Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-31
HOW SHALL WE FIGHT CHINCH
Rigs?

We have known Hessian flies on
wheat fifty years, the wheat nudge,
grain weevil, and many other injurious
insects, but have never seen the equal
of the chinch bug for numbers and de-
structiveness. Our oats and millet
they took almost entire, but were ap-
parently nearly destroyed when they
left oats and millet to feed on growing
corn, by a heavy dash Of rain. There
are, however, too many left for seed
another year, and there is reason to
fear greater losses in 1875 than we have
experienced IN Tennessee in 1874. Can
nothing be done to abate this insect
plague?
The st. Louis Republican of July
p has an article, four or five
columns in length, from Mr..
Riley, State Entomologist, on the
chinch-bug, in which we find
many valuable suggestions, based on
years Of experience and close observa-
ton. He says the bugs pass the winter
in torpid state mostly under old rails
on the ground which lie about grain
fields, or bits of plank where plank
fences are used on the prairies, under
leaves and other trash in adjacent
woods, and below old cOrn-stalks and
weeds in corn-felds. Everything Of
this hind should be gathered into heaps
and burnt in the autumn or winter to
destroy the bugs. Mr.. Riley says:
In short, just in proportion as we
adopt an intelligent and clearly sys-
TEN of culture, Just in that proportion
will the chincb-bug become harmless;
1t is, IN a great part, and in its more
injurious aspects, a result Of slovenly
husbandry, and viii lose its threatening
character IN the more western States,
as 1t has IN those to the east Of us. Just
as fast as more careful and intelligent
husbandTy becomes the fashion. Com
bIned effort is, also, most important IN
this connection, and it Is by producing
unity Of action IN such cases, that the
oranges can demonstrate, in no small
degree. the good that is to flow from
organization. While the farmers We're
uacombined they were as weak as
rope Of sand IN matters requiring this
combined effort, but with the powerful
organization now existing among them,
they Will be better able 10 cope with
foes Of whatever nature.
We entirely concur in the above re- |
marks. All that is valuable in gov
eminent, civilization and Christianity |
comes from union Of effort to resist |
what Is bad, build up and strengthen
what is good. One slovenly farmer
may easily husband the seed Of broom
sedge, weeds and the eggs and parents
Of insects IN sufficient quantity TO
stock a whole county in a few years.
When in their fully developed state,
chinch bugs by the million, hatcha on
one mans farm, can fly to another
mans fields and devour his crops. |
Wheat flies, Hessian flies and curcu-
hos, grasshoppers and a thou
sand other pests, VIII do the |
same. These facts show a |
community of interest as enduring as
either animal or vegetable life.
Insects are compelling a perfect rev.
olution In Western farming, and all |
Southern cultivators of the soil will |
have to reform their practice in the |
same way.
Chinch bugs lay their eggs in the |
spring on the roots of wheat, oats, rye, |
barley and tame grasses. These hatch |
in about two weeks, and the Larvae
suck the juices Of the grain or grass,
and reach maturity IN some Two months
or more. At the North only two gen.
erations are produced in a year; in the
South Mr. Riley thinks that three may /
mature, but Las no positive informa
ton on the subject, Females lay some
200 eggs each in the course Of two !