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soon reduce the numbers of many insects, and among them 
those of the chinch-bugs. Of course this would mean, perhaps, 
more work, but it would also mean less trouble and better 
returns for the labor expended. 
When we consider the method in which the bugs of the first 
brood migrate from the dry plants first infested to the future 
green food in the corn fields, we are struck with the fact that 
nearly all bugs, whether large or small, migrate on foot, and 
that even the great majority of the winged ones do not form 
an exception by using their wings, Of course, under certain - 
conditions a small percentage take to their wings; but this is 
the exception and not the rule. Armies of insects migrating on 
foot, and moving slowly and in the same direction, should offer 
us many opportunities to oppose or to stop them entirely. 
This very fact of migrating on foot is the weak point in the 
life-history of the chinch-bug, where we can, with a little fore- 
sight, overcome them. Many different methods may be adopt- 
ed, depending mainly upon the character of the ground over 
which the insects have to pass. In our own state the agricul- 
tural soils are usually quite free of rocks and stones, excepting 
certain localities where they abound, but where, in consequence, 
but little grain is grown. By making, between grain and corn 
field, a ditch several feet in depth, immense numbers of bugs 
can be captured and killed; in fact nearly all that travel on 
foot. But in dry summers such ditches will have sides com- 
posed of baked and hard soil, and would offer but a slight 
hindrance to the moving army beyond extending their trip 
over a little greater distance. It is therefore necessary that 
the sides of such a ditch should be smooth and that its bottom 
should be very dusty. The latter is very easily managed by 
tying together a bundle of twigs, with the leaves still adhering, 
and by dragging this bundle repeatedly through the ditch until 
the desired conditions have been made. The spade should be 
used to rectify any defects in the smooth sides. If such a ditch 
can not be made, one or more very deep furrows should be 
plowed, and by using bundles of twigs their bottoms should be 
kept very dusty. Very fine dust will perform the work most 
thoroughly. As already mentioned, it is almost impossible for 
a bug to cross such a dusty strip. Many modifications of this 
method are possible and will suggest themselves to the think- 
