48 
But the fact that the insect appears in injurious numbers only at 
irregular periods requires this to be clone annually unless farm¬ 
ers can find some means of foretelling their probable appear¬ 
ance Here then we see the importance of ascertaining, if possible, 
the climatic conditions under which they are most rapidly developed, 
and their method of passing the winter. As is the case with the 
Chinch-bug and numerous other species, two favorable seasons are 
necessary to develop this insect in injurious numbers. This is one 
important fact we have to start with; another, shown by experience 
and now admitted by all, is that the year preceding their appear¬ 
ance is always a dry year. It will therefore be necessary for farmers 
to burn over their fields only in winters or springs following dry 
years; and fortunately the same rule applies to the Chincli-bug and 
other species as well as the Army-worm. A more thorough study of 
the relation of the species to climatic conditions may possibly enable 
entomologists to still farther limit these conditions. For example, 
they may yet find that its undue development depends largely upon 
the character of one or two of the autumn months. Be this as it 
may, the fact that it appears only after a dry year, if generally 
known by farmers will serve to limit their precautionary measures, 
according to the rain record I give elsewhere in this report, to two 
years at most out of seven. 
Before closing this article I may add, that in my opinion, when 
the worms appear in a meadow in great numbers, sufficient to 
destroy it, the best thing that can be done is to plow them under 
as soon as discovered and while young, and plant the field in some 
other crop. This will be the most effectual remedy that can be 
adopted, and will in the end be the cheapest. 
