APPENDIX III. TEXAS DATA FOR 1877. [73] 



be rid of all that had hatched ; while there is no snch hope for the people of Southern 

 Tex.is, much faith is jjlaced in the birds, piairio chirkens, and heavy lains; the latter 

 ■we have just had. The Gonzales Enquirer says: "Reports from this and adjoining 

 counties state that the grasshoppers are hatching out by the millions. The birds are 

 having a good time feasting upon them, but nothing but a general rain — a regular 

 trash-mover — will save the crops." Farming operations are active regardless of the 

 grasshoppers, as many farmers believe they will die of starvation or emigrate before 

 the croi)s are large enough to furnish them food. Notwithstanding all this, the gravest 

 apprehensions are entertained as to the future, with almost a certainty of no vegeta- 

 bles, and possibly no fruit or crops of any other kind. They are destroying everything 

 green. 



The Basirop Advertiser says : " The late rains destroyed great numbers of young grass- 

 hoppers, but there are at least a million to the square foot left, alive, kicking ar.d 

 jumping, and preparing to devour everything within their reach. If the clerk of the 

 weather would only turn on the water and give us a jjerfect deluge, a Noah's flood in a 

 small way, we might hope to be rid of these pestiferous crop- destroyers." 



The next issue of the paper corrected the above statement as to the number left, by 

 saying : There areimmcnse quantities, and it is feared much damage will be done the com- 

 ing crop. 



In Collin County, on the northern boundary of the State, grasshoppers in countless 

 numbers are being hatched out, and signs of their ravages are plainly visible on early 

 vegeta! ion. 



The Belion Journal, speak-ing of the innumerable multitudes of 'hoppers that have 

 hatched, says: "In past years they have been considerate enough to leave as soon as 

 they could fly, and we trust they may pursue the same course this season." 



Judge Baford, an old planter nearDallas, who has been a close observerof the'hoppers 

 from their first visit to Texas, gives it as his opinion that as soon as they are large 

 enough to fly they will take their departure, and no danger to crops in this State will 

 ensue. 



It appears that our 'hoppers came from the northwest last fall, spreading from Red 

 River to the Gulf. At the approach of winter they began to bore into the earth and 

 deposit their eggs. The very mild winters in this section enable the eggs to hatch 

 upon the appearance of the lirst warm days of spring. 



The county officials of Caldwell County have kept in their county records a diary of 

 the grasshopper in that county since their first appearance in 1847 ; and the same facts 

 are applicable to all the section visited by them. I am indebted to S. J. P. McDowell, 

 esq., clerk of the court of that county, for the following grasshopper statistics of Cald- 

 well County : 



" Made their appearance in this county October 1, 1847 ; remained during the fall, 

 with but little damage. 



" November 6, 1857, made their appear.ance — came from the west ; after destroying 

 turnips, &c., in the fall, and growing crops in the spring, commenced disappearing 

 about 20th April, 1858. 



" October 14, 1867, made their appearance — came from the north ; but little damage. 



''October 7, 1876, made their appearance from th". north in a slight norther, and re- 

 mained until December 1, 1876. In all portions of the county commenced hatching 

 last of January (in sandy regions earlier than other portions) and yet hatching [March 

 6, 1877]. Their flight in the fall toward the south generally in a north wind. Reg- 

 ularly, at about noon, they seemed to collect in large swarms, rise, and proceed on 

 their journey." 



For forty years they have made their appearance regularly at an average interval 

 of ten years each. — [A. B. Small, Houston, March 16, 1877. 



[The following reports have been kindly collated by Sergeant C. A. Smith, United 

 States signal observer at Galveston. They appeared in the Galveston Daily Xeics of 

 the dates indicated, this paper having regularly quoted the locust news from its ex- 

 changes in other parts of the State.] 



Freestone County, January 20. — The old field larks are said to be destroying large 

 quantities of grasshopper eggs deposited in the ground in this vicinity last fall. 



Bexar County, January 9. — Field larks and other small birds are spending most of 

 their time scratching the ground in pursuit of grasshopper eggs. 



Caldwell County, January 31. — The cold weather has had no effi'ct on the deposit of 

 grasshoppers. The little ones hatched out and hopped about as lively in the sleet as 

 though they liked it. 



Colorado County, Fehruary A. — The last few days of warm weather has hatched great 

 numbers of young grasshoppers. 



Burnet County, February Q.—FRTmers are planting, notwithstanding the prospect of 

 grasshoppers. 



Gonzales County, February 8. — The young grasshoppers have made their appearance. 



