141 



true Chinch Bug, for which it is frequently mistaken. Its scientific name is Xj/sim 

 angustatus Uhh^r, and it is somewhat closely allied to the true Chinch Bug both in 

 systematic position and in habit. An account of it is given in the report of the Ento- 

 mologist contained in the Annual Report of this Department for 1884, pp. 315-317. It 

 is a very general feeder, and in iact there are but few plants that it will not attack. 

 It frequently occurs in injurious numbers, particularly in the Mississippi Valley and 

 ■westward. It mostly affects garden crops, such as potatoes, turnips, cabbages, 

 etc., and small fruits, such as the strawberry, but is not often a serious pest of 

 cereals * * *. — [September 8, 1891.] 



Kerosene Emulsion successful against the Chinch Bug. 



The kerosene emulsion has been satisfactory to us in preventing chinch bugs 

 from injuring the corn. We are trying the remedy at a farm 4 miles out of town. 

 The bugs were very numerous in an 8-acre field of winter wheat. When this was cut 

 most of them moved to an oat field adjoining, but a good many to a cornfield which 

 corners on the wheat field. The owner had tried to kill them with Paris green, ap- 

 plied as for the Colorado potato beetle. The Paris green mixture injured the corn 

 somewhat, but had not killed a bug as far as I could see. Four rows back we cut 

 out the corn. A deep furrow was plowed along this vacant space in which green 

 corn was placed. The bugs traveled from the grain field and attacked the corn out- 

 side the furrow as well as that lying in it. We used the kerosene emulsion, diluting 

 it one to ten, applying it with a sprinkling pot, washing them off the standing corn 

 and sprinkling the stalks in the furrow, applying every second or third day. We 

 have followed this plan now for about ten days, and must keep it up a few days 

 longer since most of the bugs are in the oats, which are nearly ready to cut. As soon 

 as the oats are cut, of course they will move on to the corn. This will bring on the 

 last contest. There is no question of winning if we persist. I hear of the remedy 

 being successfully used in several parts of the State. I inclose a copy of the circu- 

 lar which was most hastily prepared and sent out over the State from this station. 

 I also inclose a letter from Dr. E. Fred Russell, of Poynette, Wis. It was at Dr. 

 Russell's place that I saw the emulsion first used. He was following closely the 

 directions given by you on page 81 of the report of the Department of Agriculture 

 for 1887. It gives me great pleasure to have this opportunity of bearing testimony 

 to the good results to our agriculture from your Division. — [W. A. Henry, Wiscon- 

 sin, August 3, 1891. 



Old Broods of the Periodical Cicada. 



The writer has witnessed every periodical advent of the " Seventeen-year Locust " 

 {Cicada septendecim) in this present century— 1817, 1834, 1851, 1868, 1885— and in course 

 its next appearance will be in June, 1902. Although a schoolboy in 1817, I remem- 

 ber how it delighted me as I passed along the woody school path to give the drooj)- 

 ing limbs of the forest, bending with these winged insects, a sudden jerk and see them 

 hunt other resting places. They were more numerous that year than we have seen 

 them since. The gray squirrel, in 1834 especially, fattened on them, as both were far 

 more plentiful in those primitive days. 



The belt of country in which these insects make their appearance in the years given 

 above runs through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, eastward; in 

 localities north and south of this they have other years of maturity. The Thirteen- 

 year Locust is unknown to the writer. 



We have noticed that in all these years the seasons were always favorable for their 

 appearance, an early opening of spring and fine favorable weather following, their 

 advent commencing the 1st of .June and lasting through that month. Although 

 three weeks are given as the period of their winged state in sunshine, yet all do not 

 leave the ground in one day and cast their mundane coats, so their day seems longer. — 

 [Luke Smith Motte, Ohio. 



