33 
igainst them, Dr. Thomas suggests the propriety of sowing winter 
tfheat and of lessening the area- planted in corn, basing this rec- 
mimendation on the supposition that corn and spring wheat are 
die crops which assist more in their development than any others. 
Ee further advises the farmers of Nebraska, first, to devote their 
ittention, as largely as it can be profitably done, to stock-raising 
* * *; second , to rely upon winter wheat as their chief 
noney crop, if it can be successfully grown; and to substitute oats, as 
:ar as possible, for corn. * * * “But one thing,” he 
idds, “is certain—that to counteract them the corn and spring- 
vheat crops should be reduced to as small an area as possible.” 
Later in the same year (Farmers’ Beview Nov. 24, 1881, p. 322), 
le advises the planting of a smaller area of corn in the latitude 
)f Central and Southern Illinois in years when meteorological con- 
litions indicate danger from chinch bugs. 
In the Transactions of the Illinois State Horticultural Society 
:or 1881, p. 43, Dr. Thomas remarks that the most effectual 
nethod of combating the chinch bug is, beyond a doubt, to crop 
igainst it, to cease raising so much corn and to rely on oats, 
rrass, and other crops; and in the same “Transactions” for 1882 
p. 48), he is reported by the secretary as saying that the chinch 
mg must perish if the growing of winter wheat and corn are 
ibandoned. 
Prof. Herbert Osborn, of the Iowa Agricultural College, recom- 
nends, in a bulletin of that institution published in January, 1888, 
). 11, that the area planted to wheat, rye, barley, and Hungarian 
;rass be reduced as much as possible. 
In the latest general publication respecting the chinch bug, that 
)y Mr. L. O. Howard, assistant to Dr. Riley, in Bulletin 17 of 
he U. S. Department of Agriculture (1888), p. 34, “diversified 
'arming with wheat mainly left out” is approved as “the exempli- 
ication of condensed wisdom.” “The object of the omission of 
vheat,” he says, “particularly winter wheat, is, of course, to afford 
is little food as possible for the first generation. * * * The 
me great result of the chinch-bug convention held in Kansas in 
.881 was the adoption of a resolution to abstain from the cultiva- 
ion of wheat, the length of time not being mentioned. As we 
lave previously shown, large areas of oats could be successfully 
frown, but in corn-growing regions most small grains must be 
eft alone, and, above all, winter wheat and barley.” 
My own earlier utterances on this subject, I find to be as fol- 
ows:— 
Receiving July, 1886, a letter from Clinton county, Illinois, say- 
ng that crops there had been eaten up by the chinch bugs during 
he last two years and inquiring whether the abandonment of fall 
vheat will rid the farmer of them, I replied, in a letter published 
n the “Prairie Farmer,” of Chicago, for July 31, “I know nothing 
S. E.—3a 
