APPEIVDIX VIII 



XEBEASKA DATA FOR 1877. 



[Being a journal kept by Prof. Samuel Aughey, of the University of Nebraska, as Special Assistant of 



the Commission.] 



Kearney Junction^ Sunday, March 25, 1877. — Very warm. Mean temperature this day, 

 70° F. In afternoon went to the blufts north of town. Dug over several square feet 

 to ascertain the number of locust eggs in the soil. On first foot found 317 eggs. On 

 the second, which was on an elevation of loose soil, recently disturbed, found a great 

 number of nests, which I counted, and, averaging them at twenty-eight to a nest, there 

 were 21,700 to a square foot. This, however, was an exceptional number for this 

 locality, as I found by further investigation. In the first spot examined, about 90 per 

 cent, of the eggs were sound, and at the last about 80 per cent. The unsound ones 

 were in the upper end of the nests, and seemed to have been segmented at some pre- 

 vious period, and then to have gone into semi-decomposition. A few entire nests in 

 this condition of decay. The upper end of many nests seemed to be in a healthy 

 state. Some nests that were well protected by old grass or weeds were apparently 

 unafi'ected in any way. At one spot on the hill-side entirely bare of grass or weeds, I 

 found a dozen of young locusts that had just come out of the shell. They were of a 

 cream-color, and very lively. On the bottom found very few locust eggs. 



March 26, 1877. — Left Kearney this morning at 8 o'clock, and crossed the Platte 

 bridge south of town, and then passed through the Sand Hills, where I found few eggs 

 of the locusts, and no locusts. At noon reached aud took dinner at Mr. Nedlund's — 

 section 30, township 6 north, range 17 west, Phelps County. Found some old break- 

 ing where the ground averaged about 211 eggs to the square foot. A few were hatched 

 out, and a few were decayed. About 85 per cent, appeared to be good. Found further 

 on in the afternoon some young live locusts on the banks of Turkey Creek, on and 

 near new breaking. Made no estimate here of the number to the square foot. Of 

 the eggs examined, about 90 per cent, appeared good. Reached Orleans at 7 p. m. 

 Mean temperature this day, 68° F, 



Orleans, March 27, 1877. — Orleans is located on the Eepublican River bottom — second 

 terrace. Examined new breaking north of town and found 1,300 eggs to a square 

 foot in one place, and elsewhere from 30 to 300. About 10 per cent, of the eggs were 

 hatched out, and 10 per cent, were spoiled ; interior yellow, and with an offensive 

 odor. Went south of the Republican on bluffs where the soil is loose, and here on 

 cultivated land in places found from 100 to 400 eggs to the square foot. On the uncul- 

 tivated prairie found none. A few had been hatched out, some were segmented, and 

 some already half formed, and some ready to come out. Probably not enough here to 

 do much damage. 



Watson, Harlan County, JS^elrasTca, March 28, 1877. — This morning before breakfast 

 examined the ground at some old breaking, and found from 50 to 200 eggs to the square 

 fooot— some places none at all — none on the raw prairie, except around some old gopher 

 hills. About 80 per cent, were good ; those that were spoiled seemed to be in a state 

 of decay — offensive. Most of the eggs not spoiled were segmented. Mean tempera- 

 ture this day, 67° F. 



At noon, south of the Republican, found very few eggs on any kind of land; 80 per 

 cent. good. 

 Reached Manning's this evening. 



Mannin(fs, Furnas County, March 29, 1877. — This morning above the house, on old 

 breaking, found afeweggs in the same condition as those found yesterday ; found no 

 live ones. 



At noon at Indianola, Red Willow County, examined the ground ; found only one 

 spot that contained any eggs— about 150 to the square foot. Of these 30 per cent, had 

 been hatched out ; a few were decayed. About 60 per cent, appeared good ; most of 

 these were segmented. Mean temperature to-day, 50° F. This day unusually disa- 

 greeable. 



Fitch's Hitchcock County, March 30, 1877.— Cold, chilly morning. Dried my clothes 

 and started away at nine ; crossed the Deadwood and went to Nettleton's ; went up 

 the Driftwood fifteen miles and examined the ground in various places for locust eggs; 



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