Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-07-02
How To Destroy Chlnch Bugs.

By Prof. r. :. Golf.
The chinch bug has appeared in injurious
numbers in several localities, and requests
are coming daily to the Station for infor-
nation concerning this pest
For several years past Experiment sta
tons, notably the Kansas station and that
of Illinois, have been endeavoring to destroy
this pest by inoculating quantity of chinch
bugs with disease and scattering the infect
ed bugs about the field where the bugs were
troubling. At one time it was thought that
this means of destruction would prove sat
isfactory and great deal of interest has
been awakened in this treatment, but un-
fortunately it does uot seem to be SUFFICIENT
ly reliable to recommend its use at this
time: consequently We must fall back on
other means of destruction for the pest
Where the bugs are scattered over a grain
field the case is almost hopeless for there is
no way of reaching them satisfactorily;
when, however they begin travelling to
fresh fields they can be held in check ana de-
stroyed good way to check the migra-
ton is to pillow a furrow between the bugs
and the field they are heading for. If the
ground is dry the sides of the furrow will
be dusty and check their progress; if the
ground is wet a narrow strip of tar should
row. When tar is used the ground should
be smoothed and the line of tar poured out
from a watering pot from which the sprink-
Ter has been removed. Dig occasional
holes in the bottom of the plowed furrow or
on the bug side OF the tar barrier The bugs
Will collect in these holes in enormous num-
bers and may lie easily killed with kerosene
Many trials have established the fact that
chinch bugs can be prevented from injur-
ing corn fields by the use of the kerosene
emulsion. To make the emulsion slice one
half pound of common bar soap, put liz a
kettle with one gallon of soft water. and
boil until dissolved: put two gallons of kerr
osene in achurn or stone jar and to il add
the boiling hot soap solution; churn from 20
to 80 minutes, when the whole will appear
creamy. If properly made no oil will sepa-
rate out when few drops of the emulsion
are placed on piece of glass To each gall
Ion of the emulsion add eight gallons of wa
ter and stir. Apply with sprinkling pot.
Every farmer should learn to make this
emulsion, as 1t is most useful insecticide
1t is especially valuable for killing lice on
cattle and hogs. Paris green viii not kill
chinch bugs
The chinch bugs that bother corn fields
originate in grain fields near by from which
they migrate in great numbers. The time
10 use the kerosene emulsion is just when
they are leaving the grain fields before they
have gotten fairly into the corn field just
as the bugs are about To enter the corn field
plow deep furrow along that side of the
corn field they will enter, throw into this
furrow some stalks of green corn which will
attract the bugs; when they have accumu-
lated on the corn sprinkle itwith kerosene
emulsion. Put in fresh stalks and sprinkle
whenever the bugs appear II they break
over the barriers, as they probably will
plow second furrow a rod or two back in
the field and repeat the treatment. If the
bugs attack standing hills of corn sprinkle
these with the emulsion.
If the remedy is tried it should be used
persistently. To kill one lot of bugs and
then stop will accomplish little good. When
the bugs threaten to destroy as mrch as
or 10 acres of corn it will certainly pay the
farmer to spend a few hours each day for a
week or SO to fight the pest little corn
will be lost but most of the field can easily
be saved Farmers trying this remedy are
requested to report their experience 10 the
writer.