River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-07-02
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE NOTES.
BY PROF. L. S. CROFT.
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Hour 10 Destrog Chiach Buqs.

Hon. 10 Destroy Chiach Bugs.
The chinch bug has appeared in in
furious numbers in many localities,
and requests are coming daily to the
Station for information concerning
this pest.
For several years past Experiment
Stations, notably the Kansas station
and that of Illinois, have been trying
to destroy this pest by inoculating a
quantity of chinch bugs with disease
and scattering the infected bugs about
the field where the bugs were troub-
ling. At one time it was thought
that this means of destruction would
prove satisfactory and great deal of
interest has been awakened in this
treatment, but unfortunately it does
not seem to be sufficiently reliable to
recommend its use at this time: con-
sequently we must fall back on other
means of destruction for the pest.
One Wdy OF Holding the Chinch Bugs
IN Check
Where the bugs are scattered over
a grain field the case is almost hope
less, for there is no way of reaching
them satisfactorily; when, however,
they begin travelling to fresh fields
they can be held in check and de-
stroyed. A good way to check the
migration is to pillow furrow be-
tween 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 run
along the ground instead Of a furrow.
When tar is used the ground should
be smoothed and the line of tar
poured from a watering pot from
which the sprinkler has been re-
moved. 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 mum bers and may be killed
with kerosene.
Killing Chincb Bugs nth Kerosene
Emulsion.
Many trials have established the
fact that chinch bugs can be pre-
vented from injuring corn fields by
the use of the kerosene emulsion. To
make the emulsion, slice pound of
common bar soap, put it in kettle
with gallon of soft water and boil
until dissolved; put gallons of kero-
sene in a churn or stone jar and to it
add the boiling hot soap solution;
churn from 20 to 30 minutes, when
the whole will appear creamy. If
properly made no oil will separate
out when few drops of the emulsion
are placed on a piece of glass. To each
gallon of the emulsion add gallons
Of water and stir. Apply with sprink-
ling pot.
Every farmer should learn to make
this emulsion, as it is a most useful
insecticide. 1t is especially valuable
for killing lice on cattle and hogs.
Paris green will 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 to use the kero-
sene 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 pillow a deep furrow
along that side of the 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 it with
kerosene emulsion. Put in fresh
stalks and sprinkle whenever The bugs
appear. If they break over the bar
riers, as they probably will, pillow a
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 kerosene
emulsion.
If the remedy is tried Il should be
used persistently. To XIII one lot Of
bugs and then stop viii accom- plish
little good. When the bugs threaten
to destroy as much 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. A little
corr viii be lost but most Of the field
can easily be saved. Farmers trying
this remedy are requested to report
their progress TO the writer.
Strength, health and happiness
comes by using Rocky Mountain Tea.