70 
exceptional, and perhaps could be easily explained if we knew all 
the circumstances. 
From the foregoing observations w r e draw the following practical 
conclusions : r 
Jkatitis useless to attempt to raise spring wheat or barley 
where Chinch-bugs have been present in any considerable numbers- 
the preceding year, unless w r e have reason to believe that thev have 
been killed off by heavy rains. 
|n case the season should be favorable to the propagation 
ot the Chinch-bug we always have it in our powder to get rid of these 
pests by the abandonment of these two kinds of grains for one or two 
years. But to make this course effective there must be a concert of 
action by farmers over a considerable section of country. 
3d. That the presence of Chinch-bugs the preceding year w r ill not 
prevent the raising of corn or any of the winter grains. 
4th With regard to oats, the testimony thus far is that if this 
gram be sown where Chinch-bugs abound, and especially if it be sown 
exclusively, it will be damaged to a greater or less extent the first 
year, but that the bugs probably will not continue to breed in it to 
any great extent in succeeding years. 
"Other Proposed Remedies. 
•‘It may be proper before closing to advert briefly to a few 7 of the 
' more plausible of the other remedies for the Chinch-bug which have 
been suggested. It has been proposed to burn over the infested and 
ruined grain fields just before tlie time for the bugs to leave them, 
with the view 7 of destroying the bugs and thus preventing their mi¬ 
gration into the corn. This is a good suggestion, provided the grain 
is dry enough to burn before the bugs leave it; and, also, provided it 
will burn low enough to kill the bugs, which in this case would all 
drop to the ground. The plan would be most likely to succeed by the 
aid of dry straw 7 and.favorable condition of w 7 ind and drouth. * 
“Another plan which has been proposed is to sow a small proportion 
: of winter rye (one bushel to twelve) with the spring wheat, with the 
, expectation that the bugs would feed upon the green rve near the 
ground, whilst the more rapidly growing w r heat would rise above it 
and come to maturity. This suggestion is founded upon the mistaken 
notion that the Chinch-bugs feed upon the green blades of the grain 
whereas they imbibe their nutriment, first from the roots, and after¬ 
wards from the low r er joints of the stalk. 
The w 7 ell attested fact that Chinch-bugs are checked in their opera¬ 
tions by rain, induced Dr. Fitch to advise the sprinkling of wheat 
fields—or at least those parts of them where the bugs first made their 
appearance with w r ater by means of a garden engine, or some other 
contrivance. This w r ould be an interesting experiment w T here the 
field is very small and the supply of w 7 ater abundant; but we presume 
the Doctor would hardly recommend this plan as practicable on the 
forty thousand square miles of territory overrun this year by Chinch- 
bugs at the w 7 est. 
