g 
It seems strange that sensible farmers, who have been told 
again and again, should fail to make use of such a very simple 
and cheap remedy, simply because it requires some extra work. 
And yet this work is required to be done at a time when other 
farm work is not so very pressing. If these methods were 
only generally and conscientiously followed, there would be no 
need to apply other remedies; and not only would the corn be 
saved, but in saving it the second brood of chinch-bugs would 
be very materially reduced in numbers, and in a short time the 
chinch-bug would cease to be the destructive insect it now is. 
As this method is such a good one it bears repetition: all that 
is required is a thoroughly dusty surface, best in a depression 
especially made for that purpose, and that this dusty surface 
should be attended to diligently. so that repairs can be made 
whenever necessary. A ditch or furrow left unattended will 
be made in vain. 
Although most of the direct remedies—the insecticides now 
in general use—will prove of but little value, we should except 
the kerosene-oil emulsion, which can be used very successfully 
in certain cases. If the migrating bugs have reached the outer 
rows of corn, and almost hide these plants by their presence, 
this material will prove very effective; and as it will cost less 
than 75 cts. per acre, it should be used much more generally. 
The emulsion should be well made, and it will be best to use 
the one made after the Hubbard formula, which is given in 
the article on leaf or plant-lice. 
DISEASES OF INSECTS. 
Diseases of insects can be found at most any time and place. 
The disease of the common house-fly, fig. 2, which fastens the 
dying flies to our window-panes late in summer and during the 
autumn, will serve as an example of one very widely distribu- 
ted. Allof these diseases are produced.either by bacteria, like 
many of the diseases of man, or by fungi, some of which resem- 
ble moulds found upon old bread, milk, etc. A figure of a 
bacterial disease is given in fig. 3. This is the Pebrine of the 
silk-worm. A healthy worm and a diseased one are shown, and 
on the left side some of the bacteria causing this disease. The 
disease-producing fungi reproduce by means of small fruiting 
bodies known as conidia or spores, which answer the purpose 
