PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE WINGED INSECTS. 419 



report on the subject of locust ravages in British America, and by Mr* 

 Eiley in his eighth Missouri report, for 1S75 (p. 132). We have, on this 

 side of the boundary line, a number of signal stations and military 

 posts in the country where the insect breeds. We would have our own 

 military force co-operate with the Dominion police force as a locust vigi- 

 lance committee. Under the intelligent guidance and direction of some 

 special commissioner or commission, we would have that whole country 

 systematically studied every year by such a force with reference to the 

 abundance or scarcity of the locusts. We would have such a vigilance 

 force, by a proper system of fire-guards and surveillance, prevent the 

 fall fires in sections where the insects or Iheir eggs were known to 

 abound, in order to burn them at the proper time the following spring. 



This would be a stupendous work, and perhaps too expensive ever to 

 be carried out, did the insects breed over the whole of the region we have 

 designated as the permanent region ; but, fortunately, the breeding- 

 grounds are in limited areas in this region, comprising the richer val- 

 leys and plateaux and strips along water-courses. It is for the Com- 

 mission to accurately map out in detail these areas, and to estimate with 

 what force and at what expense to the two governments the work can 

 be performed. We have no hope nor idea that the pest can ever by 

 human means be exterminated from that vast region, but do believe 

 that it may be so kept in check that it will not migrate. The constant 

 expense will be limited to the employment of the necessary force, and 

 only at intervals when danger threatens will it be necessary to go to 

 the extra and exceptional expense of destroying the insects. Again, 

 as.may be gathered from Chapters YII and XV, there is a connection 

 between locust-increase and seasons of drought, and we may take advan- 

 taije of this knowledge by making especial effort whenever the charac- 

 ter of the seasons indicate danger. 



The next question to consider is, whether the farmer can be protected 

 from the invading swarms, in case the above-mentioned plans should 

 fail and the insects had become numerous. We think that this is also, 

 to a large extent, possible with the proper system and organization. 

 We would, in such an event, have this same corps of observers watch 

 C'lrefully the development and movements of the locusts and forewarn 

 the farmers of the country of threatened danger. There is no reason 

 why the agricultural community should not be informed the previous 

 autumn as to the extent to which eggs have been laid, and as to the 

 particular locations where laid j or why the following spring they should 

 not be informed of the prospects, so as to plant accordingly as recom- 

 mended in Chapter XIII, i, e., put in a larger area of small grain that 

 will be harvested before the winged swarms appear, and plant such 

 crops as are best protected. Then, as the insects were commencing to 

 migrate, their movements should be communicated to the people through 

 the Signal Bureau. The information should be as minute, complete, and 

 prompt as possible. These movements may be likened to those of a 

 storm, and the people should receive in advance the danger signal, that 



