PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS

Evening Star, Issue 19522, 1 April 1927, Page 9

PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS

The Poona correspondent, of the ‘Times of India’ has a remarkable story, to tell of a plague of locusts. His despatch reads: — There is no doubt that the news received in Bombay from various sources regarding the existence of locust swarms % in different parts of the Presidency is not one whit exaggerated. Inquiries made at the Department of Agriculture show that there are at least three swarms sweeping the countryside, particularly in the'northern part of the province. It was fortunate that during his recent visit to Kathiawar Dr W. Burns, the Joint Director of Agriculture, had occasion to witness one of these swarms nt work as it swept, by tho palace at Porbandar, and he made some interesting observations and notes. But tho work of the department has not stopped with mere observation of the habits of tho locusts. Immediately on receiving intimation from parts_ of Gujerat and Kathiawar of the _ existence of swarms, the Deputy_ Director of Agriculture distributed copies of the best method of combating them, a task which is by no means easy, for, as is so generally known, they usually sweep across tho countryside like an avenging army, phfying havoc with vegetation for miles. *

It is recognised that at this time of tho year these 'locusts are in the adult stage, and not wingless hoppers, and so in the main the method of attack is to organise large gangs of villagers to drive the swarms away towards the sea or tho forest areas from general cultivation. This is not so difficult a task as one might expect, as movement and noise are particularly effective in turning the huge insect armies off the course they are pursuing. During October and early November this particular variety of locust—the north-west locust and not the Bombay locust—flies at ‘night, but later in the year, that is in December and in the beginning of the next year, they arc very torpid at night, when the}' can bo easily destroyed by being knocked off the trees and either buried or smashed to death. After travelling about five miles during tlio day they settle on the trees about 6 p.m.. and so orders have been issued to mamlatdars to organise gangs armed with brooms and accompanied by tree climbers to sweep tho_ insects down to be killed by gangs waiting on the ground. Those gangs work all night and do most effective work. Inquiries from those who have seen these swarms show that they are terribly impressive sights. The one at Porpandar, for example, was like a dark oscillating cloud five miles long, half a mile broad, and about twelve feet thick, composed 6i one mass of flying insects.

_ A conservative estimate of this particular swarm puts the number at about 36,000,000,000 locusts, each about Sin long. The extent of damage which such a swarm could do to the crops has frt*. quently been emphasised, and is even now being demonstrated in parts of Kathiawar and in the Ahraedabad district, whore special plans are being laid to ward off their attacks, _ although a of reports are being received of considerable damage being done.