17 



cannot be much danger of future depredations from locusts. Still I 

 would suggest to the inhabitants of this and adjoining regions to keep 

 on the alert, and wherever and whenever threatened to waste no time 

 but to try and control them at once. 



Although the loss of crops has been limited to comparatively .small 

 areas throughout these counties, nevertheless the damages sustained 

 will aggregate more than might be imagined. As an example, we need 

 only quote a few lines from Dr. Flewellen's letter where he writes : 

 "This locality, 4 miles south of the old town of Washington on the 

 Brazos Eiver, lost not less than 20,000 bushels of corn and 2,000 bales 

 of cotton by the ravages of the pest." When we add to this the losses 

 sustained at other localities throughout these counties, and also those 

 on other crops, we have before us quite formidable figures. 



In closing my report, it might be thought proper for me to give my 

 opinion as to the possible results of this summer's brood of hoppers. 

 This can be done in very few words. Possibly in addition to a few out- 

 side rows, a few fields of cotton and corn will be taken in places where 

 the weed patches were destroyed prematurely, thereby scattering the 

 larvae over the fields while the crops were still very small and tender. 

 This I know to have occurred in several instances where it was thought 

 that by destroying the weeds the little hoppers would also perish. 

 Aside from this there need be but few complete failures on account of 

 locust depredations. 



THE POST OAK LOCUST OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, TEXAS. 



In addition to tne several species of locust that have been mentioned 

 in the preceding pages, last summer for the first time another species 

 of Tocust was noticed in vast numbers among the post oak timber lying 

 between the towns of Washington and Brenham, in Washington county. 

 These were so numerous in one locality that they completely defoliated 

 the trees of the forest, even to the very topmost twigs. The region occu- 

 pied by this insect, although not over a mile and a half in width by 7 or 

 8 miles in length, is sufficiently large for the propagation of swarms ca- 

 pable of devastating a much larger area during the present spring and 

 summer, and by another year to spread over several of the adjoining 

 counties. 



Although there is at present no apparent injury to the trees thus de- 

 foliated last year, and now in progress again this year, there can be no 

 question as to the final result if these attacks are continued for several 

 years longer. The trees will eventually die. While up to the present 

 time this locust has shown a decided arboreal habit, it may, and un- 

 doubtedly will be, obliged to seek food in the adjoining fields when com- 

 pelled to do so through lack of its present diet, which is rapidly disap- 

 pearing before the hungry myriads of young locusts. 



iSTotwithstanding the great numbers of the foregoing described species 

 which together have combined in injuring the cotton and corn crops 

 17528— No. 13 2 



