MODIFICATION OF WESTERN COUNTRY. 127 



purposes of irrigation ; by collecting in reservoirs the winter supply and 

 distributing it in the growing season, a very large section of these plains 

 might be brought under cultivation, and extensive forests grown where 

 now the surface is naked and barren. Every field brought into cultiva- 

 tion, every grove planted, and every square yard added to the water 

 surface of these dry regions, is just so far a step toward the ultimate 

 solution of the locust problem j and the nearer these can be brought to 

 their native home the more effectual will they be in rooting them out. 

 If extensive efforts in this direction were made in British America, 

 north of Montana, also in Eastern Montana, Western Dakota, and the 

 regions around the Black Hills, it would not only be of immense bene- 

 fit in supplying new agricultural fields for emigrants from Northern 

 Europe, but would be a great step toward the final solution of the locust 

 problem. It would also be a most effectual method of settling the In- 

 dian question in this region. Just what can be done in the way of re- 

 deeming these areas we cannot say, but when their settlement depends 

 upon it, and the welfare of a much larger area south and west also de- 

 pends upon it, certainly the question is worthy of consideration by our 

 national authorities. 



The day is not far distant when our national government will be 

 compelled to meet this important question and to test the ability of 

 man to accomplish the work. 



The progress of settlement westward must necessarily be slow when 

 it, as is now beginning to be the case, impinges upon the sterile area; 

 it can only push onward when the front line is backed by a dense popu- 

 lation and farms studded with groves. It is possible that if there were 

 no other impediments to overcome than this sterility, formidable as it is, 

 the gradual filling up of the border area with an active population 

 would modify the conditions sufficiently, at least, to allow the pushing 

 into and redemption of a belt of considerable breadth. Bat when to 

 this difficulty is added the devouring locust the hope of success is 

 greatly diminished. 



It requires no high degree of scientific attainments or profound 

 knowledge of physical laws to arrive at a conclusion in reference to 

 the point we are discussing. If the conditions remain as they are, and 

 the locusts are not annihilated they will continue to reproduce and mi- 

 grate. As the arable areas of the West will soon become absolutely 

 necessary for our rapidly growing population, it follows that without 

 some modifying influence in one or the other of these directions, toward 

 a change of conditions or toward annihilation, there is no hope but for 

 a continual warfare on the part of the western farmers with these in- 

 sect foes. Learning the history and habits of the species will do much 

 good in the way of enabling the agriculturist to contend to much bet- 

 ter advantage ; to take advantage of every favorable influence and to 

 be far more successful in defending his crops than he could possibly be 

 without this knowledge. It will also enable him to so modify his 



