18 



are thick upon both sod corn and old corn. A neighbor lost sev- 

 eral thousand strawberry plants on account of this pest [ V |. Many 

 farmers are deterred from sowing wheat lest they lose th(ur seed. 

 Offers to contribute one hundred dollars to a reward for a success- 

 ful exterminator of the pest. Deep plowing, burning weeds and 

 stubble, and ditches of water, useful remedial measures, })ut not 

 universally applicable. 



Emery's Journal of Agriculture, Sept. 30, 1858, v. 2, p. 21f). 

 Patent Office Seeds. 



Editors state that an "original package" of "Red Tuscany Wheat" 

 imported and distributed by the Agricultural Depai-tment of the 

 U. S. Patent Office, on being opened in their office, was found 

 alive with chinch bugs [Fitch's plate cited in confirmation], the 

 wheat being bored through by these active pests [evidently weevils]. 



Emery's Journal of Agriculture and Prairie Farmer, Oct. 7, 

 1858 [v. 2, Emery's Jour.; v. 18, Prairie Farmer], p. 228. 

 The Chinch Bug. 



A correspondent, writing from Rockford, says that the chinch 

 bugs have been in that vicinity for eight oi* nine years, doing 

 more or less damage. Mentions some points concerning habits 

 and life history of the pest, saying that eggs are not laid there 

 before the middle of June [?J. Recommends clearing land of corn 

 stalks and rubbish; plowing under, deep, small grain stubble; 

 and rolling small grain as soon as sown and when four or five inches 

 high. Keeps them out of corn by leaving a vacant strip of twenty-five 

 or thirty feet between it and small grain, which he sows to corn or 

 oats about the middle of June. This affords a hiding place and 

 fresh food until adjaceut corn is out of the way. 



Hinkley, H.— Items from Dr. Hinkley. (Prairie Farmer, Nov. 4, 

 1858, V. 18, p. 291.) 



Heavy rain and frost have made the chinch bug scarce. 



Nichols, O. B.— Chinch Bug. A Plan to get rid of them. (Em- 

 ery's Journal of Agriculture and Prairie Farmer, Dec. 2, 

 1858, p. 354.) 



Has sowed twenty-two crops of wheat and oats in Clinton 

 county, and has never lost one by the chinch bug or been 

 damaged to the amount of twenty dollars. In the fall plows 

 under all weeds and grass that can be reached wuth the plow, 

 and turns in sheep and cattle to eat out the fence corners' growth, 

 burning over wdth a torch fence corners where stock cannot be 

 allowed. Feeds all corn fodder and straw to stock, leaving nothing 

 on the place for bugs to harbor in. Has never known them to 

 winter in timothy or any tame hay. 



