APPENDIX V. KANSAS DATA FOR 1877. [07] 



Valley Falls, Jefferson County, May 10. — No eggs, no 'hoppers, and wheat look- 

 ing better than ever before at this season of the year. 



Great Bend, Barton County, May 10. — Stiil have to report no 'hoppers, which is 

 not strange considering we had no eggs. Wheat is simply in perfect shape, the growth 

 remarkable. 



Lawrence, Douglas County, May 10. — The few 'hoppers on the border of the 

 county have gone whither no one cares — long as they have gone. 



Council Grove, Morris County, via Emporia, May 10. — We are decidedly pleased 

 with the outlook, as the 'hoppers worry us not and the crop prospect is something to 

 remember for years. 



De Soto, Johnson County, May 10. — Eggs none ; grasshoppers ditto. Wheat is look- 

 ing a great deal better than ever before at this time of the year. 



Kinsley, Edw^ards County, May 10.— No eggs, no 'hoppers, audit is still the now 

 almost stereotyped report from us that never was there such a prospect for crops of all 

 kinds in this county. 



Oxford, Sumner County, via Wichita, May 10. — Grasshoppers are now of the 

 might-have-been-with-us, and no longer excite attention to speak of. — [Extracted 

 from special dispatches to the Journal of Commerce. 



All things considered, the locust prospect for this vicinity is not very encouraging. 

 With us the hatching i^rocess has but fairly commenced, and yet even now myriads of 

 the young locusts have appeared. At the west and south, where the soil is lighter and 

 warmer, general hatching was completed some two weeks ago. This difference in the 

 time of hatching is due to the difference in the nature of the soil, whether light and 

 warm or cold and tenacious. This late hatching is beneficial in giving the ego; para- 

 sites and their natural enemies, such as snakes, birds, etc., an opportunity to do greater 

 execution. 



Although numbers of the locusts which first hatched have perished from the inclem- 

 ent weather and other causes, yet those now hatching and yet to hatch will live under 

 more favorable conditions. We may therefore expect fewer natural deaths among the 

 locusts than we have hitherto enjoyed. 



The eggs were deposited in such numbers here, and so many are yet nnhatchcd, that 

 we may expect to fight for our crops if we would save them. In most of the southern 

 and western portions of the State, the prospects are brightei: than they are at present 

 with us. They have only the locusts now hatched to contend with, while we have 

 almost as many now with us and many more coming. Because other portions of the 

 State are comparatively save, we must not expect immunity from the pest. 



It is now evident, from the number of young locusts above ground and the number 

 of eggs beneath, that unless we give this subject close attention, with strong and united 

 action, we may expect to suffer. The effect of combined, determined action in destroy- 

 ing the locusts is well shown in some parts of the State. All who show the white 

 feather now, deserve to suffer. We cannot remain inactive on the supposition that the 

 locusts are dying off and that no danger need be apprehended. True, they " die off" 

 at a rapid rate when visited by a flock of blackbirds or plover. Although many die 

 wliile hatching or molting, we cannot safely rely upon this natural means of getting 

 rid of the 'hopper. All insectivorous birds are our best friends, and should be jealously 

 guarded not only this year but for years to come, for we may need their assistance 

 agcbin.—llndustr'ialist, May 12, 1877. 



Grasshoppers have been hatching out for the last two months in this vicinity and 

 disappear without doing much damage. There were vast quantities of eggs deposited 

 on my place last fall. Some of the ground I harrowed soon after, and exposed the eggs 

 to the frost of winter and to the birds. Some of it I harrowed early this spring, and 

 drilled to oats, thereby throwing the eggs to the surface and exposing them to the 

 birds. I have 22 little pigs that have done good service in one field, rooting the ground 

 thoroughly wherever the eggs were deposited, in quest of the same, upon which they 

 seemed to do first rate. Fourteen acres of such ground I plowed early in February, 8 

 inches deep, and sowed to spring-wheat ; 32 acres I have plowed the same depth since 

 the middle of April, and planted with corn. I also have 15 acres of winter- wheat sown 

 the 5th of October, which is looking first rate, and so far the 'hoppers have not done 

 me 10 cents' Avorth of damage, and I don't believe they will. To help the matter, we 

 ore having a very wet spring.— [Solomon Whitney, Manhattan, Kans., May 15, 1877. 



Yesterday at Troy, the county-seat of this county, no young locusts or eggs could be 

 found. They did no damage last fall, very few descending to the earth. Eeports say 

 that very few passed over the eastern part of the county. Toward the western part 

 of the county the locusts last fall had eaten strips from two to five rods wide in the 

 wheat-fields. These strips so far as observed all extended along the north side of the 

 field .AH these strips had been resowa last fall or this spring, and are growing nicely. 

 Could find no locusts whatever at Severance, and but very few egg-pods. I send by 

 this mail a small box containing egg-pods found. They are all very much alike in ap- 

 pearance, appearing to be addled. The prospects are good for a bountiful wheat crop 

 through this section.— [A. N. Godfrey, Severance, Doniphan County, May 16, 1877. 

 [7G] 



