New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-05-25
1t Makes The
Bug Sick.
Prof. Lugger is Prepared to Help tn
Farmers Who Are Troubled With
Ohlnch Bugs.

2
this season. Already the pests have ap-
peared and farmers are laying plans for
their determination. The winter was
unusually favorable for the propagation
of these insects, and over week ago
they began their work of destruction.
Since that time they have increased
alarmingly and are now infesting the
small grain. 49,.
Wet weather is fatal enemy of the
chinch bug. Although he subsists en-
tlrely on liquid food, he does not like
water. A constant freezing and thawing
is another condition that interferes seri-
ously with the growth and development
of the insect. The past winter was the
kind best adapted to the wants of the
chinch bugs, and no spring rains fell to
mar their growth or thin their ranks.
On this account they were able to begin
their work of destruction much caller
than usual.
Prof. Otto Lugger, the entomologist
at the state school of agriculture, has al
ready received many appeals from Min
nesota farmers for relief from the pests.
In anticipation of such a condition he
has prepared in his office a growth to
spread disease among the bugs by inoc-
ulation and kill them off. Small boxes
containing disease spores are sent to APP
plicants, with directions telling how to
use the preparation to obtain the best
results.
This remedy, although it IS very effect
i've at times, is lot considered by Prof.
Lugger to be infalllble. In fact, he
says, it is practically useless, except
when the atmospheric conditions are ia
vorable for spreading the disease. At
the time it was first used in this state
damp weather prevailed for many days
and the result was that the bugs we're
practically exterminated wherever the
plan was trieG.
All of the counties IF Minnesota are
not infested with chinch bugs. The prai-
RE counties are practically free from
them, at least until late in the fall, when
the bugs are liable to do but little dam
age. 1t is necessary for the bugs to
have some shelter during the winter,
and they areunable to find such accom-
mediation in prairie country. For this
reason they are most abundant in wood
ed country and high rolling land, which
is we'll drained. The few that find their
way to the prairie country during the
summer die before winter.
The present dry weather will mate
rally lessen the value of Prof. Lugger's
remedy and he expects that the bugs
will be able to do serious damage to the
crops during the summer. They attack
the stalk of the grain and extract the
say. Each incision made by the insect
IS poisoned so that the portion of the
stalk from which the sap has been drawn
dies and eventually the whole plant is
killed.
In view of the inef1iciercy of the rem
edy. at times, experiments have been
tried to provide other m eaus of battling
with the pests, and they have been in a
measure successful. The state expert
mental station has been urging for some
time the necessity of cooperation
among farmers, and an effort will be
made this fall to secure a concerted
move all along the line wherever the
bugs are found, looking toward the per-
manent extermlnatio on of the pests. Prof.
Lugger insists that it is a comparatively
easy task to rid the country of the bugs
if the farmers can be persuaded to work
together. -.-., ..-.. i
The weak points of the bugs have
been studied and one of them has been
found in the tendency of the insects to
travel. When the wheat and the barley
III the fields mature the bugs are unable
to pierce the hardened stalks and they
naturally look for other means OF sub
sistance. They usually turn to the corn
fields and right here is where the pro.
fessor purposes to head them of. In
one instance he erected fence twelve
inches high and coated the top of it with
tar to prevent the bugs from crossing
ana he found the plan effective. They
crowded up against it until the pile O
bugs was nearly as high as the fence bu
none got across. It was an easy matter
to accomplish their destruction Whe1
they had been collected in this manner
Another method, which has proved
good one although it requires a grea
deal of attention, is to pillow up q space