The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-06-22
OJrES O What is the disease now


disease belongs to family of plants
allied to moulds. It enters bug,
grows and fills its whole inside with
white threads, causing the death of
it's host. then forces its way to the
surface, where it covers the carcass OF
the victim with a white material. If
this material is closely investigated
by microscope it is seen to be COM
posed of immense numbers of spores
CT seeds. Each of them is capable OF
attacking new victim and thus the
disease spreads very rapidly. But the
disease needs certain conditions TIC
grow well. And these very conditions
are such as are also injurious to the
bugs. In other words the disease
needs moisture and absence of sun
light, the bug wants dryness and
warmth.
CUES. 10. How is this disease pro-
duced? No one can produce this dis
ease. AS it has to come from seed
like every other plant the seeds have
to be procured. There are two ways
of doing so. Either the seeds or germs
have to be procured from a bug
recently killed by the disease, or the
seeds can be kept over from year to
year in dry boxes, ETC., very much
like keeping peas from year to year
and planting them when new crop is
needed. This latter method is the
easiest and usual method.
CUES. IL. How can we start the
disease? Like every other plant by
the seeds. If we plant peas we have
to prepare the soil for that purpose.
~ II hn n,oln I,
chinch bug disease. OF course we
can not pillow bug, or spade it over,
but we can nevertheless prepare the
sOil-in this case the bug-for the re-
ception of the spores. Preparing the
soil means in this case to lower the
vitality of the bugs Only bugs with
low vitality will catch the disease
readily. To lower the vitality all we
have to do is to furnish unsuitable
conditions for it's health, and to con-
fine bugs in moist, dark or cool places.
For this purpose boxes are prepared
where the atmosphere is kept filled
with water-vapOrs. The bugs soon
take gloomy view of life, stop feed
ing and move about uneasily. By in
Producing diseased bugs in such boxes
or bugs covered with spores or seeds,
the healthy bug can not fail to come
in contact with such seeds, and the
latter soon make their way into the
interior of the bug, where they grow
and multiply.
CUES. y. Is this disease a sure
remedy? No. AS long as we can
artiticially produce the suitable con-
dition the disease can be produced
and multiplied. But as soon as we
put the diseased bug in the field we
loose the control over such suitable
conditions, as we can not produce
neither wind or weather, notwith-
standing any rainmaker to the con-
trary. If after the diseased bugs have
been put into the infested fields we
should have long continued spell of
hot and dry weather, the disease will
spread but slowly, too slowly to do
much good. If, however, the weather
is in our favor, the disease will spread
rapidly and the bugs are doomed.
CUES. Ii. What are the facts in
the case, or what may we expect? The
facts are that if the chinch bugs are
favored by climatic conditions they
Will cause very serious damages.
if not the loss of the entire crops. OF
course this is only the case in many
fields inspected, but as those contain
ed from to 20 bugs per square foot,
the case becomes a very clear one
There will be more bugs than the
plants could support. At present it
is an even race between bugs and
plants. The plants have the advan-
tage. however. as they are growing
rapidly and will soon cover the ground
thoroughly with their foliage. A soil
thus protected against the rays of the
sun will retain moisture. and thus
produce unsuitable conditions for the
well-being of the bugs. But do not
depend too much upon this fact. The
bugs will be so numerous as to in
iure even such plants. In about 10
to II days the critical point in the
life-histOry of the chinch bug will ar
rive. The eggs now being laid will
hatch before very long. and the young
bugs are tender and easily killed. If
we should have series of rains two
weeks hence, with cloudy weather,
the majority of the spring brood may
be killed.
CUES. IA. Where are the eggs laid?
The eggs are laid upon and near the
roots of the infected plants. and are
thus exposed to the moisture of the
surrounding soil.
CUES. Is. What must farmers do
to assist in the work? Experiments
with this disease can not be made ex-
cept the farmers themselves do their
share of the work. They have to fur
nish lots of living chinch bugsin tight
tin boxes, or if not sent by mail in
bottles, etc. These bugs will be con-
lined with diseased ones, and at the
proper time such diseased bugs will be
returned to the farmer. OF course if
they do not furnish the required
material they can not expect to be as
sisted.
CUES. Is. Who pays for this expert
ment? There is no appropriation
made for this purpose and the state
can consequently not furnish the
means. But Gov. Nelson who is very
much interested in this work, has