THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST IN TAOS VALLEY. 53 



MIGRATORY LOCUSTS. 



Taos Valley, June 2, L883. 



The first locusts of which I could learn came into the Taos Valley from 

 the east during the latter part of May, 1870. They were exceedingly 

 numerous, and during the summer, all through which they remained, 

 they destroyed almost the entire grain crop, leaving a little in only two 

 or three small sections to the south and west of the town of Taos. 



In the fall (September) of the year they deposited numerous eggs, 

 which hatched the following spring in great numbers, and much damage 

 resulted during spring and summer (1877). After attaining wings, a few 

 left to the westward, but the majority remained and deposited their 

 eggs, which produced a third brood in the spring of 1878. 



In 1877 the crop averaged nearly one-half, and in 1878 a trifle over a 

 half of the usual yield, but this last year man}' farmers had become dis- 

 couraged and refused to plant; hence the crop planted was below the 

 average for the valley. During the* locust visitation several modes of 

 warfare were tried by a few of the most enterprising citizens, but with- 

 out any great or decided results. It is related that when the locusts 

 first appeared the storekeepers then in the valley offered the inhabitants 

 as a bounty a pound of coffee for each pound of locusts captured and 

 killed. At first this was not hard on them, but shortly, as the country 

 folk learned how to capture the locusts, the offer was withdrawn, as the 

 coffee went too rapidly and without any apparent diminution in the 

 number of locusts. Methods for the destruction of and protection 

 from the young were various, and in most instances quite similar to 

 those adopted in other portions of the country. Coal oil or kerosene 

 was used in mixtures of various strengths and sprinkled on the crops, 

 which for two or three days after the application was quite effectual in 

 keeping off the young, but gradually, as the scent of the oil disappeared, 

 the wheat also began to disappear before the little 'hoppers. Several 

 tried oil on the surface of the water in the irrigating ditches with some 

 little effect for the time being, but all to no purpose in the end. Another 

 method, and by far the most unique used, was the spreading of wagon 

 sheets on the ground, after which the little hoppers were driven upon 

 them, and then the sides gathered up and several large round stones 

 dropped in and rolled about by keeping the sheet agitated until all the 

 little fellows were killed. I was assured that a very large number of 

 the young were destroyed in this manner. 



During the summer of 1878 those locusts that matured left to the 

 westward, and it is claimed that since then none of this species have 

 been seen in the valley. 



There is a valley 20 miles south of here in which there were a few in 1879 

 and also in some isolated spots in 1880, but during neither of these years 

 did they do very great or general injury to the crops over the valley. 

 While in these valleys, in this portion of New Mexico, it is claimed that 



