Show crickets and grasshoppers v invading ashley forest fored 0 by chas demoisy jr forest supervisor it wae was estimated last year there were approximately 6 lona of national forest land on diamond mountha heavily infested with crickets this included the area between willow springs and the old dipping corral on the bouth south and the woodchuck ridge on the north up aa an far as reader creek thie this year crickets keta hare have covered more than 30 sections of forest land an increase in the infested area of per cent in one year header reader creek on diamond mountain was as far west aa as they came during the season beason of 1922 THIS season thuy haro have already crossed to brush creek mountain and reached as far west as kabell hollow and grizzly ridge they are also reported below the toot foothills hills on little brush creek on the manwaring and mckoe mckee ranches if they can cross the canyon of little brush creek they can cross big brush creek and spread to taylor mountain and other parts of at the forest range it Is to also possible and not at all unlikely that they their will spread to ashley valley unless checked by some means in mckee draw grasshoppers were numerous enough during the summer of at 1922 to diminish the forage crop by at least 25 26 per cent so far the damage done to the range by crickets is not so marked as that done to some of the cultivated craps but it is known that they consume weeds having forage value and the more tender grasses all of which is needed tor for domestic animals belonging to stockmen and settlers sett lors it has ban been observed that they climb the stalks and consume the flower heads especially of our more valuable range grasses tb an all extent that caf no seed is produced and this condition continued year after year will result in failure of the more desirable species to reproduce on blue mountain stockmen have reported that both last year and this year these insect pests consumed a large per cent of the forage crop 4 resulting in poor condition of at stock and making if it necessary in some cases to move them to other range or pastures before the end of at tho the summer season considerable study and thought though Is being given by local forest officers to the control of thia this infestation while tho the damage dono done tho the forest range to date is not so alarming alarm lne an on somo some farms it affects every stockman in thia this vicinity and if it the infestation continues to increase as an rapidly as an it has ban in the past year the economic loss to livestock interests will wilt bo be as serious as the loss of at crops stockmen should become concern ed over this situation there is a feeling among many that as this is in the third year of the infestation an unfavorable winter season or insect enemies will kill the pests off in some mysterious manner before another season some predicted this last year it some such stroke of good luck should occur fine and good enough but can heafford we afford lafford to take the chance of waiting not knowing whether it will happen one year from now or twenty years it they become too numerous laws of nature will wipe them out or reduce their number but usually be fore this could happen the range would be destroyed or badly damaged some stockmen believe the poison used for crickets and grasshoppers will kill grazing stock it certainly will it not properly scattered or if left in quantities where stock can get it however the department of agriculture conducted a series of tests and demonstrated that five times the amount of poison recommended for grasshopper control work was not injurious to stock it if it is well and evenly scattered and sacks or other containers are not left around ground carelessly and accessible to stock it Is only a matter of taking ordinary and reasonable care and if it this is done livestock losses a may be avoided in any control work to be undertaken just what methods are best beat and will be adopted for handling the situation on the forest are not known as yet but if it an organized effort is in made to fight the posts the forest service will cooperate as far as the value of at the forage crop justifies suggestions from grazing permit tees are desired and help from every quarter will be appreciated in fighting this common menace |