Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-03-19

Annual Report of State Chinoh-
Bug Station.

Professor Shows fifth annual re.
port (for 1885, as Director of the Ex-
perimental Station at the University
for the destruction of chinCh bugs by
contagion, has inst been received from
the State printing house. 1t is a
pamphlet of 6fty-fve pages During
the year 1896 the number Of packages
of chinch bugs inooulsted with the
Sporotrckum disease sent out to
farmers was 1871, While most of
these we're distributed in Kansas, yet
applications from farmers in eighteen
other States and territories were fill
ed. Infected bugs were sent into II
counties of the State.
In addition to the preparation and
distribution Of the diseased bugs, the
report shows that the director and his
assistants made many careful expert
ments in the laboratory and field, the
results of which lead to a better un-
derstanding Of the conditions which
surround the artificial propagation
OF the two best known diseases of the
ChinCh bug. Some very practical re-
concentrations are made concerning
methods Of attacking the bugs rs
they leave the small grain for the
corn. These methods are immediate
in their effect, often result in the
Wholesale destruction os the bugs,and
prove a strong reinforcement to the
other attack upon the insect, that Of
spreading diseases artifcislly.
Weather conditions and their rela-
ton TO chinch bugs receive much at
\ tention IN this report. IL IL shown
| that the winter of 1894-95 was very
favorable ons for the wintering over
Of the bugs in great numbers.
The reports from the farmers the
past year show about the same per-
centage Of successes in combating
with diseases as in former years.
This report we believe is for free
distribution to Kansas farmers, and
may be had by writing to the Station
at Lawrence, or by calling at the Of
fee of the County Commissioners Of
this county.
DIRECTIONS FOR OBTAINING AND APPLY
ING THE oHINCH-BUG INFECTION.
Infected bugs will be sent to any
one on application.
The infected bugs received from
the Station should be used to start in
fection-boxes in the following manner
CHARACTER AND LOCATION OF INFECTION
BOX.
Make a box OF seven-eighths inch
material matched white pine is best),
about 24x36x6 inches. Make the COW
er tight fitting, so that the bugs can
not readily escape Memberships
tackled about the upper edges Of the
box, so that the cover presses tightly
against them when closed, will be
found Of service in keeping the bugs
in. A heavy chalk-line drawn inside
the box on the sides near the upper
edge will greatly assist in keeping the
bugs in the box.
II would be we'll for each farmer TO
have two boxes, and, after the first
box has become well started, he should
start the second from infection OBJ
tanned from the first.
Place the boxes so as to exclude
them from the sur and wind. A base
ment room is a good location.
TO START THE INFECTION IN THE BOXES.
Sprinkle the boxes thoroughly with
water inside and out. Place an even
layer Of garden-soil in the boxes, half
an inch deep. The soil should be
fres from leaves or anything liable to
decay. Sprinkle the soil until It is
moistened through, but not muddy.
Put q thin layer of green wheat or
corn over the soil in the boxes, and
distribute over this, at regular inter-
walls, FIVE or six Of the white-fungus-
covered bnRs Now put into the
boxes healthy bugs from the field
until they are somewhat crowded, but
not packed over one another. Lastly,
close and fasten down the cover.
Examine the boxes daily. and
sprinkle the sides and soil as often as
they appear to be getting dry. Do
not, hOioeVer, make the soil muddy.