The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-10-22

considerable numbers the preceding
year, unless we have reason to believe
that they have been killed off by heavy
rains.
Second-That in case the season
should be favorable to the propagation
of the chinch bug, we always have it in
our power to get rid of these pests by
the abandonment of these two kinds OF
grains for one or two years; but to make
this course effective there must be q
concert of action by farmers over a con-
siderable section Of country.
Third-That the presence of chinch
bugs the preceding year will not pre-
vent the raising of corn or any of tho
winter grains.
Fourth-With regard to oats the tes-
timony thus far is that il this grain be
sown where chinch bugs abound. and
especially If it be sown exclusively, it
will be damaged to greater or less
extent the first year, but that the bugs
probably will not continue to breed in
it to any great extent in succeeding
years.
As is well known they hide during
winter in cornstalks, straw. rubbishs
under the bark of stumps and logs, etc.
When abundant in timbered sections,
many winter in the bark of trees, under
the leaves and other places in the forest,
but so far as can learn, no one in this
portion of this State has ever noticed
general exodus from the fields to the
forest in the fall; but, on the contrary,
those who have noticed them most care.
fully. bear testimony to their aversion
to flying. While the cases given by DR..
LeBaron. DIR. Sinner and Professor
Riley indicate that cold may kill them,
on the other hand Professor Ross men
tons a case in which some were thawed
from ice in which they had been frozen
and moved about as in spring, and j
have found them in the coolest weather
of winter semi-torpid but easily revived.
We must therefore consider these cases
as presenting opposite extremes.
1t is quite probable that the method
of harvesting corn by cutting the stalks
and standing them in shocks or ricks is
one means of preserving them. Leav-
ing piles of straw and other rubbish in
the fields affords them winter quarters
from which to issue the following spring
to trouble the farmer. And if we add
to these grassy fence corners aud spots
in and around the fields, we need not
wonder when we see them abundant in
spring where they were hid during the
winter. Before the prairies were set
tied and cultivated this insect may
have existed here, but if it did its multi.
plication was prevented by the annual
burnings of the prairie grass.
In order that this remedy may be eff
fectual, it must be followed out thor
oughly and all the farmers in the in
tested district must act in concert, 9TH
erwise the labor OF one will be rendered
valueless by the neglect of another.
But this need not be done annually, as
Cur knowledge of the habits of the in
sect is sufficient, if properly used, to
give us warning of the danger to be APP
pretended. do not believe these in
sects ever appear in vast and destruc-
tive numbers without giving indications
of their coming the previous season.
This may be doubted by some. yet sew
eral years study of their habits has led
me to this conclusions; and the facts de-
rived from numerous farmers, with
whom have conversed on the subject,
point in the same direction. How often
do we hear it said, when they are de-
structive: There were some last year,
but not enough to do any damage"
The warning was given but not needed.
If moisture has a tendency to destroy
them it is evident that in the winter
following rainy season they will be
reduced to minimum in respect to
numbers, and although the following
season may be favorable to their develop
ment Chat is. dry) they cannot increase
to the same extent possible when two
favorable seasons come in succession.
The second brood may excite some
alarm, but it is apparent that four sue
cessive broods without any counterfeit
ing influences to check them will pro-
duce more than two broods. We may,
therefore, safely conclude that so far as
the copious rains of the season have
extended, there need be no fears of the
corn being attacked, and unless the
fall is quite dry, there need be no Sc
rious apprehensions in regard to next
season.
II the season has been dry and an ex-
animation (and farmers should be care
full to make close and thorough exam
inations) in the fall shows them to he
present in considerable numbers, al
though they may have done no mate.
rial injury, nor even attracted attention,
yet it may be set down as probable, in
fact almost certain, that If the next is
dry. unless killed by an unusual winter,
they may be expected in destructive
numbers. 1t is true they sometimes
appear in great numbers when no COM
plant has been made the previous sea-
son; but il careful examination had
been made, the numbers hidden from