16 REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



subject to locust ravages disaster is averted by greater diversity. Without discussing 

 the advantage of a diversity of crops, the advisability of growing more stock must be 

 obvious: first, to consume the corn at home; secondly, to avoid sweeping disaster. 

 Had the season been less unfavorable to the locusts, they might have cleaned out 

 the grain-fields, and, as is their wont, left untouched the wild prairie meadows. Ferhum 

 sat sapienti. 



Secondly. In every community there are those who persist in doing nothing to pre- 

 vent locust injury. These individuals frequently bring ruin not only upon themselves, 

 but upon more persevering neighbors. There is need of more organization, and Iowa 

 needs some such law as her sister States north and west passed last winter — a law 

 that will oblige every able-bodied man to work one or more days, either in the Fall in 

 destroying the eggs, or in the spring in destroying the young insects, whenever the 

 township trustees, at the request of a given number of citizens of the township, may 

 call them to such work under special provisions similar to those of existing road-laws. 

 [Here followed some practical suggestions that are given in Chapter 13.] 

 Sundry devices for the use of both coal-oil and coal-tar have been patented, and the 

 patentees in some instances charge an exorbitant and unreasonable royalty. 1 would 

 advise farmers to 



SAVE THEIR MONEY. 



The principle of destruction cannot be patented, since coal-oil and coal-tar for the 

 destruction of locusts have been used in former years, and extensively in Colorado. 

 Their use against insects is a public privilege and possession. 



The particular construction of the machine is immaterial. Farmers will thank 

 manufacturers who sell at a decent profit, but should give no encouragement to those 

 ■who charge thrice what a machine is worth because of a patent. 



PEOSPECTIVE DAMAGE. 



There is some apprehension from swarms from the south, and from fresh flights later 

 in the season from the northwest. I think there is little danger of either. The return 

 swarms in summer from' the country south are never very disastrous. The insects 

 have been flying north and northwest for about six weeks, but so scattered that, as I 

 anticipated five weeks ago, no serious injury has followed their settling. They fly 

 mostly west of Iowa, and when they do injury it is generally near the British- American 

 line. That there will be no fresh visitation of a widespread character later in the 

 year from the northwest there is every reason to hope. The native breeding-grounds 

 must have been measurably depleted last year, and the return migration has been so 

 far, and doubtless will be, slight. This reasoning applies to the section of your Srate 

 which I have visited. It will apply to all the country south and east of the forty- 

 fourth parallel and one hundredth meridian, but will hold less and less true as we go 

 north and west of those limits. Altogether the outlook is favorable. From excessive 

 wet, and for other reasons, the ordinary grain pests, like the chinch-bug, will be harm- 

 less, and with favorable weather henceforth there is very reason to feel encouraged. 

 I have the honor to remain, yours, respectfully, 



C. V. RILEY. 



His Excellency Gov. J. G. Newbold, 



Des Moines, Iowa. 



Mr. Packard started west after the Saint Louis meeting, and reached 

 Denver, Colo., on tlie first of June. He spent several days at Morrison 

 and Greeley, collecting facts about the young and return migration 

 from the southward. May 29 and 30, he made observations at Jules- 

 burg and vicinity; June 7-11, at Salt Lake, Farmington, &c. ; June 

 12-24, he passed through Idaho into Montana, stopping at Virginia 

 City, Bozeman, Helena, and Fort Benton. From here he passed down 



