51 
The following letter is inserted in full, as it is a summary of the 
-opinions of the members of an Agricultural Association, given after 
due consultation : 
‘Belleville, Illinois, August 16th, 1875. 
“After full discussion, and interchange of views by the members of 
the Farmers and Fruit Growers Association, the following answers 
■were agreed upon in regard to the Chinch-bug. 
1st Quest. Yes; to all crops including wheat, corn, oats and hay ; 
corn being damaged at least sixty per cent. 
2d Quest. It has been in the country for forty years, visiting dif¬ 
ferent sections, principally the southern, but the greatest loss has been 
sustained within the past three years, since which time its depreda¬ 
tions have been general. 
3d Quest. It is believed that there are two broods ; the first ap¬ 
pearing in June, the other in the early part of August; but investi¬ 
gations have not been so careful, as to make our statement positive. 
4th Quest. No general efforts have been made to exterminate the 
pest or prevent its ravages, unless burning the stubble fields, and in 
some few instances the sowing of strips of oats by the sides of the 
corn may be regarded such, and some good has no doubt resulted from 
both. 
5th Quest. In estimating the damage done during the year 1874, 
that was increased by the unusually dry and hot weather, it would be 
safe to say that wheat was damaged 20-100, corn 60-100, oats 50-100 
and hay 20-100, making a total of $1,725,000. 
6th Quest. In .regard to their migrations, it may be said that they 
are seen in the first warm days of spring, generally on the wing, as if 
seeking suitable food, after coming from their places of concealment 
and protection during the winter; another migration occurs soon after 
the wheat is cut off; when they enter the oat and especially the corn 
fields, preying upon them until in the fall, when they are again seen 
in the air"in their flight to the woods looking for suitable winter quar¬ 
ters, or coverts under the brush and trash in the fields or fence cor¬ 
ners. 
As a basis for the estimated loss I would say that the following 
figures are correct: 
148,141 
66,142 
23,456 
13,000 
No. of acres in wheat for 1874 
meadows 
Edward Wm. West, 
Recording Secretary for St. Glair County. 
“ Paris, III., June 11, 1875. 
“They appeared last season and the season before. There were 
three distinct broods; one quite earl} 7 , perhaps the first of May ; they 
were flying when first seen. The second, a brood of young, perhaps 
