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Title
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Lawrence Bruner to Marcia Bruner, 1897, Dec. 13
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Alternative Title
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Lawrence Bruner Letters, 1897
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Date
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1897, Dec. 13
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Creator
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Lawrence Bruner
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Description
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Handwritten 2 page letter from Lawrence Bruner to Marcia Bruner, "I was too busy yesterday to write home, also too tired."
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Identifier
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081210-1897-037
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Transcription
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Dec. 13 1897
Dear Marcia:
I was too busy yesterday to write home, also too tired. I had just returned from Bahia Blanka, the Pamapa Central and Buenos Aires where I was kept so busy that I only got half sleep for 10 days. On returning here there were so many things to look after that, although it was Sunday, I had to attend to them at once. This became particularly necessary since the Commission has decided to issue a preliminary report of instructions for killing the young locusts which are now in all parts of the country overrun by the mature insects up to a month ago. They wish to publish this week and I am getting the report ready as rapidly as possible and at the same time carry on fungus experiments in the field and breeding cages as well as to superintend several methods of destroying the young mechanically. The fungus experiments seem to be coming out quite satisfactory both here and at several places over the country where it is being tried by others.
The Gov't. "expert" has tried the African fungus and pronounces it a faud. On the other hand a German doctor at Parana has found it to work excellently in several trials, as have I also here at .
In the mechanical methods of fighting the insects the natives are way behind the times. Instead of trying new and rapid methods suited to the habits of the insect under treatment they are depending wholly on the ancient methods in vogue for hundreds of years in killing quite another insect . They do not attack the young as soon as they hatch and while they are still bunched, but wait until they begin to move and are about half grown. Then they dig long trenches a couple feet deep and wide, and in the bottom of these at intervals deeper holes. When the trenches are prepared they begin driving the locusts towards the ditches and keep at it until they have them all driven into them. Another method that is suggested and used by the Gov't commission is the placing of strips of tin end to end thereby making fences on barriers which arre made to converge at a deep pit and then drive the locusts as mentioned above. Both the ditch digging and the purchasing of tin barriers are exceedingly expensive and at the same time very slow methods of destroying the insects besides being applicable only to the destruction of the half — grown or nearly grown locusts. In my studies with reference to the in
than I have at any time since I began my investigations. Still there are some points that thus far have refused stubbornly to be solved. If all goes well I hope to feel that I have really accomplished much. I hope that the present winter will not be such a very cold one in Nebr. that you and the children will come through without being sick. As for myself I seem to be keeping quite well most of the time and not very much out of the way at other times. The country has surely agreed with me ever since I recoverd from my malarial attack. Wish that I could go with you occasionally to some of the receptions and church things, but in a little while I can. Good bye. Kiss the girls for me. Lawrence
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Rights
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To inquire about usage, please contact Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. These images are for educational use only. Not all images are available for publication.
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Is Version Of
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081210-1897-037.jpg
