INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1903. 17 



allowed to grow among the outer rows of corn, the bugs, 

 greatly preferring that, attack it, leaving the corn practically 

 untouched. This is an important fact, for it offers a remedy 

 within the reach of every one, costing nothing, albeit it may 

 seem to encourage laziness. 



As our farmers are doubtless aware, Chinch Bugs are also 

 very fond of millet, and Mr. James Hanna of Forest City, one 

 of the most energetic farmers of Meeker county, tells me he 

 intends planting a strip of millet about his corn next year, ex- 

 pecting it to hold the bugs until the corn gets beyond them, 

 and possibly attempting to destroy the pests while on the mil- 

 let. In view of these observed facts, I also suggest for use 

 where this pest seriously affects corn : 



3. Stop cultivating a few of the outer rows of corn early 

 enough to allow pigeon grass and succulent weeds to grow 

 therein. It is with reluctance that I make any such sugges- 

 tion, the undesirability of raising weeds whose seeds will be 

 disseminated is very evident, yet there is no question but that 

 the presence of such weeds saves the corn. 



4. Better still, plant a strip of millet the width of the 

 seeder about the corn field at such a time that it will be 8 or 10 

 inches high when the wheat is ready to cut and the bugs are 

 migrating to corn. 



In order to lessen the number of Chinch Bugs for the fol- 

 lowing year they should be killed while in the millet. This 

 might be done in various ways. Plowing it under deeply would 

 undoubtedly do away with many of them, but I suspect some 

 would work their way up through the loose soil, if it were 

 not compacted by several harrowings. Or, they might be 

 destroyed by sprinkling the millet most thoroughly with 

 strong kerosene emulsion,* or even with a mechanical mixture 

 of water and kerosene, three parts of the former to one of the 



*Recipe for Kerosene Emulsion: Dissolve V^ pound of soft or hard 

 soap in i gallon of water, boiling it thoroughly. When the soap is dissolved, 

 remove the liquid from the fire and, when boiling hot, add two gallons 

 of kerosene. This should now be mixed thoroughly by pumping it vigor- 

 ously through a force pump or spray pump. This may take five minutes. 

 It should be. when properly mixed, like thick cream or clabbered milk. 



