96 



the State, it is the part of wisdom to take no chances needlessly, 

 but to use every measure of precaution which an intelligent study 

 of the situation can suggest. 



In the following summary discussion of remedies I have not 

 usually attempted to discriminate between those which have been 

 tested by general usage or by accurate experiment and those 

 which rest upon theoretical grounds chiefly. I greatly hope that 

 another year may put us in position to try in the field the more 

 important measures of this latter class in a way to bring out 

 clearly their actual value. 



The remedial and preventive measures applicable to the chinch 

 bug may be conveniently divided into agricultural methods, bar- 

 riers against migration, and direct destruction. 



A. AGRICULTURAL METHODS. 



1. Clean farming. The chinch bug seeks in autumn the pro- 

 tection of dead leaves, grass, fallen fence boards, rails, etc., and 

 does not usually fly far in spring if it can find food near by. 

 The farmer, therefore, who harbors the greatest number on his 

 premises will, in the long run and as a general rule, suffer first 

 and worst the following year. Further, some of the commonest 

 grass-like weeds are among the favorite food plants of this insect, 

 and the bugs will be most numerous on farms where these are 

 allowed to grow. 



2. Judiciously diversified farming. That repeated and general 

 cropping to the cereals alone, especially to only two or three 

 kinds of them, favors the multiplication of the chinch bug, is a 

 fact now so well known as to need no discussion. 



3. Temporary ahandonment, in corn districts, of small grain, 

 especially tvheat and barley. This measure of defense, in use 

 for more than a century, is the one most generally relied upon. 

 Its at least partial efficacy is now clearly demonstrated through- 

 out a large part of this State, where the chinch bug is making its 

 advent almost wholly by way of fields of wheat and barley. 



It is to be noted, however, that where the number of this in- 

 sect has risen to great excess, it cannot be reduced again by sim- 

 ply refraining from the culture of wheat and barley. It has been 

 repeatedly shown in Southern Illinois, during the last two years, 

 that under such circumstances the bugs will breed as freely and 

 successfully in oats as in other grains; while recent occurrences 

 in New York prove that the meadow grasses afford them almost 

 •equal opportunity. This is consequently a preventive rather than 

 a remedial measure. ^ 



A serious error is prevalent in some parts of the State with 

 resi)ect to the relation of the chinch bug to winter wheat, many 

 believing that this insect cannot flourish on winter grains. The 

 fact is, however, that the tremendous attacks under which South- 



