90 
may separately protect their crops to a considerable extent, they 
may by timely, concerted action almost completely defend whole 
neighborhoods at a relatively small expense. Many measures which 
are useless after an outbreak has reached unmanageable propor¬ 
tions may be quite sufficient to arrest mischief in its beginnings. 
NOTES FROM CORRESPONDENTS. 
In addition to our personal observations in the field, I have ob¬ 
tained much valuable information from the crop correspondents of 
the State Department of Agriculture, sent in response to a circular 
of inquiry issued July 19 to all the counties except those in 
Southern Illinois well known to me to have been destructively 
visited this year and last. To these counties no inquiries were 
addressed. 
I find, in brief, collating our information from all sources, that 
the chinch bug is very destructive in thirty counties; occurs in 
large numbers in sixteen others; in moderate numbers in seven¬ 
teen; and in numbers not especially injurious in themselves but 
sufficient to threaten harm another year in twenty-five; while from 
thirteen counties it is reported as practically absent. 
The following is an abstract of replies received: 
Adams—A few chinch bugs, but not an alarming number. No damage to growing crops. 
Boone.—A very few, but not enough to do any injury. Will be unsafe to raise either wheat or 
barley^w w hen wheat and barley were harvested, but not enough to do any damage. 
Carroll— Nearly destroyed some fields of spring wheat. First brood on the wing a week ago 
(July 18). Great amount of Hungarian sown here. 
No bugs except in the northern part of the county. 
Occasional fields have been ruined by them. 
Champaign —Reported injurious to corn in some fields near Philo. 
Christian— A few chinch bugs now scattered in corn fields. Not enough to do serious damage, 
but enough for seed next year. 
Not very numerous here. Not hurting anything as yet. 
Coles— Chinch bugs have made their appearance in considerable numbers in this locally this 
season. The first seen here for six years. Have done no material damage and will disappear i 
plenty of rain. . . . , , , 
Oats are being injured by the chinch bug since wheat harvest. 
A few oats, by the side of rye. 
Some corn totally destroyed 
No 
Cook —Some corn damaged by them adjoining rye and barley. 
•killed by them. 
At work on barley, rye, nnd oats, and are commencing on corn, 
in patches of one or two acres, and all more or less damaged. 
Cumberland—H ave been here throughout the year. . 
All over the county to some extent. Some fields of corn already ruined. 
DeKalb —Farmers in northern end of county report noticing them vhen cutting bailey, 
•damage done to growing corn. 
DOUGLAS-Some .-lunch bugs in corn, but not enough to hurt the growing crop this year. 
Edgar—V ery few of them in this locality. 
Ford -Noticed in a few localities, but not many in a place. 
Fulton— Very few of them. Came recently. No damage done by them here. 
Have found a very little sign of them in one or two oat fields only. 
Havp found a few" Not enough to make any show. . 
In small numbers in the wheat and oats, and also now among the corn, but not in sufficie t 
numbers to damage the crop. 
Gallatin— Noticed since about the first of June. Thickest where land was poor. One farm 
w as overrun by them. 
Greene— But few in this part of the county. Not enough to do any damage. 
Hancock—S ome bugs here. The weather is very favorable for their increase. 
