43 
>mers here, and we do not know what to do,” he replies that if 
p correct in his. impression, winter wheat, as a rule, escapes 
|ie ravages of the chinch bug; and that since as far south as Cobden 
inter wheat is the variety almost exclusively raised, his corre- 
pondeut need have no serious apprehensions in regard to this 
pst. He also expresses the opinion that, although not yet arrived 
the. point of adopting so desperate an expedient, the farmer 
ay virtually exterminate the chinch bug by ceasing to raise 
beat. 
raibie Farmer, Oct, 11, 1873, v. 44, p. 321. The Wheat Crop. 
[From the September Report of the Department of Agri¬ 
culture.] 
“In Indiana this crop [wheat] has suffered from winter-killing 
e fly, chinch bugs, and heavy rains in the shock.” In Illinois’ 
Spring wheat lias been injured to some extent by chinch bugs,’ 
st, and storms.” In. Missouri and Kansas chinch bugs are said 
have reduced the yield of wheat in some counties. 
jeBaron, IV m. ] —Chinch Bugs. (Prairie Farmer, Oct. 18, 1873, v. 
44, p. 331.) 
Answer to letter from “Egypt,” who writes from Odin Sept. 22 
73. Letter given in full. 
-^£0 states that he has suffered from the ravages of chinch 
gs for twenty-eight years, during which time they have steadily 
3reased m numbers. While at .first they only injured oats and 
nng vheat, they now swarm in corn fields; and this summer 
ve attacked meadows and pastures. Formerly they crawled from 
Id to field; now they fly in swarms. Hungarian and buckwheat 
2 no longer any protection, for they fly long distances. Years 
o it was thought that the abandonment of spring wheat would 
terminate them; now, to starve them out, we would have to 
ike the land a desert. 
LeBaron replies in a. general rather than a specific manner, and 
£S foi moie definite information concerning tlie charges brought 
ainst the chinch bug as a southern insect, saying that from a 
rtliein point of view it has been regarded as a destroyer of 
J spiing grains, especially wheat and barley. He dwells at some 
igth upon the natural history of the insect, telling “Egypt” that 
i ciawling stage is by far the most destructive period of the 
>ect s life, that they hibernate mostly, if not exclusively, in the 
aged state, flying only when about to deposit their eggs, the parent 
g perishmg soon after. Probably never originate in corn, and 
not thrive and propagate on oats alone. “ In the Northern 
ites lay their eggs on the roots of wheat and barley. He says, 
/e should expect that in this more genial clime [Southern Illi- 
is] the chinch bug might become a more permanent resident, 
t on some accounts less destructive, than at the North, * * * 
ere it has been both the most destructive, and the most change- 
e and evanescent of insects.” * 1 
