THE CHINCH-BUG. 
197 
precisely similar to tliat 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 tliis 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 exterminate 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 bugs and drought 
together, as to produce but little if any fruit. Whatever con- 
tributes to bring forward the plants rapidly, and to promote 
the vigor and luxuriance of their foliage, renders them less 
liable to suffer by the exhausting punctures of the young 
bugs. Water drained from a cow-yard, and similar prepara- 
tions, have, with this intent, been applied with benefit. 
The wheat-fields and corn-fields of the South and West 
often suffer severely from the depredations of certain minute 
bugs, long known there by the name of cliinch-bugs, which 
fortunately have not yet been observed in New England.* 
It is not improbable, however, that they may spread in this 
direction, and attack our growing grain and other crops. In 
anticipation of such a sad event, and to gratify a curiosity 
that has been expressed concerning these offensive insects, I 
venture to offer a few remarks upon them. Attention seems 
early to have been directed to them. They are mentioned in 
the eleventh volume of Young’s “ Annals of Agriculture,” 
published, I believe, about 1788. From this work Messrs. 
Kirby and Spence probably obtained the following account, 
* While this sheet is passing through the press, T have to record the discovery 
of one of these bugs in my own garden, on the 17th of June, 1852. 
