THE CHINCH-BUG. 197 



precisely similar to that of an over-ripe pear, but far too pow- 

 erful to be agreeable. 



In order to prevent the ravages of these insects, they 

 should be sought and killed when they are about to lay their 

 eggs ; and if any escape our observation at this time, their 

 eggs may be easily found and crushed. With tlus view the 

 squash-vines must be visited daily, during the early part of 

 their growth, and must be carefiilly examined for the bugs 

 and their eggs. A very short time spent in this way every 

 day, in the proper season, will save a great deal of vexation 

 and disappointment afterwards. If this precaution be neglect- 

 ed or deferred till the vines have begun to spread, it Avill be 

 exceedingly difficult to exterminate the insects, on account of 

 their numbers ; and if at this time dry weather should pre- 

 vail, the vines will suffer so much from the bugs and drought 

 together, as to produce but little if any fruit. Whatever con- 

 tributes to bring forward the plants rapidly, and to promote 

 the vigor and luxuriance of their foliage, renders them less 

 liable to suffer by the exhausting punctures of the young 

 bugs. Water drained from a cow-yard, and similar prepara- 

 tions, have, w^ith this intent, been applied with benefit. 



The wheat-fields and corn-fields of the South and West 

 often suffer severely from the depredations of certain minute 

 bugs, long known there by the name of chinch-bugs, which 

 fortunately have not yet been observed in New England.* 

 It is not improbable, however, that they may spread in this 

 direction, and attack our growing grain and other crops. In 

 anticipation of such a sad event, and to gratify a curiosity 

 that has been expressed concerning these offensive insects, I 

 venture to offer a few remarks upon them. Attention seems 

 early to have been directed to them. They are mentioned in 

 the eleventh volume of Young's "Annals of Agriculture,'' 

 published, I believe, about 1788. From this work Messrs. 

 Kirby and Spence probably obtained the following account, 



* While this sheet is passing through the press, I have to record the discovery 

 of one of these bugs in my own garden, on the 17th of June, 1852. 



