THE CHINCH BUG IN IOWA. 11 



First. As soon as it is dry enough so that grass, dry leaves, etc., will 

 burn, set to work systematically to burn over every foot of land possible. 

 Burn all old corn stalks, and grass and weeds along fences and in corners. 

 This can be done quite safely with a little care for the posts where the 

 fence is of wire; for board fences it would of course be dangerous. Carry 

 the fire into thickets and edges of timber, burning off all the dead leaves, 

 and attend also to the loose bark on fallen logs. In short, carry fire into 

 every hiding place that the circumstances will permit. It should be done 

 when the grass, etc., is dry enough to burn well down to the ground, other- 

 wise many of the bugs may escape. One bug killed at this time may mean 

 a hundred thousand or more prevented from working on the crops in Sum- 

 mer; and,, on the other hand, every bug escaping may mean an equal 

 number ready to devour the fruits of hard labor. While it will pay every 

 farmer to adopt this method, even if his neighbors do not, since the bugs 

 for the most part do not travel great distances, the best results will be 

 reached if every farm in the neighborhood is thoroughly renovated by fire. 

 Second. Make a careful study of the crops to be planted and reduce as 

 much as possible the area planted to wheat, rye, barley and Hungarian 

 grass especially, and to a less extent oats, corn and meadow grasses, 

 remembering that bugs feed only on members of the grass family of plants, 

 and have a decided preference tor wheat, barley, rye and Hungarian. 

 Where such crops cannot be suspended plant as early as possible and sow 

 heavily. Defer planting corn as long as practicable to make sure that none 

 of it is up in time for adults wintering over to be attracted to it. If 

 possible avoid planting it next to wheat, barley or Hungarian grass, and if 

 this is unavoidable sow strips of potatoes, turnips, buckwheat or some 

 other crop not relished by the bugs between the fields. This will tend to 

 retard migration and possibly starve some of the younger bugs, while if the 

 maturing bugs take wing and scatter generally through the corn, the effect 

 is not so severe. As far as possible plant crops not affected by the Chinch 

 Bugs, such as clover, buckwheat, flax, beans, potatoes, turnips and other 

 root crops. In fields intended for late planting of corn or some other crop, 

 an early planting of strips of wheat or Hungarian to attract the laying of 

 eggs, to be plowed under as soon as egg laying is over, will result in 

 destruction of great numbers and prevent the damage they might have 

 caused in other fields. Unless the strip is planted to some crop not eaten 

 by the bugs, it should lie two or three weeks at least, to insure the death of 

 the bugs before the second crop is planted, though when plowed under deep 

 there is little probability of their getting again to the surface. 



Third. After crops are started keep a careful watch of fields in wheat, 

 barley, etc. If portions of the field become badly infested before much 

 growth has been made, while other parts of the field seem free, plow under 

 deep and later plant to buckwheat, turnips or some crop not affected by 

 bugs. If the whole field becomes infested early it may pay to plow under 

 to destroy the bugs and plant as late as possible to fodder corn or other late 

 crop. If crop is far enough along to pay for cutting as hay, or ripe enough 

 for early cutting for the grain, clear the field at once; burn the stubble if 

 dry enough, and plow under as quickly as possible. The bugs make very 

 slow progress traveling over a rough plowed field, and most of the younger 

 ones at least must perish. 



Fourth. When the bugs begin to migrate into corn from wheat and 

 other fields, or rather before this lias commenced, if no strips of crops 



