The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1890-12-25
TO ENrERNISATE cHISCHsuos

| LAWRENCE, Dec. lS.-lne Ole-
cOvery of Prof. n. Snow, chancellor
Of the state university, and other
scientists, Of q contagious disease
which prevails among chiuchbugs
will probably result in great good to
farmers everywhere. Prof. Snow
has found that by spreading the
disease among the bugs artificiaIly
they can he destroyed by Who'll esale.
The attention OF Prof. Snow was
called to the disease in June, 1859,
by DIR. J. T. Curtiss Of Dwight,
] Morris county, Kas.
DIR. Curtiss said the disease was
raging In various fields In that
region. stating that in many places
in fields Of oats aud wheat the
ground was fairly white with dead
bugs.
Some of these dead bugs we're at
once obtained aud experiments were
begun in the laboratory Of the
university. II was found that liv-
ing healthful bugs, when placed 10
the same jar with the dead bugs
from Morris county, were sIckened
aud killed within ten days.
The discovery became known and
Prof. Snow received applications
from agricultural experiment sta
tions aud FARMERS in nine different
q. f. .tlsaA.aa1 a
ceased" bugs with which TO inocu-
late the destroying pests with
fatal disease. Some fifty packages
were sent out during the season Of
1889, aud the results were In the
main highly favorable. II was Prof.
SHOWS belief that sick bugs would
prove more serviceable In the dis
semiuatinn Of disease than dead
bugs. He accordingly sent out a
circular letter with each package
instructing the receiver TO place the
dead bugs in jsr for forty-eight
hours with from ten to twenty
times AZ many live bugs from the
field. In this way the disease would |
he communicated to the live bugs in
the jar. These sick bugs being de-
posted in different portions OF the |
field ~ experiment, would commun-
icate the disease more thoroughly |
while moving about among the |
healthy bugs by which they were
surrounded. This belief was cor
rOboratsd by the result. The disease
was successfully introduced from
his laboratory into the states Of
Missouri. Nebraska, Indiana, Ohio
and Minnesota, and into various
counties Of the state Of Kansas.
The next point to be attained was
the preservation Of the disease
through the winter In order that 10
might be under his control ard be
available for use in the season Of
1890. To accomplish this result,
fresh healthy bugs were placed In
the infection jar late In November,
ISss. These bugs cotracted the dis
ease and died In the same way as IN
the earlier part Of the season. Prof.
snow uas not able to obtain fresh
for the purpose Of testing
The vitality Of the disease germs In
the spring Of 1890 until the mouth Of
April, and then only Q limited
supply Of five bugs could be secured.
These bugs were put in the infsc-
ion jsrs and were supplied with
young wheat plants. In six days
'ome Of the bugs were dead, and all
stupid. In ten days all
he bugs we're dead. A week later .
rev supply Of healthy hugs was put
nto the infection jar. They were
with growing wheat. They
an Substantially the same course -
he first lot. and all were dead 81 the
nd OF the thirteehth day.
On account Of the limited amount
Il infection material on hand Prof.
snow required each applicant to
end him . box Of live bugs, which
he placed in the infection jart, re-
urning in q few days q portion Of
he sick bugs 10 the sender. In