6 Contagious Diseases of the Chinch-bug. 
the past 28 years, not excepting the phenomenally dry season 
of 1874. This extreme dryness was unfavorable to the propa- 
gation in the field of the diseases which destroy the chinch-bug, 
whether these diseases were artificially introduced or naturally 
present. The early wheat harvest consequent upon the spring 
drouth precipitated the chinch-bugs upon the corn while it was 
very young, so that a greater injury was inflicted by the bugs 
than if the plant had been of its usual size and vigor. At the 
same time the conditions favorable to the growth of the Sporo- 
trichum were not present, and the bugs were practically unhin- 
dered in their work of destruction. Later in the season the 
conditions were favorable for the development of the fungus, 
and the chinch-bugs were destroyed in immense numbers. Yet 
immense numbers remained alive, and in many cases continued 
to damage crops. 
The experience of the year 1895 corroborates the conclusion 
of former years that Sporotrichum cannot be depended upon to 
do efficient work unless the proper conditions exist for its 
development. The presence of these conditions insures the 
extended destruction of the chinch-bug, but will not secure 
its annihilation. The absence of these conditions often ren- 
ders it desirable to adopt some other measures for relief. 
Hence, considerable attention has been given to the use of the 
‘‘barrier method’’ for keeping the bugs from gaining entrance 
to the corn-fields from the wheat stubble. The wise farmer will 
keep his fields supplied with infection, and will also be on the 
alert to employ mechanical means to prevent the bugs from 
entering the corn-fields. The two methods combined will insure 
a greater amount of protection than either method alone. 
The proposed method of inoculating the bugs in the field by 
spraying them with artificial cultures of the spores of Sporo- 
trichum has not yet proved successful, and we still depend upon 
the original plan of introducing the disease by scattering the 
dead bugs covered with the spores of the fungus. 
