APPENDIX XXV. REPORTS FROM UTAH. ['^57] 



-wind subsided tbe grasshoppers dropped to the earth, covering every thing, trees, 

 fences, and vegetation generally. None appeared this year, and have not been any 

 since 1870. They used to hatch early in the spring on the sunny blopes, in May and 

 June. They would lay their eggs in the fall on sunny slopes and in hard level land. 

 The highways were full of holes made by them and tilled wiih eggs. Th^y are able to 

 fly by the last of June and in July. The damage done to crops in this county was 

 very great, considering the small population in 1K68. Corn, oats, wheat, barley, pota- 

 toes, and onions, they are liarticularly fond of. Pease are rot molested by them if other 

 vegetable matter is attainable. Damage done in 1868 could not be less than $50,000 in 

 this county. The only means at all effectual in keeping the young hoppers off (that is 

 before they fly) has been ofitches around the field, filled with water. Domestic fowls have 

 been tried, but not to do any good. 



A gentleman living in Provo, Utah County, in the summer of 1868, fearing famine, 

 determined to fight tbe young horde hatched around the fields. He commenced to 

 protect a twenty-acre field, and to do so got several wagon-covers, largo sheets, and 

 two persons with each sheet went to work taking hold of two corners, dragged the 

 sheet over the field; as they went along the 'hopners jumped up several feet in the air 

 and dropped on to the sheet. This method he followed up daily, as long as the 'hop- 

 pers lasted. He caught near 50 bushels of them and buried them, tramping the earth 

 hard over them, and saved his wheat while every body else lost theirs. 

 Respectfully, 



CHS. SHELTON. 



Prof. A. S. Packard. 



Plain City, Weher County, Utah. — The locusts generally came with a gentle breeze to 

 the northeast, in clear weather, from 11 a. m. till 4 p. m. In height as far as the eye 

 could reach, and in size from a few square rods to miles in extent. They left June 

 15, 10 a. m., flying with the wind, the weather b ing warm and clear. Uut 1 this year 

 they have flown southwest, but this season to the northeast. The eggs hatched this 

 year unusually late, many not until June. In fcrmer years they have hatched when 

 vegetation started in April. About three-fourths of the eggs failed to hatch; but 

 opinions differ as to the cause. The eggs were deposited principally in sandy soil, 

 where they also hatched earlier. The first winged forms were seen about June 1, and 

 they began to migrate June 1 0. The damage cannot be estimated at present, but whole 

 regions are devastated. They seem to relish especially onions, turnips, radishes, &-c. ; 

 the moie pungent the more rilished. Sorghum and pease are left when other things 

 are within reach. The methods employed for their destruction have been laying down 

 straw and burning when they have perched for the night ; digging trenches and driv- 

 ing them in ; but the most effectual method was plowing them under before they had 

 acquired wings. Our region was visited in 1876, but not to such an extent as in former 

 years. The first invasion was iu 1855, then a skip of twelve years; considerable dam- 

 age in 1867, 1868, 1869 ; in 1870, all vegetation destroyed. On a small area, chickens 

 will destroy them when first hatched. There are no printed records within reach. — 

 [John Spiers. 



Ogden, Utah. — Swarms arrived July, 1856, with a northeast tempest, the weather 

 being hot and clear. The direction of the flight was west. They remained and laid 

 their eggs in dry ;ind sandy soil in October, and apparently nearly all hatched. The 

 young acquired wings in July. In 1875, the ciop of lucern hay and corn destroyed; 

 wheaf, oats, and barley suifered little. The young went east. Burning, digging 

 ditches, and drowning have been employed for thtir destruction. This region has 

 been visited every year from 1863 to lrt70. No records at hand.— [John I. Hart. 



Payson, Utah County, Utah. — Swarms usually came in the afternoon with a south or 

 southeast wind, in clear weather. They fly very high and in swarms so dense as to 

 darken the air. They leave in the forenoon in the same manner that they come. No 

 eggs were deposited or hatched here this year. The eggs are usually laid in dry, hard 

 gravelly so.l, and the young acquire wiugs in June. They destroy all crops nearly 

 equally, sorghum a little less than the others. Ditching and burning have been tried 

 for their destruction, but are not satisfactory. Not visited in 1876.— [Isaiah M. Combs. 



Corydon, Morgan County, Utah, August 11, 1877.— Eighteen hundred and seventy-seven 

 is the first year since 1868 and 1869 of grasshoT)pers. They came in swarms or patches 

 last fall (October), and laid in hard or unplowed ground. They hatched in June, but 

 appear to be at different times as full-grown, and different sizes are to be seen. They 

 all work south before taking wing, afterward fly north. None have lett this place to 

 date ; none have arrived from other places. Reports that after full wings a great many 

 die from gnats. At present grain has not suffered, but all lucerns and tame hays were 

 destroyed. Many are seen on heads of grain, but the leaves are all that are gone at 

 present.— [Chas. Buntine. 



Ranch, Utah, July 27, 1877.— In 1876 the grasshoppers came onto Canon Creek, thr. e 

 miles south of Salt Lake City, about the 20th of September, keeping close to the mount- 

 ain on the east side of the valley ; they seemed to come down the caiions from the 



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