216 
British Consulate, Batoum, 
My Lorp 
In view of the importance generally attached in agricultural 
circles to the question of the destruction of locusts and other harmful 
insects, such as field cockroaches and grasshoppers, I have the honour 
to here below, give a summary of certain recommendations that have 
opinion competent authorities, are best suited for the extermination 
of suc sects. 
Many districts of the Caucasus suffer most severely from the ravages 
annually Nessun by these enemies of the cultivator, and it is hoped 
that the information contained in the document which is now issued will 
eas, assist the agricultural moie in the infested distriets to more 
effectually contend against the scou 
The instructions minutely set forth. all the distinguishing marks of the 
above-mentioned insects, and the Ministry recommends the adoption of 
the following methods for their destruction in the localities whence they 
id esses viz., (1) by means of burning, (2) by driving into trenches, 
(3) by eia UM wattled hurdles or stone elici and by catching 
the insects in bag-nets. 
In places iets deposits of locusts are discovered as early as the 
autumn, it is recommended that during that season, sufficient quantities 
of straw, when available, as well as weeds growing on the fields an 
steppes, be collected in readiness for use. Towards ¢ evening, the insects 
are in the habit of gathering in thick swarms, and remain thus crowded 
together almost without moving until sunrise. When the insects are 
only a few days old, they are especially disposed to agglomerate in 
compact swarms, the straw and weeds must then be spread about, the 
insects will eagerly crawl on to them during the night, and just before 
sunrise, they ge bs set alight on different sides 
his mode of cedure is extremely simple and far more practical 
ger the system piviondy adopted by ploughing in the grubs of the 
cond method recommended by the ministry, viz., driving into 
tench 2 eminet more labour, and is effected in the following 
mann 
Tea, one foot nine inches wide by two feet four inches deep, 
must be dug at a distance of ten paces from each swarm of locusts, into 
ibis the locusts have to be driven and the trenches then Pie up with 
earth. "The fact that the locusts invariably congregate in large swarms 
and move in one genera] direction considerably facilitates the driving 
process. Detailed instructions, illustrated by diagrams, for digging the 
trenches are embodied in the recommendations issuec 
The third method, viz., crushing with wattled hurdles, i is recommended 
for adoption on hard soil and in dry weather, in localities where woods 
and bushes are plentiful. Strong wooden frames seven feet long by 
three and a half feet wide, made by nailing together four stout poles, 
should be used for making the hurdles, and the lower part of the 
hurdle, i.e., that part nearest the ground, should be closely wattled with 
stiff and twiggy branches of ivy, &c., the leafy ends of which must 
extend behind the frame somewhat in the shape of a wide broom; in 
order to increase e weight of the hurdle, ved or sacks of earth 
sould be placed on the frames; these hurdles must be dragged ove 
ground on which: the young and still w wingless locusts are Mae 
aid by these means they will be effectually destroyed. In places where 
