APPENDIX V. KANSAS DATA FOR 1877. [95] 



The grasshoppers are hatching and growing, and the farmers are worrying them in 

 every conceivable way by rolling them, by burning, and other means, while the little 

 birds are doing good work for their country. A few days more, and we can tell if they 

 are to be master of the situation. At present writing we think not. — IJilUchell County 

 Echo. 



I have seen parties from different j)ortions of our county yesterday and to-day, and 

 they all agree that we will not be troubled by the grasshoppers or locusts this sjiring. 

 No small ones just hatching to be seen, although a great many eggs were deposited 

 during the fall. Only one of my informants claims to have seen any ; he stated that 

 he had seen a few that appeared to be three weeks old, but that he had not seen any 

 after diligent search that appeared to be just hatched. One party had examined some 

 eggs deposited in an orchard, and another those deposited in a wheat-field, but they 

 found none hatching, and after breaking open and examining the cones they claim 

 they will never hatch. The eggs were deposited in ground free of grass, such as 

 tramped lots, roads, hillsides, and orchards ; also in plowed lands and wheat-fields. 

 Many have tried to hatch them in warm rooms and in the sun without success. 

 Should anything transpire in future worthy of mention I will notify you. My opinion 

 is that there are two reasons to suggest why they should not hatch. One is that they 

 were very late in reaching here, and probably debilitated and exhausted ; and the 

 other is that owing to the warm fall the eggs were started and a few were actually 

 hatched out, and the severe and continued cold weather destroyed their vitality. — 

 [J. H. Brown, Fort Scott, May 2, 1877. 



Xenia, Bourbox County, Maij 5. — The 'hoppers are not hatching yet, but the eggs 

 seem all right, and no doubt will pan out a lively specimen to every one of them ; but 

 as they are fully a month behind the time of hatching of two years ago, and as vege- 

 tation has got a good start, there will be plenty for them to eat, and but little fear is 

 entertained of damage to crops. — [E. J. T., Prairie Farmer. 



Phillips County, May 9. — Grasshoppers can stand sudden freezes and thaws to* a 

 great extent, but the weather we have had for a week past, of cold, drizzling rain, 

 with a trifle of snow, has been too much for them ; it left them hanging so long be- 

 tween life and death that they had finally to give up the ghost. Two weeks ago a 

 severe hail-storm pounded many of them to death. Nature has favored this section 

 of Kansas, and we all feel jubilant. 



Reno County, May 9. — 'Hoppers laid their eggs plentifully on suitable ground sod 

 that had been turned over in the spring, and in every dry knoll and garden. They all 

 hatched in March and threatened to do considerable damage in the neighborhood, but 

 the very cold rain since has cleared them olf, and we can find no 'hoppers. Wc feel 

 very much relieved for the present. Our only danger is from " raiders." 



dsAGE County, May 9. — We are having a very wet, backward spring, which will 

 make planting late. It is "dead medicine" for the 'hoppers. Have made close ob- 

 servation, and find fully three-fourth sof the 'hopper eggs are spoiled. One notice- 

 able help for us is the unusual number of birds which kind Providence is sending 

 to destroy the 'hoppers, and they are doing it. We are full gf hope. Expect a big- 

 crop. 



Butler County, May 9. — Grasshoppers commenced hatching on bottom lands the 

 last week in March; on uplands a week later. They came out in appalling numbers 

 along the streams, but in limited patches on higher situations. A very small percent- 

 age of wheat has been destroyed, and scarcely any other damage done. Farmers have 

 used various methods for the destruction of the 'hoppers, with a fair degree of success. 

 Natural agencies — probably cool, damp weather and heavy rains — are causing their 

 rapid disappearance. 



DiCKERSON County, May 9. — The grasshoppers' eggs in this vicinity were not killed 

 by the frost in March to any extent, but the cold rains in April have destroyed many ; 

 besides the plover and blackbirds are eating millions of them. There seems no more 

 to-day than there was three weeks ago. 



Atchison County, May 9. — No grasshoppers hatched yet, and we hope none of the 

 eggs may be alive. The parasite is preying upon them, and the winter killed many, 

 so the farmer feels that these great enemies to his crops may be greatly if not alto- 

 gether disposed of. 



Barton County, May 9.— We hear occasionally of a small tract of ground being 

 very thickly settled with 'hoppers, but have no fears that our crops will be damaged 

 by them. The weather has been very cold and wet for the last week, which has no 

 doubt been in our favor. 



Craw^ford County, May 9.— No 'hopper eggs yet hatchod. Very few eggs to be 

 found now. Spring has been very wet, and spoiled most of them. Farmers are not 

 alarmed, unless they come in from other States.— [J««c^<ou City Tribune. 



Hutchinson, Reno County, May 10.— There are possibly enough 'hopper eggs yet 

 unhatched to keep the birds in fair condition for a week yet., but certainly no more, 

 and a live 'hopper cannot be found in the county. The scare is over and our farmers 



