Chronological History. 43 



tation that changed the verdure of spring into the barren- 

 ness of winter. 



The tract m which the injury done by the destructive 

 enemy was worst, was confined to the two western tiers 

 of counties in Missouri, and the four tiers of counties in 

 Kansas, bounded by the Missouri river on the east. The 

 greatest damage extended over a strip 25 miles each side 

 of the Missouri river, from Omaha to Kansas City, and 

 then extending south to the southwestern limit of Mis- 

 souri. About three-quarters of a million of people were 

 to a greater or less extent made sufferers. The experience 

 of different localities was not equal or uniform. Con- 

 tiguous farms sometimes presented the contrast of abund- 

 ance and utter want, according to the caprices of the in- 

 vaders, or according as they hatched in localities favorable 

 to the laying of the eggs. This fact gave rise to contra- 

 dictory reports, each particular locality generalizing from 

 its own experience. The fact is, however, that over the 

 region described there was a very general devastation, in- 

 volving the destruction of three-fourths of all field and 

 garden crops. 



While the injury was greatest in the area defined above, 

 the insects hatched in more or less injurious numbers from 

 Texas to British America — the prevalence of the insects 

 in Manitoba being such that in many parts little or no 

 cultivation was attempted. 



For the relief of the sufferers there came the frequent 

 and growing rains, carrying spring far into the usually 

 droughty summer, and giving the subsequent planting an 

 admirable start. Then when the pests had increased to 

 their highest number, and were working the most exten- 

 sive ruin, the flood gates of the clouds were opened, and 

 for thirty-six hours an unceasing torrent swept large num- 

 bers of them into the streams, until the surface of most 



