14 REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



At this time a special "bulletin for Nebraska," giving a condensed 

 account how to deal with the insect, was issued and distributed not 

 only in that State, but also in Northern Iowa. 



From May 26th to the 28th the Commission met at Saint Louis for the 

 transaction of business and the perfecting of plans for the future. 



During the month of June Mr. Eiley was most of the time in the field 

 in the southern part of Iowa, touching also points in Nebraska and Kan- 

 sas meanwhile. He would here acknowledge his obligations to the ex- 

 ecutive of the State, and to the professors at the agricultural college at 

 Ames, for aid and encouragement. 



The following letter will prove a record of the situation in this State 

 up to the time it was written, while later occurrences are given else- 

 where (Chapter 1, App. 6) : 



Atchison, Kans., June 20, 1877. 



Si^ : In accordance with your request and my promise, I herewith transmit a brief 

 summary of my examinations, during the past fortnight, in reference to locust injury 

 ju the western part of Iowa, south of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway. 



The rains, during most of the time, have been so severe and heavy as to render travel 

 across the country often unpleasant and difficult ; yet I have managed to examine the 

 condition of things at many points along the Chicago and Northwestern from Council 

 Bluffs to the eastern limit of the locust region in Story County ; thence across to the 

 Chicago and Rock Island ; thence along the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and 

 across the country from Malvern in Mills County, southwardly. Stopping at these 

 points and pushing out to those farms where the insects were reported most numerous, 

 and having reports from many points not visited, my conclusions are drawn with assur- 

 ance, and, though favorable, are, if anything, not sufficiently so. 



PURPOSE OF THE VISIT. 



My examinations were partly in furtherance of the plan of the Commission to visit 

 personally and collect the varied experiences of every State and Territory within the 

 locust range ; partly to ascertain the real prospects, and to encourage the farmers and 

 disseminate information among them, where such work was necessary. 



NO MORE EGGS TO HATCH. 



A few straggling eggs were hatched as late as a week ago ; but none now remain to 

 hatch except a few from indigenous species. 



DISAPPEARANCE OF THE YOUNG. 



As elsewhere over the threatened region, the eggs were exceedingly numerous, and 

 the young locusts hatched in April in such numbers, and began their work of destrnc- 

 tion with such vigor, that the greatest apprehension was felt. They soon began to dis- 

 appear, however, and this disapp earance was due to the same causes enumerated some 

 live weeks ago in my letter to Governor Anthony, of Kansas, reviewing the condition 

 and prospects at that time in that State. Summarized, they may be stated as follows : 



The weather. — The continued cold and heavy rains after the iDrincipal hatching de- 

 stroyed immense numbers. I have known them washed into the Des Moines River so 

 as to form a putrefying scum two inches thick. The farmer owes the salvation of his 

 crops largely to this cause. 



Climate. — An inherent tendency to disease in the species when in this part of the 

 country has made it most susceptible to the adverse weather, and carried off a large 

 I)roportion. This is an exemplification of the views constantly urged by me. 



Natural enemies. — It is a general law that in proportion as a species becomes unduly 

 and excessively multiplied its natural enemies correspondingly increase. The abund- 



