44« MAIZE 



CHAP, swarms of locusts (Fig. 167). These consisted of the common 

 purple locust, Acridium purpuriferum, in the central and western 

 , parts of South Africa, and the brown locust, Pachytilus sulci- 

 collis in Natal and the eastern districts of the interior Pro- 

 vinces. During the season 1906-7, the locust scourge was 

 very severe in the northern, central, and western districts of 

 the Transvaal. The wet, cool summer was partly respon- 

 sible, as the crops were late in maturing, and the locust plague 

 came at a time of year when, in a normal season, they would 

 have been ripe and free from danger. One hundred and 

 ninety-nine experimental crops being grown by Transvaal 

 farmers in co-operation with the Division of Botany of the 

 Department of Agriculture, were reported as having been 

 destroyed by locusts. Locusts lay their eggs, a large number 

 together, in the soil ; they hatch out when weather conditions 

 are favourable, i.e. after good spring rains have fallen, which 

 not only help to hatch the eggs, but also bring on the grass 

 and spring vegetation which the young locusts require for 

 food. The young locusts are not able to fly for some time after 

 hatching, and are therefore known as voetgangers (i.e. walkers). 

 They feed voraciously, and not being able to travel far, are easily 

 dealt with in this stage, if their breeding grounds are known. 



Although the efforts of the Entomologists of the South 

 African Locust Bureau, assisted by the locust birds, practically 

 wiped out the scourge, there is always danger of fresh migra- 

 tions from the North, and it is well to be prepared to combat 

 the pest if it should reappear. After experimenting in various 

 ways with the numerous remedies recommended, the Locust 

 Bureau finally adopted the remedy tested and recommended 

 by Mr. C. P. Lounsbury, Cape Government Entomologist. 

 This consisted of a mixture of arsenite of soda and molasses 

 or other syrup, which was sprayed on to the veld immediately 

 surrounding the newly hatched swarms. In order to locate all 

 the swarms before they developed wings and began to migrate, 

 a corps of volunteer swarm-reporters was organized throughout 

 the country. These gentlemen, located in every district, re- 

 ported by means of franked post cards, and by wire, the laying 

 of eggs, the hatching of voetgangers, and later the migration 

 of swarms from one part of the country to the other. The 

 Government stocked and distributed free to farmers supplies 



