ENEMIES OF CORN. 151 



formidable, were it not that nature has placed a check 

 upon their increase. Other insects, the enemies of 

 these, destroy and devour them. 



The CHINCH BUG is chiefly and primarily known 

 as the enemy of the wheat crop, which, in the "West- 

 ern and some of the Southern States, it invades in 

 numbers equally formidable and fatal. The chief 

 peril of the cornfield from this gregarious foe seems 

 to occur when the former crop is too limited in amount 

 to satisfy its rapacity, or has been placed by harvest- 

 ing beyond its reach. It has been suggested to sow 

 clover along with wheat and other small grains, which 

 it is thought would have the effect of detaining the 

 insect in the field, after the grain is harvested, long 

 enough to save the neighboring crops from its ravages. 

 Where no such precaution has been taken, and the 

 wheat-field has been exhausted by these greedy and 

 pestilent vermin, if there is no other cereal at hand 

 but maize, and the latter is within reach, it is almost 

 certain to be attacked and destroyed, unless promptly 

 defended by vigorous measures. 



It is in the unripe stages of wheat, oats and corn, 

 that they are chiefly liable to the attacks of these 

 bugs. Mr. O. M. Colver, of Cedar County, Iowa, has 

 given an interesting account of this insect in a letter 

 to the American Institute Farmer's Club. " While 

 feeding on the rich juices of the wheat," he remarks, 

 " from the time it blossoms till it matures, they in- 

 crease with amazing rapidity. Often whole fields 

 of wheat, which only show a few small spots injured, 

 are entirely killed within two weeks. Chinch bugs 



