21 
that the reason the one field escaped the attack of the “ green bug ” to 
such an extent was that it had been for many years in alfalfa, only 
one crop, and that corn, having been taken from it since alfalfa had 
been turned under. He stated that the “ green bug ” was at one time 
as abundant in this field as in the ones which he had been obliged to 
plow under, but that in the one case the plants had withstood the 
attack better and were in better condition when the “ green bugs ” 
were overcome by the parasites, and thus able to start growth anew 
and yield to the owner a fair percentage of a crop. 
In extreme western [Kansas a field of 10 acres of oats lying adjacent 
to an irrigating ditch, but which had not been irrigated, showed very 
forcibly the effect of irrigation: Along this irrigation ditch was a 
ragged border of vigorously growing oats from 10 to 30 or 40 feet in 
width where the “ green bug” had seemingly done no injury. Be- 
yond this, where the moisture from the irrigating ditch had not 
penetrated, the loss was total. In another case in the same locality 
a part of the wheat in an unirrigated field came up in the fall and the 
rest not until spring; the former was uninjured by “ green bugs,” 
while the latter was killed. While late sowing in Texas will prob- 
ably lessen attack in the fall, it is doubtful if this can be recom- 
mended north of the Red River. November-sown wheat was cer- 
tainly less affected than others in North Carolina. 
THE PRESENT ‘“ GREEN BUG” SITUATION IN THE SOUTHERN STATES, 
mAY 1, 1909. 
The situation over the country with reference to a future invasion 
of this pest, though not alarming, is sufficiently serious to render a 
word of warning exceedingly appropriate. In widely separated 
localities from Western North Carolina to eastern New Mexico the 
insect has become sufficiently abundant during March and April to 
work considerable injury locally. This shows that the pest has re- 
covered from the severe reverse given it by its natural enemies in 
1907, and that a repetition of the mild winter of 1908-9 and the 
present cold, backward spring will be almost certain to precipitate a 
more or less disastrous invasion. Of course no one knows what the 
winter of 1909-10 and the spring of 1910 will be, but it stands the 
grain growers in hand throughout the country south of Virginia, 
Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas to destroy, as far as possible, all 
volunteer grain coming up in the fields during the coming autumn; 
and where fall oats are sown, as is generally the case throughout this 
country, the sowing should be delayed as late as possible. These two 
measures have a tendency to prevent the pest from becoming so thor- 
oughly established in the grain fields during the autumn months, and 
[Cir. 93] 
