154 CHINCH-BUGS. 



preceding year, unless we have reason to believe that they have been 

 killed off by heavy rains in the breeding season. 



2d. That in case the seasons should continue to be favorable to the 

 propagation of the Chinch-bug, we always have it in our power to get 

 rid of these pests by the abandonment of these two kinds of grain, for 

 one or two years. But to make this course effective, there must be a 

 concert of action by farmers over a considerable section of country. 



3d. That the presence of Chinch-bugs the preceding year will not 

 prevent the raising of corn or any of the winter grains. 



4th. With regard to oats, the testimony thus far is that if this grain 

 be sown where Chinch-bugs abound, and especially if it be sown ex- 

 clusively, it will be damaged to a greater or less extent the first year, 

 but that the bugs probably will not continue to breed in it to any great 

 extent in succeeding years. 



OTHEE PEOPOSED REMEDIES. 



It may be proper, before closing, to advert briefly to a few of the 

 more plausible of the other remedies for the Chinch-bug, which have 

 been suggested. 



It has been proposed to burn over the infested and ruined grain 

 fields just before the time for the bugs to leave them, with the view of 

 destroying the bugs and thus preventing their migration into the 

 corn. This is a good suggestion, provided the grain is dry enough to 

 burn before the bugs leave it ; and also provided it will burn low 

 enough to kill the bugs, which in this case would all drop to the 

 ground. The plan would be most likely to succeed by the aid of dry 

 straw, and favorable conditions of wind and drouth. 



Another plan which has been proposed, is to sow a small proportion 

 of wiQter rye (one bushel to twelve), with the spring wheat, with the 

 expectation that the bugs would feed upon the green rye near the 

 ground, whilst the more rapidly growing wheat would rise above it and 

 come to maturity. This suggestion is founded upon the mistaken no- 

 tion that Chinch-bugs feed upon the green blades of the grain, whereas 

 they imbibe their nutriment, first from the roots, and afterwards from 

 the lower joints of the stalk. 



The well attested fact that Chinch-bugs are checked in their operations 

 by rain, induced Dr. Fitch to advise the sprinkling of wheat fields — or 

 at least those parts of them where the bugs first make their appearance — 

 with water, by means of a garden engine, or some other contrivance. 

 This would be an interesting experiment where the field is very small 



