CHINCH-BUG. 163 



multiply to a serious extent, or are they restricted in their food-plants 

 to such a degree that we have it in our power to get rid of them, at 

 any "time, by abandoning the cultivation of some one or more of these 

 grains. 



It seems remarkable that these insects should make a selection be- 

 tween plants so similar, both in nature and appearance, as are the sev- 

 eral species of what are known as the small grains. Yet abundant 

 experience has taught us that they do make a very decided selection. 

 It is known that they always give a strong preference to spring wheat 

 and barley, where these are at hand. Where these two grains are not 

 available, they will oviposit upon either of the others, and perhaps to 

 about an equal extent. We know this from the fact that all of these 

 grains are sometimes considerably injured, where Chinch-bugs abound, 

 and the chief reason, probably, why winter wheat does not suffer as 

 much as spring wheat, is that this crop gets nearly matured before the 

 new brood of bugs makes its appearance ; and accordingly, we some- 

 times see late pieces of winter wheat almost as much damaged by them 

 as the spring wheat. But the main question is, whether, if no spring 

 wheat or barley be raised, the Chinch-bugs will continue to thrive and 

 multiply to excess upon any other kinds of grain. The general opin- 

 ion is that they will not. And yet a sufficient number of exceptional 

 cases occur to throw some doubt upon the matter, and to induce some 

 farmers to hold the opposite opinion. Chinch-bugs are, in some years, 

 found in considerable numbers in the southern part of this State, where 

 the winter grains exclusively are raised. A number of cases, also, 

 like the following, have come to my knowledge. Mr. D. Yeatch, of 

 Livingston county, stated to me that winter wheat, oats and corn, were 

 all seriously damaged in his neighborhood, though but little spring 

 wheat was raised ; and on his own farm, a field of thirty six acres of 

 oats was not worth harvesting, though no spring wheat had been raised 

 in its vicinity for the last five years. And a somewhat similar case was 

 related to me by a Mr. Yail, of Tazewell county. More definite testi- 

 mony is needed upon this subject. My opinion, from my present 

 knowledge, is that such cases are rare and exceptional, and perhaps 

 could be easily explained if we knew all the circumstances. 



From the foregoing observations we draw the following practical 

 conclusions : 



lat. That it is useless to attempt to raise spring wheat or barley 

 where Chinch-bugs have been present in any considerable numbers the 



