, and for a long term of years an almost con- 

 stant attendant upon its meetings, ever ready to give to all the 

 benefit of his large experience in agriculture and fruits, and by hia 

 strict integrity and immovable firmness in upholding what was 

 right, and, as we believe, having ' charity for all, and malice for 

 none,' we feel that this sad event should not pass without some 

 record of it in our proceedings; therefore, 



" Resolved, That the Farmers' Club of the American Institute, 

 and the great interests of agriculture, horticulture and pomology, 

 by the death of John G. Bergen, have lost a most earnest, experi- 

 enced and devoted friend. 



" Resolved, That by his death the community have lost a capable, 

 honest, and upright public officer. 



•' Resolved, That we desire to mingle our tears with his sorrow- 

 ing family, and yet we doubt not that our loss is his gain, that as he 

 was faithful in the discharge of every duty on earth, he will receive 

 an eternal reward. 



" And be it further Resolved, That out of respect to our departed 

 associate, the Club will now adjourn." 



Mr. William Lawton. — I have often met Mr. Bergen. He was a 

 representative of the old school of Long Island farmers, and of a 

 population now almost extinct. They lived by their business, and 



