286 CHINCH BUG STATEMENT OF E. C. SMITH. 



But few appeared at this time, and not much damage was done. 

 In 1851, 1 observed them for the first time, on the farm where I 

 now reside. The field in which they made their appearance had 

 corn on one side and oats on the opposite side, with a strip of 

 wheat between. They were seen immediately after the wheat 

 was cut, on the rows of corn next to the stubble ; and were so 

 numerous, as to cover from one-fourth to one-half of the stalk, 

 in many of the hills. The corn soon began to wither. They 

 did not devour the solid parts of the plant, but pierced the outer 

 part or skin, full of holes, or destroyed it in large patches, here 

 and there, over the stalk, and appeared to feed on the juice. A 

 few rows next to the wheat, were completely destroyed. The 

 crop was more or less injured to the distance of about eight rods 

 from the stubble. On the opposite side, the oats were killed to 

 the distance of two or three rods from the wheat. The remain- 

 der ripened without injury. 



"They appeared again the next year, and about the same time 

 of the year; but did little damage. Strange to say, it had not 

 yet entered my thoughts, that they had done, or could do, any 

 damage to wheat. The next spring, (1853,) my wheat looked 

 unusually promising. But when it had grown to the height of 

 a foot or more, I observed that more than half of it had stopped 

 growing. This portion was only six or eight inches in height, 

 and it grew no more, but withered and died ; from what cause I 

 could not imagine. The same fly appeared again in the corn, 

 after the wheat was cut. The rank growth of the corn, together 

 with one or two heavy showers, prevented it from doing much 

 injury. 



" Last summer, there was the same appearance in the wheat, 

 as the summer previous. A part of it dwindled away, after it 

 had grown to the height of a few inches. At the time of cutting 

 the wheat, these insects were observed, in motion towards the 

 corn, which was close by. In a few days the corn nearest to 

 the stubble was so covered with them, as to appear, at a little 

 distance, as if covered with black paint. The corn was back- 

 ward and dwarfish, and the season excessively dry, both of which 

 circumstances favored their destructive effects. About fifteen 

 acres of corn was destroyed by -them. They swept over about 



