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hobably not escape them by giving up winter wheat as a crop, 
s it is very unlikely that they are limited to any of the small 
;rains for support of first brood. Circular of information prom- 
sed in the fall. 
Farmers’ Review. Crop Reports. 
Aug. 11, 1886. Edwards and Rock Island Co’s. Corn is being 
uined by drbuth and bugs. Aug. 25, 1886. Clinton Co. “Corn 
urnt, and eaten up by bugs.” 
'TATISTICAL REPORT ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 
for ^ Aug., 1886. Circular No. 131, pp. 19-29. Correspond¬ 
ents’ Remarks. 
Clay , Clinton , Hardin , and T Villiamson Co's. Corn suffering 
r nearly ruined by drouth and chinch bugs. Jefferson and 
Johnson Co's. Drouth and chinch bugs have damaged corn. 
Ir aw ford, Effingham , Franklin , and Richland Co's. Corn some¬ 
what injured. Fayette Co. Wheat injured. St. Clair Co. De- 
pructive in some portions of county; Washington Co. Meadows 
Injured. White Co. Rain needed to check the chinch bugs. 
ORBES, 8. A. The Chinch Bug in Illinois. (Circular from Office 
State Ent. of Ill., Champaign, Ill., Sept. 10, 1886, pp. 8. 
Reprinted in Prairie Farmer, Sept. 25 and Oct. 2, and in 
Western Rural Oct. 9, 1886.) 
j The infested area this year includes most of the State south of 
le 5 andalia R.-R. line, with center of injury in and about Wash- 
;igton county, where winter wheat was extensively damaged, oats 
pd bay badly hurt, and corn nearly ruined. A brief recapitula- 
on of life history is given and food plants enumerated. Wheat, 
irley, rye, sorghum,, broom-corn, Indian corn, millet, and Hun- 
irian grass are said to be its favorite foods among the crop 
.ants, oats being second to these, while among the wild grasses 
■xtail grass and “tickle grass” are preferred. Among natural 
necks upon its increase,, unfavorable weather is the most impor- 
Lnt. This may operate in either of four ways: An open, variable 
'inter may destroy hibernating adults by freezing and thawing; a 
jet, cool season may promote one of their contagious diseases; 
ie occurrence of heavy rains (especially if cool) at time of hatch- 
. g.may kill vast numbers of the young; or severe drouth, es- 
jcially in midsummer, may so completely destroy their food 
ants, to which end they have themselves contributed,—that they 
jul cease to breed if they do not starve. “Rains take no serious 
rect effect on the full-grown bugs.” Contagious or epidemic 
sease is the next most effective check upon their increase, two 
rms of: which sweep them away in vast numbers,— one in spring, 
|)sei \ ed quite carefully by Dr. Shinier in 1865, excessive moist- 
|e being favorable to it, and one in fall, discovered by writer 
1882, not stimulated apparently by wet weather. Bird and in- 
tct enemies need not be considered in a practical discussion, 
|en influence upon the numbers of the chinch bug is so slight. 
