103 



8. Do these things, not singly and imperfectly, but thoroughly 

 and by neighborhoods; by mutual consultation and organized co- 

 operation; and there is excellent reason to believe that the chinch- 

 bug outbreak now impending may be suppressed, or at least kept 

 down, until a favorable change in the weather for a season or two 

 shall make artificial measures unnecessary. 



It is important to repeat, as related to the possibility of local 

 profedion, that our observations of recent years show that the 

 chinch bug does not ordinarily tj*avel far, but that the damage in 

 any region is done almost wholly by the bugs bred on that ground. 



FIELD EXPERIMENTS PROPOSED. 



I am painfully aware that many of the recommendations made 

 ^ in this paper rest upon no basis of accurate experiment, leading 

 to precise, demonstrated results. I ardently hope that, if the chinch 

 bug prevails another year, we may be in position to make such 

 experiments in the field in different parts of the State; but to that 

 end I have to ask the co-operation of the farmers interested. I 

 consequently especially request correspondence with those who are 

 disposed to afford us an opportuniiy for trial, upon their grounds, 

 of the most important and promising measures against the chinch 

 bug. Such experiments will be conducted personally by myself 

 or my assistants; but for the privilege of making them we must 

 look to others. 



It will be necessary, in most c^ses, that small selected plots of 

 uniform character be placed at our disposal; that some of these 

 be treated experimentally and others beside them left without such 

 treatment, as a check upon the results; that the product of all be 

 kept perfectly distinct, both at harvest and threshing; and that it 

 be accurately measured and weighed. The subjects of special in- 

 terest from this point of view are the following: (1) general and 

 special fertilization; (2) the use of surplus seed; (3) the sowing 

 of mixed seed — clover, flax, timothy, etc., with the small grains; 

 (4) the sowing of strips as lures to oviposition; (5) the planting 

 of strips as barriers; (6) the. use of coal tar as a barrier against 

 migration; (7)the effect of burning over the winter quarters of 

 the bugs; (8) the use of straw, corn stalks, etc., as lures to hi- 

 bernation; (9) the effect of plowing under the outer rows of in- 

 fested corn; (10) the application of insecticides or repellents — 

 especially gas lime. 



With positive and precise knowledge of the value of these 

 measures under varying circumstances, an important advance will 

 certainly have been made in our practical acquaintance with this 

 arch-enemy of western agriculture. 



