APPENDIX XXV. REPORTS FROM NEW MEXICO. [259] 



miles south of head waters of Savcn River, I have sought to add any further informa- 

 tion to the above statement, but I find that every fact that I have been able to glean 

 is obtained in the above statements. — [Andrew L. Siier. 



Saint John's, Tooele County, Utah, July 11, 1877. — I am sorry that I am unable to send 

 you all the information required in regard to the grasshoppers and the ravages com- 

 mitted by them, as we have not kept any record relating to those matters. Frorarecol- 

 lectiou I can stare that in this settlement great swarms of grasshoppers came here in 

 the latter part of the summer of 1867 and deposited their egga mostly on the bench 

 land west of the settlement. The nature of the soil is mostly a sandy loam. In the 

 spring of 186S the eggs were hatched out and immense multitudes of the young 'hop- 

 pers covered the cultivated fields, and in many instances made a clean sweep of every 

 kind of vegetation as soon as it came up through the ground. Some few of our farm- 

 ers fought the pest, some by trenching, with here and there holes dug in the bottom of 

 them, and then taking the young in bags and destroying them. The most effectual 

 plan adopted by others was to place many small heaps of straw over the fields in the 

 afternoon, and then, in the evening, pass through, men, women, and children, and with 

 noise and sometimes drawing a rope over the land held by the ends, and by this means 

 the young were caused to go into the heaps of straw, which was then set fire to, burn- 

 ing straw and the 'hoppers. Several of- the people succeeded by this means in saving 

 a portion of their crops. When fledged the grasshoppers gathered in dense multitudes, 

 on the prairie and along the roadsides for miles, and at some signal seemingly they 

 rose and ascended up to a considerable height, and, I believe, went south, or nearly so. 



In the fall of 1869 we were again visited with them, i. e., the grasshopper eggs were 

 laid in the fall ; the results in the spring of 1870 w^ere much the same as above men- 

 tioned for the year 1 68. The same methods were resorted to in fighting them, with 

 much better results, a much greater portion of the crops having been saved. 



Last fall a few 'hoppers were seen near the settlement, and this spring we find that 

 two or three fields of wheat have been troubled with the young pest. By a resort to 

 the old method of laying straw in small heaps over the land they have been burnt up, 

 so that but very few remain, and the damage done will not amount to much. Should 

 we be again visited with these destroyers will endeavor to note and record, so that 

 we may be better able to aid the commission in their labors. — [Geo. W. Burridge. 



Spanish Fork City, Utah County, Utah, Septenibcr 4, 1877. — As I resided here the sum- 

 mer of 1855 and saw the efiects of their ravages, I will give a few answers to the 

 questions contained in the circular from memory, without, however, any memoranda 

 of dates to refer to. 



Question 1. They commenced coming in swarms early in July, usually alighting from 

 1 o'clock p. m. until near sunset ; the N\ind being from north, northeast, or northwest, 

 and all swarms came from this direction ; weather generally clear, and if the wind was 

 blowing heavy or strong there were no swarms flying. 2. Swarms when raising to fly 

 j.enerally in the fore part of the day, but sometimes as late as 2 o'clock p. m., and in- 

 variably conti ued their course to the southward. — [George D. Snell. 



Kanal), Kane County, Utah. — Swarms of locusts arrived from the southeast August 

 10, 1871, at 10 o'clock, the wind being southeast, blowing half a gale. They departed 

 in large swarms August 15, 1871, at 2 p. m., in a northeast [probably southwest was 

 intended] direction. No eggs were deposited in 1877. They hatched most abundantly 

 in March, 1875, and became fledged in May. Since 1871 they have done us no special 

 harm. — [W. J. Johnson, jr. 



Silver Beef, June 16, 1877. — Grasshoppers migrated very largely to this section some 

 -five or six years ago; there were no eggs eleposited to amount to anything. The in- 

 sects came from the north and did much damtge to orchards, vineyards, and gardens. — 

 [C. E. Johnson. 



Saint George, Utah — We had a light visitation from the north in 1869, and a few in 

 1870 ; none others for over twelve years. — [J. E. Johnson. 



NEW MEXICO. 



Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, July 1 1, 1877. 



As requested, I send you the answers to your inquiries regarding the Rocky Mount- 

 ain locust. 



First swarms of grasshoppers arrived in September, 1875 ; deposited eggs in a few 

 places; hatched in March and April, 1876; destroyed crops in a few townships, and 

 left latter part of July, 1876. 



Answer to circular: 1. Swarms arrived again from August 20 to September 30, 

 some days swarms so large that the sun could not be seen for an hour at the time; 

 deposited eggs in October and November, 1876. 1 a. Wind most prevailing at the 

 time northeast. 1 &. Weather warm and clear. Ic. Southwest, large swarms. 2. Left 

 here about November 5 ; generally commenced rising about 10 o'clock a. m. 2 a. A 

 little west of south. 2 c. Dry and rather warm for the season. 3 c. Southwest. 3. 

 None yet. 4. Eggs commenced hatching in February ; brood died ; hatched again in 

 March and mostly died j were hatched very numerously during April and May, and a 



