PACKAmJ THE LOCUST IN KANSAS IN 1876. 615 



severe and continuous since the last of March. We have had a few showers ; but, 

 except immediately along Platte River, these showers have rarely been of length 

 enough to wet the ground more than to the depth of one inch. I may say, I think, 

 with perfect safety, that for two years past we have not had rain enough to saturate 

 the ground to tbe depth of 3 feet, while the fall of snow in the winter season has been 

 very light. In this connection it shouhl be remembered that in digging wells we find 

 the soil dry as an ash-heap, almost from the top of the ground to the water-line on a 

 level with low water in our rivers, or on the divides to a depth of sometimes 140 to 60 

 feet. It will be easy to understand the effect of continual dry weather upon our crops 

 and pockets. 



I do not think that any of my near neighbors will complain or take me to task if I 

 again say that a poor man with a family, and but little means, should think twice be- 

 fore attempting to make a home especially in Western Nebraska, for by the time this 

 is in print no less than eight out of twelve families living near to the north and west 

 of me will be on the way to Iowa and Missouri — some having already departed for 

 the Pacific slope. Some are selling their claims and all their stock for less than half 

 their value, while others are leaving their claims to hoppers, and to settlers desiring 

 to try their luck. Many of my readers may think over in their minds the old adage 

 that a " rolling stone gathers no moss," but permit me to ask a question : How much 

 moss can a stone gather when visited continuously by drought, bugs, and hoppers ? 



Generally speaking, you can rarely find a more energetic race of men, both English 

 and German, than those who are leaving us now. Some of them came here with money. 

 They have sunk it all in their farms, in efforts to live and make a living, only to see 

 it all swept away in a day. There seems at present to bo no remedy except stock- 

 raising, and this cannot be done in this country without capital. To commence with 

 a cow or two, and live, clothe a family and school them, is almost an impossibility. 

 One of my neighbors declares that he "will not live in a country where he has got to 

 die in debt to his stomach." 



F. N. C. 



THE LOCUST IN KANSAS IN 1876. 



In Kansas the locust visitation was less formidable and did not ex- 

 tend so far east as in 1875, as may be seen by the following letter of 

 Professor Snow, dated University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kans., October 

 4, 1876: 



Your postal card reached me upon my return from Colorado, and I have delayed 

 replying to your inquiries because I wanted to know what the locust was going to 

 do for us before writing about him. I carae through Kansas from Color.ado (Denver) 

 ou the 5th and 6th September. CaJoptenus spreius at that time extended about 100 miles 

 east of the mountains, last of which point no trace of it was to bo seen during daylight 

 on the 5th. Next morning wo struck locusts in small numbers at Brookville (Salino 

 County), 180 miles west of Kansas City ; in full force at Salina, 12 miles farther east; 

 and found the east front of this line 4 miles west of Abilene, in Dickinson County, and 

 about 150 miles west of Kansas City. Observing and inquiring at the stations in this 

 30-mile belt, I invariably learned that the flight of the locust was from the north and 

 not from the west as two years ago (in 1874). 



Four weeks have now passed and the locust has not yet reached Lawrence, its eastern 

 line being about 20 miles west of Lawrence, only about 100 miles farther east than it 

 was four weeks ago. This eastern line extends across the State from north to south, 

 tbe entire State west of this lino having been visited. In many places the pest has 

 come in immense numbers, while in many other places there has been but a light 

 sprinkling. Little damage has been done thus far, almost none at all in comparisoa 

 with two years ago, it being so late in the season that the crops of this year wero 

 secure. The fall-wheat, however, has been very generally eaten down, but has come 

 up again when drilled after the departure of the hordes which remain but a few days 

 in a place. Wheat sown broadcast has been generally killed, having been eaten down 

 to the kernel. The great danger to be feared now is the spring-batching of the eggs 

 which have been deposited in varying abundance in the eastern part of the region 

 visited. It is agreed on all hands tliat the present visitation is far less numerous than 

 two years ago. The locusts are everywhere reported to be heavily parasitized by the 

 red mite and the Tachina fly. Can it be that these hordes are the "spring-hatch" 

 from Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming ? While in the South Park in July, I found great 

 numbers of young spreius along the streams from the mountain-sides. When on the 

 summit of Pike's Peak July 28 and 29, the winged results were flying due east as high 

 up in the air as the eye could reach. They did not descend upon us at Manitou uutU 

 the 12th of August. 



