OBSERVATIONS ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST DURING THE 



SUMMER OF 1883. 



By Lawrence Broker." 



Washington, D. C, October 30, 1883. 



Sir : Herewith I submit to you a report of my trip through the Uocky 

 Mountain region during the past summer, made for the purpose of 

 studying insects injurious to agriculture, but more especially for the 

 purpose of obtaining such data as would enable me to foretell the proba- 

 ble aspect of the locust question for the year 1884. 



According to instructions, I left here on the 3d of May, and proceeded 

 to my home at West Point. Xebr., where I procured an assistant and 

 completed my preparations for the trip. From there we first proceeded 

 to Albuquerque, X. Alex., via the Union Pacific and the Atchison, 

 Topeka and Santa Fe Railroads, where we made a short stay, obtaining 

 such data as we could relative to locusts and other insects injuring 

 grain, vegetables, and fruits. Upon our arrival there we found the sea 

 son very backward and all kinds of insects quite scarce : hence, after a 

 few days' collecting, we proceeded northward to the Taos Valley, a rich 

 farming district, where we spent almost two weeks gathering such data 

 as we could concerning various insects. Iu these efforts we were much 

 inconvenienced by the prevalence of small-pox in the various villages 

 throughout the valley, and on account of the backwardness of the sea- 

 son, as well as the extreme ignorance of the natives in general upon 

 questions relative to insect life. We did, however, succeed in obtain- 

 ing some data in reference to the migratory locust (Caloptenus spretus) 

 during the years of invasion. We also procured a small series of some 

 of the insects found here in early spring. 



Upon leaving Taos Valley we proceeded northward by wagon to Fort 

 Garland. Colo., crossing on the way several small valleys in which farm- 

 ing is the chief occupation of the inhabitants. line. too. we encoun- 

 tered the difficulties experienced while at Taos and neighboring villi 

 at times linding it difficult to obtain even the necessities of life. At 

 Fort Garland we were detained several days <>n account of the sickness 

 of my assistant. While here, the weather was quite cold and the post 



~ Yr. Broiler's instructions were, in brief, to make all necessary preparations at his home i: 

 Point, Nebr., ami thence to proceed directly to South Colorado ami New M. \uo. spending a « 

 mow in tin- Taos Valley. Thence he was instructed to return north by way of Foi - i work 



into the Big Horn country, eventually striking the Northern Pacific Railroad and proceeding t.> Fort 

 Buford, and thence directly home. 



The chief objeel of the trip was to ascertain all tacts relating to OtolopfNMU tpretma in the couutry 

 indicated that would enable him to make a report SB to the proepeotfl tor l*v»4. and also to collect tacts 

 upon insects injuriously affecting any cultivated crop in the settled portion oi the region trave - 



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