Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-07-12
How to Beat the Chinch- Bugs.

Cor Prairie Farmer.
The summer of 1874 was very dry,
and chinch bugs did an enormous
amount of damage to wheat and corn.
But farmers in Southern Illinois noticed |
that, at the time Of harvesting, some
wheat fields were entirely free from
bugs, while in others Gotten adjoining
Ones) there were millions Of them.
The. cause of this difference no one
could tell, the soil and culture being
practically the same. Some advanced
the theory that pasturing with sheep
in early spring had produced the good
results but this was easily proven er-
roneous.
After this came series of wet sea.
sons in which the bugs did no damage.
But in 1882 they and the drouth de-
stroyed Gin "Egypt'') nearly the whole
of the corn crop, and damaged the
greater part of the wheat. Asin 1874,
in some fields of wheat there were no
bugs at the time of cutting, while just
over the fence the wheat was killed by
them few days before ripening. On
examining several fields of each kind,
this difference was found to always ex-
list. Those in which there were no
bugs had all been so@n to timothy in
the previous autumn while the dam.
aged fields were not. Not only was
this the case in 1882, but going back
to 1874 it was found to be true OF that
year as well.
So much for the facts; now for the
cause: As already stated, in wet sea"
sons we are not troubled with chinch>
bugs. The old bugs may be plentiful
in spring, but if May and June are
rainy, the June swarm, which is the
destructive one, is sure to be too scanty
to do injury. The eggs Of chinch-bugs
are deposited on or near the ground,
and, in wet seasons are probably de.
stroyed by too much dampness. Now,
timothy sewn in autumn makes a
thick growth which keeps damp near
ly all day and prevents the increase OF
bugs just as wet season does.
In proof that this theory is correct l
would instance the fact, well known
among farmers, that young bugs are
much more abundant in thin, spotted
wheat than where it is thick and even
ly distributed. As I heard a farmer
| remark, 1.-THE bugs like bare spots to
sun themselves in." May it not be
: more nearly correct to say they like
bare spots for breeding grounds. An
other proof that my theory is right is,
that these bugs have never been de-
structive in the eastern part Of the
United States, where there is much
moister climate than in the Mississippi
Valley.
But some may say they have seer
r bugs kill young timothy after the
3 wheat was removed. l have seen the
4 same, but it was bugs from other fields
: that did the mischief. 1t it not timo'
q thy but dampness that prevents the
< increase Of the bugs. Other quick
growing grasses will do as well, but the
q cheapness of its seed renders it more
: available. The pasture in the stubbl'
t will probably pay for the seed ever
q when wheat follows wheat.
Whether the theory have given Il
e correct or not, the fact remains tina
r chinch.bugs will not breed in thicl
o grass and should they appear thi
summer will the readers of the Prairie
u Farmer please see if they can fine
wingless bugs in fields sown to timoth!
9 last autumn. Please remember thes
g things at seeding time, too.
r H,~,, wv,