102 



New York, in 1882 and 1883. Burning grass and rubbish destroys 

 a few bugs and deprives the remainder of shelter. Much of the 

 grass will not be burned, but sheep,, if the farmer has them, will eat 

 it so close as to leave no shelter for bugs. In warmer portion 

 of the country do doubt many eggs are deposited in the fall. 

 The bugs seek the higher parts of a field, because dampness is fatal 

 to young and eggs. Strips of crop to trap them should be sown 

 in such places. Careful experiment for controlling chinch 

 bug always in order, but hasty, wholesale abolition of the culti- 

 vation of one of our most important cereals, without proof of its 

 efficiency, seems an injudicious measure. 



Prairie Farmer, Pec. , 1887. Destroying Chinch Bugs. 



The following dispatch to the Chicago papers from Hillsboro, 

 Illinois, quoted: "A number of farmers here, acting on the ad-' 

 vice of the State Entomologist, are burning off their fields and 

 wood pastures for the purpose of destroying the myriads of chinch 

 bugs that ruined the corn crop of last season. An effort is being 

 made to make the burning general." 



Prairie Farmer, Dec. 24, 1887. Burning Corn Stalks to destroy 

 Chinch Bugs. 



Thought to be impracticable, as early in fall the bugs leave 

 the corn stalks and take shelter in grass in edges of fields, under 

 rails and leaves, in woods, etc. Burning in hiding places recom- 

 mended. 



S. A. Forbes.— On the Chinch Bug (Blissus lencopteriis, Say) in 

 Illinois. Present Condition, and Prospects for 1887 and 

 1888. Remedial Procedure Eecommended. (Bull. No. 2, 

 Office State Ent. of 111., pp. 27-43. Extracts, abstracts, or 

 comments, in the following papers: Fruit Growers' Journal, 

 Oct. 1 and 15, 1887; Review Dispatch, Sept. 23, 1887; 

 • Prairie Farmer, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 1887; Chicago Daily Inter 

 Ocean, Sept. 17, 1887.) 



Chinch bugs extraordinarily destructive for three successive years 

 in Southern Illinois, infested area gradually increasing until it in- 

 cludes the greater part of thirty counties. Careful search in North- 

 ern Illinois showed it to be locally numerous in Lake, Winnebago, 

 Stephenson, and Lee counties, and occasionally injurious to corn 

 and oats adjoining wheat and barley, breeding in both winter and 

 spring wheat. Reported present in Rock Island county in great 

 numbers, and attracting attention in many parts of Central and 

 Western Illinois. AVeather conditions throughout the State this 

 year, and in Northern, Southern, and Western Illinois last year, 

 have been generally so t:avoral)le to the multiplication of the 

 chinch bug that the State is threatened with great loss. Timely 

 concerted action suited to the emergency is urged. Notes from 

 crop correspondents in answer to circular of inc^uiry are given, 

 from which it ai)})ears that the chinch bug is very destructive in 

 thiity counties; occurs in large numbers in sixteen; in moderate 



