Many against this enemy difficult, and almost impossible. suggestions have been made for the needed action of individuals, but the few exterminated in populated districts will make little difference in the immensity of their number, for multiplication can continue undisturbed in vast regions where the white man has never trod. Of course, every little helps, but unless the governments take strong measures individual endeavour will be almost useless; for the agriculturist cannot afford to use most of his valuable time in eradicating the locust outside his own sphere of interest; and, on the other hand, persons not interested in ground cultivations will trouble themselves little about their destruction. Competent men should be officially appointed to carry out the work of extermination, and their efforts should be confined solely to allotted districts not too large for the thorough exercise of their duties. No doubt any private person would be willing to lend assistance in their neighbourhood if needed, and if called upon. The author has met in his travels through the country, especially in the lowlands, innumerable patches of young locusts in the first stage of development. These patches of many thousands of lively hopping little insects occupy spaces from 3 feet to 6 feet only in diameter. At this period destruction is comparatively easy, for, later, they swarm together, and the marauders, now much more numerous, wander or fly far over the land, carrying devastation wherever they go. It is, no doubt, of value to an individual person new to this country, and unaware of the habits of the locust, to know the best steps to take to prevent misfortune in the event of an approaching swarm, which, in all probability, will settle on his flourishing crops. The two last periods of a locust's existence is the time when most damage is done. Growing dissatisfied with the limited extent of their breeding patches, they begin to march in immense numbers through the land, devouring all vegetation that comes in their path, so that cattle sometimes even starve for want of food. It is at this time they are more to be feared and more difficult to prevent from plundering than at a later stage when they are able to fly, for the measures which might be effective against the flying locusts are, in this case, of no avail. One of the best methods to kill these wingless locusts, called locally voetgangers" or "footwalkers," is to erect screens of slimy slippery cloth, and to dig holes in the earth at each end. Not being able to mount these obstacles they change the direc tion of their march, and fall into the pits at the sides where earth or water is thrown upon them. If the screens are placed well away from the cultivated land, much that is valuable will in this way be saved. Trains have even been unable to proceed on account of the dense masses of insects collected against the rails, the slippery surfaces of which have arrested their progress. The change into the flying stage soon takes place. Great flights of them sweep across the sky, almost obscuring the light of the sun. They appear at first in the distance like small black clouds, then one or two of the foremost straggle in, generally the sign that great multitudes are advancing. On the first intimation of their approach measures should at once be taken to prevent their settling. This is usually done by raising as much smoke as possible by burning dried grass, &c., piled in heaps all round the crops and fields, arranged so that the wind, if any, blows it over the places to be protected. Noises by shouting or beating on pieces of tin are often effective in frightening a swarm away. If they once settle, the crops, trees, and grass are absolutely ruined in a very short time. They are prevented from settling more easily in the day time than towards sunset, for they then seek a resting place for the night. Another help towards the extermination has been noticed in the last few years. It is the presence of a parasite resembling a hair worm which kills large numbers of locusts. In some localities a toxin is being used to poison or spread the disease among them, and according to reports, results have been good. The locust lays eggs in the month of November in cracked dry land or in recently ploughed low-lying agricultural soil. The eggs are deposited in bag-like capsules, about sixty in each, and are hatched in six to eight weeks. On hearing the stridulations of the male insects, the sign that the pairing season has advanced, the eggs could be collected by turning over the land on which the swarms have settled. Two kinds of locusts have been noticed as powerful destroyers -a brown kind, Pachytylus migratoroides (Reiche), and a red kind, Acridium purpuriferum (Walk.). 2. Hail-storms. They occur in every part of the country, and fall often with extreme violence, doing great damage to vegetation and animals wherever the storm happens to break. The hailstones are sometimes as large as a hen's egg. When such huge ones fall unprotected animals in the open field are frequently killed, and even galvanised iron roofs are known to have been perforated. In open fields used for grazing purposes one should plant patches of trees under which the animals can seek shelter. The storms are very sudden, and sometimes last a long time. 3. Drought. The winter or dry season is, in many highly situated plains, unfavourable for growth, as the rains run off quickly, leaving the soil dry; whereas the lands near springs, rivers, or streams are well watered, and in dry seasons are kept moist by the capillary attraction of the water from the moisture below. Of course, there are many suitable plains capable of being placed under irrigation at very trifling cost. (See General Features.) |