CHINCH-BCTG. 145 



FIRST. — THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES. 



"With respect to the destruction of Chinch-bugs by natural enemies, 

 the testimony on record is extremely meagre and unsatisfactory. Lady- 

 bugs are sometimes found in company with them under corn husks and 

 in other sheltered situations, and this circumstance, taken in connection 

 with the fact that these are predaceous insects, has led most of c ur 

 writers upon practical entomology to enumerate them amongst the 

 destroyers of Chinch bugs, but I can not learn that any one has actually 

 seen them devouring these nauseous insects. 



The larvae of the Lace-winged flies sometimes feed upon them, as has 

 been proved by the observations of Dr. Shimer. Bat it is only occa- 

 sionally that the Lace-wings are seen where Chinch-bugs abound, and 

 they are nowhere numerous enough to make any perceptible impression 

 upon their multitudinous hosts. It has been said that quails will eat 

 them, but this seems to rest upon a few imperfectly attested statements, 

 passed down from one to another, rather than upon actual and repeated 

 observation. I do not wish to be understood as denying the truth of 

 the statement ; but if there is any reliable testimony upon this subject, 

 it has escaped my search. At any rate, 1 believe, that for all practical 

 purposes, any hope of essential aid from natural enemies, in the de- 

 struction of Chinch-bugs, may as well be thrown wholly out of the 

 question. 



SECOND. — THE PLAN OF SOWING GRAIN SO EARLY IN THE SPRING AS TO GET 

 IN ADVANCE OF THEIR DEPREDATIONS. 



The well-known fact that winter wheat generally matures before the 

 young brood of Chinch-bugs makes its appearance, and thus escapes 

 their ravages, naturally suggested the idea that the same end might be 

 accomplished with respect to spring wheat, if the seed could be got 

 into the ground very early in the spring. However plausible this sup- 

 position may appear, the experiences of the past season would seem to 

 show that any reliance based upon it must prove, in a great measure, 

 iallacious. Notwithstanding that the last spring was dry and favorable 

 for the early sowing of grain, and notwithstanding that it is universally 

 understood by farmers that the earlier wheat can be sown the better for 

 the crop, and therefore it may be presumed that wheat was sown un- 

 nsually early, yet the result could scarcely have been more disastrous. 

 I am not prepared to say that nothing can be gained by this course, 

 but in view of the experiences of the past season, I do not see how we 



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