[96] KEPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



jubilant over tlie wheat prospect, whicli is finer than ever before known, whole fields 

 averaging 25 inches in height. 



Newton, Har VET County, J^ay 10. — The few 'hoppers hatched of late have simply- 

 served as the daily bread of the birds. There are possibly a few unhatched eggs in 

 heavy ground and upon the north side, but they won't average 2 iDer cent., and no one 

 cares whether they hatch or not. In sandy soil and on south-side sloj^es there are ab- 

 solutely no 'hoppers or eggs. Wheat is growing rapidly, and could not look better, 

 standing inmauy fields twenty to twenty-four inches high. None of it was damaged 

 by hoppers, and the yield promises to be something enormous. 



Florence, Marion County, May 10. — Heavy rains and protracted unseasonable 

 weather destroyed pretty much all our early crop of 'hoppers. Occasional fair days of 

 late have brought out a good many in spots, and, generally speaking, every day now 

 shows newcomers. But from some unknown cause the young 'hoppers die almost as 

 fast as they hatch, and the birds, which are far more numerous than ever before, pick 

 up innumerable numbers, dead and alive alike. There are yet in the ground many un- 

 hatched eggs bearing evidence of vitality, but the fate that has so invariably befallen 

 those hatching gives our farmers confidence that there is but little to fear from them. 

 No damage has been done to wheat by them, and though, owing to last fall's depreda- 

 tions, our crop will not be what it would have been otherwise, still all that was left 

 and more that was planted is in fine shape and promising a good yield. 



COTTON^ivooD Falls, Chase Cou:n^ty, May 10. — 'Hoppers have hatched in spots all 

 over the county, and still continue to, but have done no damage, and many of our 

 people have about given up the notion that they are likely to in the future. There is 

 no question but what there are a good many eggs yet unhatched in the ground, but 

 they will have to show a good deal niore vim and bottom than those thus far hatched 

 to scare us much. Bii-ds flock over fields in countless numbers and scoop in the dead 

 and kicking so fast that it isn't by any means an easy thing to find a gill now where 

 once they were to be had by the bushel. All late-planted wheat is looking well, fully 

 three-fou»ths of that eaten by the 'hoppers last fall having been replanted. 



BuRLiNGAME, OSAGE CouNTY, May 10. — Nearly if not quite all the eggs hatched in 

 these parts as yet have been destroyed by the rain or eaten by the birds. Regarding 

 the eggs not yet hatched there are various opinions, the ruling one being that they 

 may hatch and be hanged for all it will frighten our people. There are a good many 

 eggs still in the ground. 



ToPEKA, Shawnee County, May 10. — About three-fourths of the wheat crop was 

 destroyed by grasshoppers last fall. The devastated fields were not resown, and con- 

 sequently the present area of wheat will not exceed 5,000 acres, or about the same as 

 iu 1875, and one-half of last year. The present crop is in the best possible condition, 

 and promises a yield in bushels per acre much larger than last year. An immense 

 amount of corn is being planted, and some think that when all is in the acreage will 

 reach 50 per cent, above last year, when it was 42,249. Grasshoppers are hatching 

 out in some places in the western portion of the county, but they disappear before 

 they get big enough to do damage. It is the prevalent feeling among farmers that 

 the danger is nearly, if not quite, passed. The fruit outlook is unprecedentedly good. 



Winfield, CoVk^LEY CoUNTY, fja WiCHiTA, Jia]/ 10. — What with the cold rains, frosts, 

 birds, worms, and the systematic destruction by our farmers, the 'hoppers have had 

 hard rows to hoe in this county. Though large numbers have hatched, little, if any, 

 damage has been done, and our people are as good as over all scare. 



jMcPherson, McPherson County, via Newton, May 10. — Though we have still in 

 the earth an abundant supply of eggs, and have daily hatches, the 'hoppers do no dam- 

 age, and in one way or the other manage to leave this world without so much as a 

 remembrance, except the scare. Some of our people still affect timidity, but it is 

 much less aggravated than some weeks ago. The majority, however, are satisfied 

 that the good time is now coming sure. 



Sterling, Rice County, May 10. — Few eggs were laid here last fall, but there have 

 not been enough 'hoppers at any time to create apprehension, and as all the eggs have 

 hatched and the young 'hoppers are all dead, we have no further interest in such 

 matters. 



Emporia, Lyon County, May 10. — Word from all sections is positive that there are 

 no more grasshoppers, and that the few eggs yet in the ground will, if they all hatch, 

 serve but to manure the soil and make it richer. 



Wichita, Sedgwick County, May 10. — The grasshopper has seen his day in these 

 parts. He is no more, and the same may be said of eggs. 



Eureka, Greenwood County, via Emporia, May 10. While grasshoppers have 

 been with us more or less for months past, they seem to be innocent, harmless little 

 things compared to the beasts their ancestors proved to be in the years gone by. 



EsKRiDGE, Wabaunsee County, via Burlingame, May 10.— Reports from all over 

 the county generally agree to the effect that the 'hoppers' days are numbered, the ener- 

 getic way farmers have scooped them, and the natural weakness of the critters, rend- 

 ering the situation right encouraging. 



