108 AGRICULTURE. 



FIGHTING THE CHINCH-BUG BY MEANS OF 

 KEROSENE EMULSION. (Goff.) 



Experiments have established the fact that with thorough 

 work according to the directions given below the kerosene 

 emulsion will prevent the invasion of cornfields by chinch- 

 bugs, even though the bugs appear in great numbers. 



How to Make and Apply the Ke7'osene Emulsion. — Slice half 

 a pound of common bar soap, put it in a kettle with one gal- 

 lon of soft water, and boil until dissolved ; put two gallons 

 of kerosene in a churn or stone jar, and to it add the boiling- 

 hot soap solution ; churn from twenty to thirty minutes, 

 when the whole will appear creamy. If properly made, no 

 oil will separate out when a few drops of the emulsion are 

 placed on a piece of glass. To each gallon of the emulsion 

 add eight gallons of water and stir. Apply with a sprink- 

 ling-pot. 



Every farmer should learn to make this emulsion, as it is 

 a most useful insecticide. It is especially valuable for kill- 

 ing lice on cattle and hogs. Paris green will not kill chinch- 

 bugs. 



The bugs will be very likely to enter cornfields border- 

 ing grainfields, after the grain is cut. Before they have 

 had time to do this plough a deep furrow along the side of 

 the field they will enter, and throw into it stalks of green 

 corn. When the bugs have accumulated on the corn, 

 sprinkle with the emulsion. Put in fresh stalks and sprinkle 

 whenever the bugs accumulate. If they break over the 

 barrier, as they probably will, run a few furrows a few 

 rows back in the field, and repeat. When they have at- 

 tacked stalks of standing corn, destroy by sprinkling. 



If the remedy is tried, it should be used persistently. To 

 kill one lot of bugs and then stop will do little or no good. 

 When the bugs threaten to destroy as much as five or ten 

 acres, it will pay for one or two men to devote their whole 

 time to the warfare. Only a part of each day, however, 

 will be needed. Some corn will be lost at best but the most 

 of the field should be saved. 



