The locust plague and its suppression / by Æneas Munro.

  • Munro, Aeneas.
Date:
[1899]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The locust plague and its suppression / by Æneas Munro. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    o j4 which Sr. Sicaire asked for no less than thirty or forty square miles of land !), or if raised as in No. 5, plate 42, the principle is exactly the same—the marching “army” are entrapped as much as if they entered into a pit of such depth as you can imagine or make convenient. 848. Driving.—Incidentally something has been said on the subject of “driving,” and all who have any experimental knowledge will realise that some acquaintance with this practice may be at any moment in requisition. Now three things ought, in attempting to “drive” the hoppers, be borne in mind, namely, (1) that the insects are easily •confused and discouraged; (2) that while somewhat cunning, they ccui be “driven” or coaxed onwards slowly, but not rapidly; and (3) that they are not great jumpers at this stage—they can jump much higher and farther in proportion when they are fully fledged. Bearing these things in mind, those “ driving,” having bright-coloured flags or banners, .should not approach too near them nor go too quickly, but coax them onwards by moving the flag in their direction every few seconds, more or less regularly, as they may respond to the call, being distant five or six feet from them. The plate (No. 43) will show how this can best be done. If worked irregularly, they become obstinate, cluster together, refuse to move at all, or go in an opposite direction to that desired, after the nature of pigs. You must then withdraw from them, allow diem to recover themselves, and proceed systematically as described above. When in circumscribed places, such as gardens, orchards, small pad- docks, or certain roads, as the railroad, they may be directed by a barrier, such as in the figure ; or “ driven ” towards if, and trapped in a pit, as already described 849. Dead locusts as a manure.—It has been mooted that accumu- lations of dead locusts generate sickness, and in this opinion no doubt the general rule will prevail. But from the following extract it will be seen that excellent use can be made of the dead as a first-class manure. 850. Locusts and sickness.—A work on Algeria describes the treat- ment of dead locusts. They were buried in trenches, with a layer of lime, and then about a foot of gravel on top. In about three months they were dug up, and it was then found they made first-class manure, 300 per cent, better than guano ! The same work mentions that the •coast for about ten miles was covered with locusts, from which there was great stench, to which an outbreak of typhoid fever was attributed. It will be remembered that a few weeks ago a large quantity of dead locusts were found on this coast (Natal), and along the side ot the Bay. Is there any connection between this and the (outbreak in Durban of Dengue fever, or what is commonly known as German measles? 851. (f) Laying1 down prepared grasses, pastures, or other substances to entice the locusts to eat or take shelter, and then destroy them.—When the saltonas or hoppers have no disposi-