46 
In 1858 they were quite troublesome in several sections of the State 
as shown by numerous letters in the Journal and Farmer (P. F.) for 
that year. Some of these communications give eviden-e of closer ob¬ 
servation of the habits than previously, and show a general advance 
in the knowledge thereof. The following from a communication by 
Chauncey Ray, dated Rockford, Sept. 27, 1858, and published Oct. 7,j 
suggests some valuable remedies : “We have had them (Chinch-bugs) 
for eight or nine years past. Some seasons doing a great deal of dam¬ 
age and others but little. They will winter in stubble, old porn stalks, 
under any thing that is convenient, and come out when it is warm 
enough for vegetation to start, but do not lay eggs, before the middle 
of June. From my experience with them, I find it best to clear the 
land of old corn stalks and all kinds of rubbish, plow under deep the 
stubble of the small grain. Where small grain is sown, roll it as soon 
as sown and again when it is four or five inches high. This prevents 
their getting under the stool to lay the eggs, as that is where they dc 
lay them. To prevent them from going from the small gram int( 
the corn I leave a vacant strip twenty-five or thirty feet wide between 
them, prepare that for a crop about the middle of June and sow ii 
with corn or oats. That makes a hiding place and fresh feed foi 
them, where they will remain until the corn planted is out of the waj 
of them.” 
In the issue of December 2, 1858, of the same journal is a.commu 
nication from O. B. Nichols, Clinton county, Ill., which contains some 
valuable suggestions: # , 
“ My plan to keep clear of them is this : In the tall I plow unde 
all the weeds and grass that I can get to with the plow. I have mj 
fields so arranged that I can turn in my sheep and cattle to eat thi 
weeds and grass out of the fence corners before I sow my wheat, am 
in the balance of my fields I turn on during winter, and if I hav 1 
anv fence corners that I cannot feed out, I take a torch and the boy 
follow with buckets of water and tin cups, and I burn up the gras 
and weeds. I feed all my corn fodder and straw to my cattle am 
other stock whether they need it or not. I leave nothing on th: 
place after the first of May for them (the bugs) to harbor in. I hav 
never known them to winter in timothy or any tame hay, but if yoi 
want to raise an extra crop of bugs, leave a few bottoms of prairr 
haystacks and piles of corn fodder and straw until June, and my wor 
for it, you will have them.” 
The following year (1859) in the Prairie Farmer of January 27, m 
first article on these insects appeared, in which I suggested that ‘1 
is probable that burning the stubble and straw, and pulling the cor) 
and burning the stalks when dry, would assist in preventing then 
ravages, especially in the prairies. It may be that the habit of cu ! 
ting and shocking corn has assisted in causing their increase by thu 
afifording better winter sheltering places.” 
The following from the Editor's Memoranda , July 29 of this yea 
shows that they were still troublesome in parts of the State : Froij 
what we learn from correspondents and read in our exchanges, w 
judge the ravages of these bugs are extended, and though their a] 
pearance in most cases was too late to affect the wheat crop serious! 
they are mowing down the corn alarmingly.” 
