COURSES FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PURSUE. 
273 
Morris, oil the subject, and they see nothing impracticable in the plan. 
Indeed, it was suggested by Mr. Dawson in his first report on the sub- 
ject of locust ravages in British America, and by Mr. Eiley in his eighth 
Missouri report, for 1875 (p. 132). We have, on this side of the boundary 
line, a number of signal stations and military posts in the country where 
the insect breeds. We would have our own military force co-operate 
with the Dominion police force as a locust vigilance committee. Under 
the intelligent guidance and direction of some special commissioner or 
commission, we would have that whole country systematically studied 
every year by such a force with reference to the abundance or scarcity 
of the locusts. We would have such a vigilance force, by a proper sys- 
tem of fire-guards and surveillance, prevent the fall fires in sections 
where the insects or their eggs were known to abound, in order to burn 
them at the proper time the following spring. 
" This would be a stupendous work, and perhaps too expensive ever 
to be carried out, did the insects breed over the whole of the region we 
have designated as the Permanent region ; but, fortunately, the breeding- 
grounds are in limited areas in this region, comprising the richer val- 
leys and plateaux and strips along water-courses. It is for the Com- 
mission to accurately map out in detail these areas, and to estimate with 
what force and at what expense to the two governments the work can 
be performed. We have no hope nor idea that the pest can ever by 
human means be exterminated from that vast region, but do believe 
that it may be so kept in check that it will not migrate. The constant 
expense will be limited to the employment of the necessary force, and 
only at intervals when danger threatens will it be necessary to go to 
the extra and exceptional expense of destroying the insects. Again, 
as may be gathered from Chapters VII and XV, there is a connection 
between locust-increase and seasons of drought, and we may take ad- 
vantage of this kuowledge by making especial effort whenever the char- 
acter of the seasons indicates danger. 
" The next question to consider is, whether the farmer can be pro- 
tected from the invading swarms, in case the above-mentioned plans 
should fail and the insects had become numerous. We think that this 
is also, to a large extent, possible with the proper system and organiza- 
tion. We would, in such an event, have this same corps of observers 
watch carefully the development and movements of the locusts and fore- 
warn the farmers of the country of threatened danger. There is no 
reason why the agricultural community should not be informed the pre- 
vious autumn as to the extent to which eggs have been laid, and as to 
the particular locations where laid; or why, the following spring, they 
should not be informed of the prospects, so as to plant accordingly, as 
recommended in Chapter XIII, i. e., put in a larger area of small grain 
that will be harvested before the winged swarms appear, and plant such 
crops as are best protected. Then, as the insects were commencing to 
migrate, their movements should be communicated to the people through 
18 L 
