37 
[LeBaron, Wm.]— The Chincli Bus?. 
1871.) 
(Prairie Farmer, Aug. 12, 
. ^_ ever before spread over so large an area. No heavy cold rain 
m -June, which, so far as known, is the only destructive agency 
that operates against the chinch bug to any great extent. Knows 
of no predaceous or parasitic enemies. A correspondent calls at¬ 
tention to absence of chinch bugs from corn about which ants 
• laV io 7 o^ Wn i^ ie ”' hillocks of sand. Prospect for small grain 
m 1872 is discouraging. If the damage were confined to small 
areas, LeBaron would advise abandonment of spring wheat and 
bailey, but says the matter assumes a more serious aspect, when 
we consider that, more than half of Illinois and considerable por¬ 
tions of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska are affected. The 
alternative of giving up wheat altogether and planting only corn 
a ^if wer for a small area, but not for a large one, because 
or the effect on supply and demand. Every one must use his own 
judgment; but we can see no other rational course than to abandon 
spring wheat and barley wherever chinch bugs have prevailed the 
present season, and run the chances upon winter wheat, rye, and 
other staple crops. When myriads of bugs have settled on a 
wheat, held nothing can be done. Plowed furrows and boards set 
edgewise and smeared with coal-tar have been used to obstruct 
passage from one field to another. 
[LeBaron, Wm.] —The Chinch Bug and Other Insects. (Prairie 
Farmer, Aug. 26, 1871.) 
First quotes a letter from a correspondent who deprecates the 
recent practice of plowing under corn stalks as one which saves 
the lives of the chinch bugs, urging, instead, the burning of the 
stalks. LeBaron says the suggestion is in the right direction, 
but mentions some practical difficulties in carrying it out and 
also notes its insufficiency as a remedy. 
[LeBaron, Wm.] —The Chincli Bug Once More. (Prairie Farmer, 
Sept, 2, 1871.) 
W rites m reply to the following questions submitted by a Ne¬ 
braska farmer: “(1) Have we greater reason to fear the recur¬ 
rence of the chinch bug next season on account of their great 
prevalence at the present time? (2) Will these pests be likely to 
remain with us late enough to do fall wheat damage? (3) All 
tngs considered, which would involve the least risk, to put in 
largely spring wheat or winter wheat?” . 
After a consideration of some general principles as to insect 
multiplication and natural checks thereupon, he says in reply to 
N °- * e ®> unless there are some agencies at work of which we 
are totally ignorant.” Speaks of June rains as an important check 
upon prevalence of chinch bug, and believes that it “has never 
been known to prevail in any year when the month of June of the pre¬ 
ceding year has been attended by heavy rains.” Nd. 2 he answers 
m the negative, and No. 3 in favor of winter wheat, as it is not 
especially liable to injury either in fall or sprint 
