Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 9.djvu/777

 systematic courses of popular or elementary lectures on natural science in the Academy. The completion of the building will facilitate and strengthen all the functions of the society in all its departments, and lay the foundation of a workshop in which experts and students may pursue investigations advantageously to science and themselves.

The progress of the Academy has been always deliberate and unobtrusive. It will so continue until accelerated by enlarged resources.

To the full extent of its means the Academy encourages original research, gives instruction to those who seek it, and promotes the diffusion of knowledge. Its doors are never closed against a student or votary of science; every one is cordially welcome, and given such assistance and facilities as the society has, which are all charitable gifts, benevolently aggregated and preserved here for the benefit of the intellectually hungry. It may be safely conjectured that its usefulness will increase, pari passu, with the augmentation of its pecuniary resources, unless Utopian projects of scientific grandeur and exclusiveness be injected into its policy.

Observance of that wise and holy precept, suum cuique—to Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's—relatively both to substantial things and mental products, would save us all a world of trouble and vexation. Commending the consideration of this precept to my readers most cordially, I am, Very respectfully,

To the Editor of the Popular Science Monthly.

for July I find the statement quoted from Prof. Riley that the southern limit of the locust ravages is the 44th parallel of latitude, and the eastern limit the 103d meridian. The latitude of this place is 39° 52' nearly. As I write, the locusts are flying so thickly as to give sunlight the yellow tinge of dense smoke. Last night, in a single hour, whole fields of barley were eaten to the ground, and the fields swept cleaner than the harvester could have done the work. These ravages to-day extend one hundred and twenty-five miles south of this place, or to latitude 37°, and how much farther the news has not reached me. Their appearance here is neither unexpected nor exceptional. During the three preceding years agricultural products throughout Colorado were almost entirely destroyed, and thousands of farms were financially ruined. They have visited us to a greater or less extent annually for the last twelve years, and their ravages have often extended as far east as Lawrence, Kansas, or two hundred miles east of the line prescribed in the article referred to. Our altitude is 8,300 feet above the ocean, but this is not their limit. A few days ago I was on a mountain-summit, 14,000 feet in height, and there they were flying to the westward, high overhead, in immense clouds. Many plans are resorted to for their destruction. Kerosene dripping slowly upon the water in irrigating ditches is very effective. Traveling machines, filled with fire, passing over the ground like mowers, destroy millions; but when they come in clouds, as to-day, I know of no defense at all adequate.

I have driven them a hundred times today from the little twenty-foot green spot in front of my house, and yet there are as many there as if I had done nothing. Fortunately they are fastidious, and often will not eat grass, potatoes, or oats.

There is one remedy which I believe would be effective, and that is the preservation of prairie-grouse and other insectivorous birds. The number of locusts eaten by prairie chickens and quails is perfectly marvelous. For the destruction of hawks and eagles there should be a reward offered by the State. This would preserve many of the birds; and heavy fines imposed for the destruction of birds, at any time of the year, would work the rest.

As long as Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, permit the unlimited slaughter of these, their best friends and preservers, they deserve to suffer from the devastation of the locusts, or grasshoppers, as we call them.Respectfully yours,