43 



comers here, and we do not know what to do," he replies that if 

 he is correct in his impression, winter wheat, as a rule, escapes 

 the ravages of the chinch bug; and that since as far south as Cobden 

 winter wheat is the variety almost exclusively raised, his corre- 

 spondent need have no serious apprehensions in regard to this 

 pest. He also expresses the opinion that, although not yet arrived 

 at the point of adopting so desperate an expedient, the farmer 

 may virtually exterminate the chinch bug by ceasing to raise 

 wheat. 



Pkaieie Farmer, Oct. 11, 1873, v. 44, p. 321. The Wheat Crop. 

 [From the September Report of the Department of Agri- 

 culture.] 



"In Indiana this crop [wheat] has suffered from winter-killing, 

 the fly, chinch bugs, and heavy rains in the shock." In Illinois, 

 "Spring wheat has been injured to some extent by chinch bugs, 

 rust, and storms." In Missouri and Kansas chinch bugs are said 

 to have reduced the yield of wheat in some counties. 



[LeBaron, TV m.]— Chinch Bugs. (Prairie Farmer, Oct. 18, 1873, v. 

 44, p. 331.) 



Answer to letter from "Egypt," who writes from Odin Sept. 22, 

 1873. Letter given in full. 



"Egypt" states that he has suffered from the ravages of chinch 

 bugs for twenty-eight years, during which time they have steadily 

 increased in numbers. AVhile at first they only injured oats and 

 spring wheat, they now swarm in corn fields; and this summer 

 have attacked meadows and pastures. Formerly they crawled from 

 field to field; now they fly in swarms. Hungarian and buckwheat 

 are no longer any protection, for they fly long distances. Years 

 ago it was thought that the abandonment of spring wheat would 

 exterminate them; now, to starve them out, we would have to 

 make the land a desert. 



LeBaron replies in a general rather than a specific manner, and 

 i-ks for more definite information concerning the charges brought 

 against the chinch bug as a southern insect, saying that from a 

 northern point of view it has been regarded as a destroyer of 

 the spring grains, especially wheat and barley. He dwells at some 

 length upon the natural history of the insect, telling "Egypt" that 

 the "crawling stage" is by far the most destructive period of the 

 insect's life; that they hibernate mostly, if not exclusively, in the 

 winged state, flying only when about to deposit their eggs, the parent 

 tnig perishing soon after. Probably never originate in corn, and 



o not thrive and propagate on oats alone. In the Northern 

 States, lay their eggs on the roots of wheat and barley. He says. 



We should expect that in this more genial clime [Southern Illi- 

 nois] the chinch bug might become a more permanent resident, 

 but on some accounts less destructive, than at the North, * * * 

 where it has been both the most destructive, and the most change- 

 able and evanescent of insects." 



