56 Thirty-seventh Annual Report of the 



As the past history of the insect has shown that parasites and other 

 enemies have entirely failed to arrest its multiplication, we are com- 

 pelled to believe, from present indications, that it has come to stay, 

 and that it will do so, unless effectual means are taken to prevent it. 

 Its capability of increase is wonderful. Under the most conservative 

 circumstances, a single chinch-bug, depositing its eggs about the first 

 of June, would be, in the following August, the progenitor of a quarter 

 of a million. 



Importance of arresting the attack. — It should not be necessary to 

 urge the importance of doing whatever can be done to arrest this at-' 

 tack, which threatens to be more serious to New York than was that 

 of the wheat-midge, the loss from which, in some years, was com- 

 puted at $15,000,000. If it should continue to increase it will doubt- 

 less extend to wheat and corn and other of the grains. In its southern 

 extension in this State it would naturally become more serious. At the 

 present it is known in but two counties — Jefferson and St. Lawrence. 

 It seems practicable by prompt, earnest and combined effort, to pre- 

 vent its extension and to check it where it now exists. There is 

 scarcely a doubt that had its presence in the two limited areas in the 

 town of Hammond, last year, been known at the time, it might have 

 been exterminated at a very moderate cost and with little labor. Had 

 an area of about one acre of timothy been thoroughly showered with 

 kerosene (diluted) by means of a street sprinkler or a more simple con- 

 trivance, upon the same plan, the attack should have been arrested. 



Remedial measures recommended. — Unfortunately, at the present 

 time a large proportion of the attacking insects seem to have left their 

 feeding grounds and to have flown to winter quarters, where they may 

 not be reached. Where they are still to be found among the roots of 

 timothy, about the borders of the destroyed areas, I have recommended 

 an immediate plowing under, by turning over a flat — not overlapping 

 — broad furrow, of the greatest depth practicable, not less than eight 

 inches. The insects could not survive this burial. When the condi- 

 tion of the dead grass will admit of burning, this should be done. A 

 thin covering of straw first applied would aid materially in the burn- 

 ing. As early in the spring as practicable, the meadows should be 

 heavily rolled in order to prevent the easy access of the hibernating 

 bugs to the roots of the grasses for the deposit of their eggs. 



Wheat fields should also be rolled for the same purpose, for an at- 

 tack upon them may be expected the ensuing year. A wheat field of 

 Mr. King seems to have been infested the present year, but to have 

 been checked by its roots having been submerged by a heavy rainfall 

 continued for several days. 



The coming spring, as soon as the new attack is discoverable, in the 

 month of June, the sprinkling with kerosene oil should be generally 

 resorted to. The best method for diluting the oil by first making an 

 emulsion of it with soap suds, and the degree to which it should be 

 diluted will be stated hereafter in a more extended publication to be 

 made, which will embrace the natural history of the insect, and other- 

 interesting details in relation to it. 



Albany, October 8, 1883. 



