4 THE CHINCH-BUG IN 1896. 



would be wrong, however, to claim that farmers alone did 

 not take time by the forelock; we all are apt to neglect pre- 

 cautions, and later have to suffer the consequences. 



The climatic conditions of the season of 1896 were such 

 that the chinch-bug disease worked to the satisfaction of 

 all who tried it conscientiously, and if it had been more gen- 

 erally emplo3'ed in all infested counties, a chinch-bug plague 

 could have been prevented for a great number of years, as 

 most of the few found in our fields could have Ijcen killed. 



Soon after the abundant spring rains had ceased, and 

 the soil had become dry and warm, a continuous southern 

 w^ind set in, and this wind brought with it large numbers of 

 chinch-bugs. In some cases it actually "rained" chinch- 

 bugs, and in this manner many localities became again in- 

 fested. With normal weather the first generation of these 

 insects could not, however, become numerous enough to 

 cause any serious losses to the small grains. A circular sent 

 out at this time awoke many farmers to the fact that 

 spores of the chinch-bug disease could be had free of charge, 

 mailed to their post-office, simply for the asking; and num- 

 erous boxes were mailed in consequence. Where the con- 

 tents of these boxes were used according to the directions 

 and thoroughly applied, success followed; at least many let- 

 ters received at that time so stated, and it was too bad that 

 many more farmers did not at least try this remedy. Of 

 course those that expected success by simply putting a 

 pinch of such spores here and there in their fields did not 

 succeed, nor did they deserve to do so. No one can expect 

 success who does not diligently and intelligently work for 

 it! As long as there was a fair amount of moisture in the 

 soil, just so long the introduction of disease-spores proved 

 a success; but as soon as our dr^- summer commenced the 

 disease spread only in exceptional cases, and so slowly as to 

 do but little good. The continuous dry weather assisted 

 the chinch-bugs very materially, though the^- caused but 

 very little injury to the small grains, with the exception of a 

 few localities especially favorable to these sun-and-heat- lov- 

 ing insects. In some places the corn was invaded and suf- 

 fered more or less. As the autumn of 1896 was also a re- 



