PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 133 



selves by their claws to tlie bark or leaves. After remaining 

 quiet a little while yon may see the line in the upper part of the 

 back gradually open, and soon the back of the inclosed insect 

 will be seen emerging, then follows the head, then the limbs, and 

 finally the entire insect has cast off the subterranean coat which 

 has lasted it so long. Soon the wings, that have been folded up 

 in the smallest possible space, are unfolded and shaken loose, 

 and you are surprised at the extent to which they arc expanded. 

 At first, the locust, after casting off its coat, is exceedingly 

 delicate, almost diaphanous in appearance, but it soon after be- 

 comes darker colored, stronger, and in every way fitted for the 

 great change that has so suddenly taken place in its nature. 



Many people — indeed, many good people — have already com- 

 menced the work of destruction of these beautiful creatures. 

 Indeed, the organ of destructiveness in many people is so large 

 that they wage an indiscriminate war against all insects — to me 

 the most wonderful of all God's creatures. Some insects, cer- 

 tainly, are injurious, but many are useful; just so with birds — the 

 man that kills them all will soon find his mistake. Let every one 

 study the habits of all these little creatures, learn which is use- 

 ful and which injurious, and then, and not till then, assume the 

 power of dominion that God has given him. 



The locust is perfectly harmless. They eat nothing except to 

 sip a little dew, during the few weeks they live in this form of 

 their existence. The silk worm, as a worm, is a gross feeder, 

 but as a butterflj^ it eats nothing ; so with the locust, and many 

 others of these creatures which assume such wonderful changes 

 in their existences. The last, or winged stage, is their season of 

 love ; the male sings, and the female lays her eggs, and then they 

 die. The only possible harm they do is to the small twigs of 

 trees that the eggs are deposited in. These die and fall off in the 

 Autumn. Some of our orchardists say that our fruit trees should 

 be headed in by cutting off a part of each year's growth ; if that 

 is so, the locust is useful. 



In a few days our forests will be vocal with the singing of 

 these locusts. To the man whose heart is right it will be music — 

 to some it will be a mere noise. Seventeen years ago, some of 

 the Millerites thought the end had really come, and they were 

 looking about for their ascension robes. This year, your poultry 

 of all kinds, your hogs that run at large, and all the birds, will 

 be busy feeding upon the locusts. The crows, this season, will 



