INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAINS AND GRASSES. 57 



field experiment, tried under ver}^ difficult conditions, was 

 substantially complete, and the value of this method of 

 contest with the Chinch-bug seems established beyond 

 controversy." 



Extensive experiments have been made in Illinois and 

 Kansas in the use of the Muscardine fungus — Sporotrichum 

 glohnUfenmi — against the Chinch-bug. Though the re- 

 sults have often seemed to indicate its use to be profit- 

 able, yet it has never so commended itself — even to ento- 

 mologists — as of sufficient value to be brought into general 

 use, and its value must still be considered as largely 

 problematical. 



If the bugs have already become numerous in the outer 

 rows of corn, most of them may be destroyed by a si)ray 

 of kerosene, which, with a tar strip, will effectually pro- 

 tect the remainder of the field. Such a spray may be 

 either (1) in the form of an emulsion, composed of a 

 ^' stock solution" of one pound of soap, one gallon of 

 water, and two gallons of kerosene, prepared in the usual 

 manner, and diluted with fifteen quarts of water; or (2) 

 may be merely a mechanical mixture of about one part 

 kerosene to four parts of water (20 per cent), which can be 

 formed only by pumps with a special kerosene attachment, 

 and which are now very largely doing away with the use 

 of the soap emulsion. About a teacupful of this spray to 

 a hill will be ample, and at this rate an acre will require 

 about GO gallons at a cost of about one dollar. 



In case of serious attack by the Chinch-bug the farmer 

 must at once prepare to devote to combating it the time 

 of as many hands as his interests may require; for the 

 above methods require constant and j^ersonal supervision, 

 but, where carefully tested by practical farmers, have been 



