But, by, I know not what, immoral conduct on its part, the vitality of the race became impaired, fewer young made their appearance, and these wasted away before maturity. That this decay of the vitality of the red-thighed migratory Rocky Mountain locust may continue until it becomes a species only known to history, "is a consummation devoutly to be wished," but through years of suffering it may be restored to its primitive energy and be enabled to re-enact for us the scenes of the last four years of the first century of the American Republic. However, some fourteen years have elapsed since it has been able to leave in any appreciable numbers its native breeding grounds in Dakota, Wyoming and Montana, and we have no signs of its recuperation. Though having a great liking for nearly every cultivated species of legume it turned aside in disdain from peas.

The writer having early observed these characteristic tastes in his enemy turned his attention principally to the cultivation of peas and sorghum. He discovered that sorghum was a very exhaustive crop, if it immediately preceded wheat, but that a fine crop of peas could be grown after it, and following that, a wheat crop twice as large as if it had followed the sorghum. The peas were fed to hogs and so in this way we partially out-generaled the grasshoppers.

But a more direct attack was made along the whole line against our evil angels before they had grown their wings. Fire, water, kerosene, coal tar, and various devices of traps were all used in ways too numerous to mention, and before the end of the four years' fight, we had learned how to meet the unfledged hordes at least on the borders of our fields, and hold them at bay until they got wings, when they preferred to retire immediately from the scene of their early conflicts.

An amusing incident occurred during the locust contest here in Greeley. A. Z. Salomon offered the best suit of clothes in his store to the man who would bring him in a million grasshoppers. John Templeton, a canny Scotchman, who was farming a place adjoining that of the writer, using a trap, caught what he estimated to be a million or over. He counted an ounce and weighed the rest. When he brought them in, about a bran sack full, Salomon refused to pay for them because they were dead. But nothing

daunted, Templeton filled another sack with live ones, when the merchant insisted that he should count them. Templeton said that he would have to empty them out to do that, and as it was night this would have to be done in the clothing store. Then Salomon gave in, and the canny Scott thereafter went around Sundays in a suit of the finest blue broadcloth.

In some portions of the states east of here, the locust was more destructive than in Colorado. In the summer of 1875 they were the worst and created general apprehensions. The governor of Missouri appointed a day of fasting and prayer for the purpose of invoking divine aid in averting the plague. Bishop Clarkson, of Nebraska and Dakota, had a special form of prayer prepared for his diocese, to read at both morning and evening service for the summer of 1875, with especial reference to the locusts. We quote: "Grant us such deliverance from destructive insects, that the earth may in due time yield her increase for our use and benefit. * Avert the dangers

that threaten the harvest from the terrible scourge of the locust." The issue of The Greeley Tribune for June 2nd of the above year, is principally devoted to the subject of the locust. It says, "During these days The Greeley Tribune is a grasshopper paper, and we mean to print all that is interesting on this subject, that those numbers may form a reference useful hereafter, and that our readers abroad may know how much of an obstacle the insect is to living in this country. The present record of destruction is: All gardens that were planted are destroyed, save peas and young corn. Currants and gooseberries have but a few leaves and their fruit buds are eaten out. Raspberries and blackberries that have been watered, and which are in a thrifty condition, are blossoming and will probably bear. Strawberries that were watered promptly will bear perhaps half a crop, and the fruit is now a quarter grown. Grapes are not injured to any great extent. Pie-plant is all eaten down. Most kinds of quite young forest trees have suffered badly, but the box elder, though badly trimmed, is pulling through triumphantly. People are now planting cucumbers, melons and squashes, with the hope of having gardens. Tomato, cabbage, and other plants are yet kept within doors or under glass. Captain Boyd has fought the grasshoppers successfully with his machine, but then he did not have the crowds others have had. Benjamin H. Eaton is fighting the enemy vigorously, and expects to save as much as two hundred acres of wheat. But as fast as the grasshoppers eat down a few acres, the plow is turned in, and corn is immediately planted. We must have as many as seven or eight inventors who have brought into use as many different kinds of machines for destroying the grasshoppers.

This same number also quotes an article from The Chicago Tribune on the "Grasshopper Plague." This is well worthy of preservation, both on account of its style and contents. So we give it :

"Will the grasshopper be a burden to the east, as it has been a curse and a pest to the west ? After floods, tornadoes, blizzards and

the rigors of a winter projected far into spring, are we now to look forward to a summer whose green promises are to be blighted, and nipped down to the very roots by those lively travelers who were John the Baptist's favorite article of diet, washed down with wild honey. Having already eaten everything worth eating west of the Missouri, they have crossed it and are seeking new fields to conquer. It seems to be the universal testimony of grasshopper experts that these millions of billions of heads are all pointed this way, and that in a month or two at the latest they will settle down on the prairie farms of Eastern Iowa and Missouri, and cross the Mississippi into Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio, as the flies covered Egypt. The fine theories of the entomologists, that the severe cold of last winter would kill their eggs, seems to be thoroughly exploded. They have risen from their winter burial with immensely increased numbers, and the most vigorous appetites. There seems no reason to doubt that the crops which have been sown are destined only to be food for grasshoppers.

"Our reports show that Missouri is completely overrun with them. They have left the wheat fields bare, have stripped the fruit trees of leaves, buds and blossoms, and swept even the grass from the pastures, as if an army of mowers had been through them. The farmers are panic-stricken. The cattle are dying; even the earth in flower pots has resurrected clouds of them, and yet no power cometh to help us. The sprouting fields of grain in Nebraska have already been stripped bare to the earth. Millions have already made their appearance, and more millions yet remain in the ground to come out eventually. Kansas is in the same plight as Nebraska, and whatever the grasshoppers may happen to leave, the chinch bugs are waiting for, which is not a very hopeful outlook for the corn. From Northwestern Iowa comes the same story, also from various portions of Minnesota. The prospect, therefore, is simply pitiful, and full of distress and discouragement for the farmer. It is an element of destruction against which he can make no provision. He cannot destroy the pests in sufficient numbers to materially reduce their ravages. He cannot relieve the situation by changing the crops, for nothing yet of a vegetable character has been discovered which the grasshoppers will not eat. He is condemned, after using all his energy and invention in destroying them, at last to stand idly by, and see millions upon millions of them lay waste his acres and destroy his cereals, his grass and his fruit, leaving nothing in the fall for himself or his stock. The farmers have hitherto contested the situation with resolute courage. They have fought these insects with fire and water. They have gathered them