THE CHINCH-BUG. 
197 
precisely similar to that of an over-ripe pear, but far too pow¬ 
erful to be agreeable. 
In order to prevent the ravages of these insects, they 
should be sought and killed when they are about to lay their 
eggs ; and if any escape our observation at this time, their 
eggs may be easily found and crushed. With this view the 
squash-vines must be visited daily, during the early part of 
their growth, and must be carefully examined for the bugs 
and their eggs. A very short time spent in this way every 
day, in the proper season, will save a great deal of vexation 
and disappointment afterwards. If this precaution be neglect¬ 
ed or deferred till the vines have begun to spread, it will be 
exceedingly difficult to extenninate the insects, on account of 
their numbers ; and if at this time dry weather should pre¬ 
vail, the vines will suffer so much from the buo:s and drought 
together, as to produce but little if any fruit. Whatever con¬ 
tributes to bring forward the plants rapidly, and to promote 
the visor and luxuriance of their foliase, renders them less 
hable to suffer by the exhausting punctures of the young 
bugs. Water drained from a cow-yard, and similar prepara¬ 
tions, have, Avith this intent, been applied Avith benefit. 
The AA’heat-fields and corn-fields of the South and West 
often suffer severely from the depredations of certain minute 
bugs, long knoAvn there by the name of chinch-bugs, AAdiich 
fortunately haA^e not yet been obseiwed in Xcav England.* 
It is not improbable, hoAveA^er, that they may spread in this 
direction, and attack our groAAung grain and other crops. In 
anticipation of such a sad event, and to gratify a curiosity 
that has been expressed concerning these offensiA^e insects, I 
venture to offer a few remarks upon them. Attention seems 
early to haA^e been directed to them. They are mentioned in 
the eleA^enth Amlume of Young’s “ Annals of Agriculture,” 
published, I belieA^e, about 1788. From this Avork Messrs. 
Kirby and Spence probably obtained the folloAving account, 
♦ While this sheet is passing through the press, I have to record the discovery 
of one of these bugs in my own garden, on the 17th of June, 1852. 
