

310 B. N. A. BOUNDARY COMMISSION. 
are hatched, means must be devised for their destruction, aided if need < e 
be by government bounties. Burning the prairie in dry weather; the aie 
use of heavy rollers; driving the young insects together by converging ¥ 
circles, and destroying them with flat wooden shovels ; driving them into | 
straw, which is afterwards fired, or into fires, streams, or ditches, have all 
been employed with greater or less success. The various species of black- 
birds, the prairie hens, and other birds, will also aid in their destruction at 
this season, and where large flocks of domestic fowls are kept they will 
materially assist. Fields may also be protected from the young insects 
wherever a ditch of moderate width surrounding them, can be filled 
with water. 
729. The locust appears to be well nigh omnivorous, and though 
showing a preference for certain kinds of food, will eat almost any plaut 
in case of need. There is therefore no crop which may be grown with : 
assurance in a grasshonper year. It is very generally found, however, 
that they avoid sorghum and broom-corn; and when other food is to be - 
had they do not eat potatoe-tops, beets, or tomatoes. They also appear | 
to have a general dislike to the Leguminose, and prefer other plants to : 
peas and beans. ‘This last fact may stand in causal connection with the 
great abundance of leguminous plants found on the western plains, an 
abundance obtaining both specifically and numerically. Wheat would 
appear to be one of the surest crops, when foreign swarms are expected, 
as it very generally ripens before their arrival. That it may do s0, 
however, it is necessary that the seed should be sown as promptly as 
possible in the spring. | 
730. Manitoba, from its more northern position and proximity to 
the great forest regions, appears to be less liable to wide-spread visita- 
tions of the locust than the regions further south, and the swarms which 
appear do not seem to be so dense or destructive. Some of the above 
mentioned means may consequently be employed here with success, but . 
I believe that a great part of the Western States and territories will 
always remain subject to periodical invasions. The extensive planting 
of trees, and the establishment of belts and groves of woodland over the 
area of the plains suitable for agriculture, seems to offer a future pros- 
pect of amelioration. The breaking up of the surface of the country in— 
this way, will not only tend to prevent the swarms from spreading 
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themselves so widely and uniformly, but will encourage the increase of 
birds and other animals likely to prey on the insect; and will besides 
tend to bring about a change in climate, which will render it less 

