Show states laid waste by grasshoppers grasshopper in 1874 in 1870 it was noticed in the middle west that grasshoppers were becoming more numerous year tear by year they kept on increasing until in 1874 their onslaught amounted to a national catastrophe in that year an area including the states of colorado nebraska kansas wyoming the dakotas minnesota iowa missouri new mexico indian territory and texas were overrun by the northern visitors the loss in crops was estimated at it is reported that they came in swarms that darkened the sun that their forms forma carpeted the fields that they swarmed over houses and ate shingles and clapboards and that in many cases despairing families left their houses and fled as from the guns of an invading army some of the ranchers tried to ft herd them as they would cattle strangely enough with some success where the safety of a pet orchard or field was the object men women and children armed with leafy branches would form ft a line to divert the oncoming swarm to drive grasshoppers successfully stated an agricultural bulletin one must make use of every ad vantage advantage possible drive down dowa hill lilli or on a level with a gentle wind and only during the heat of the day with conditions favorable they are easily driven if not hurried too much |