Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-29

site fungi, called entomophthora, caused
spontaneous effect IN destroying great num-
bers OF bugs. This fungus disease expert
ment was introduced by Prof. Snow of Kan
sas State university. There seems to have
been in all experiments of years past none
so remarkable and rare phenomenon for the
Wholesale killing of these insects than his
adopted theory. Prof. Snow based his opin-
ion in his experiments that "in the warfare
of man against his Insect foes a most valu-
able ally will be found in the bacterial and
fungoid diseases which may be artificially
introduced when nature fails to come to our
aid" His plan is to confine healthy chinch
bugs with those diseased and utilize the in
fected individuals by transplanting them to
sections of the country supposedly free from
the disease in order to create new areas of
infection.
Precautionary Measures.
Among the precautionary measures for
destroying the chinch bug the department
| suggests the sowing OF a bacterial enemy
with the grain. This fungus grows delicate
tubes and cells. which in result Of decom-
position forms vast masses of microbes,
| which attack the chinch bug and kill it. The
practical utility of parasitic and bacterial
| fungus enemies in fighting this pest can
only be employed in cases OF excessive
| abundance and during wet weather. Then
1t would be necessary that the basis for in
lection be provided by some central propa-
| eating station from which farmers could re-
| ceive prompt and abundant supply. In the
matter of guarding against the spread of the
bug more attention Is invited to the neces-
| sity OF destroying it while in Information.
| All dry grass, leaves or other rubbish in
which they may shelter should be burned
during the winter and early spring.
Fatal effects are obtained by a generous
use of kerosene in various ways in fighting
| these pests. which the department heartily
One method is to spray or
| sprinkle corn with an emulsion made prin-
cipally OF kerosene, which makes an mex
pensive insecticide. Diluted and ready for
use the emulsion is prepared as follows:
| Dissolve one-half pound of hard soap in one
gallon OF water; heat to boiling point, then
! pour the suds while hot into two gallons of
kerosene. Churn the mixture into a cream
like consistency; when cool it will form in a
iellylike mass. For each gallon OF this
| emulsion use fifteen gallons of water, mix II
thoroughly and apply to growing corn. This
is especially a good preventive to use for
an invasion OF bugs from one field to an
other II sprayed on the marginal rows. An
other measure including the use OF kerosene
is to plow a furrow along the edge OF the
field and saturate it with the oil, thus form
ing a temporary barrier to the incoming
hordes.
Tar as n Check.
Differing quite materially from the pre-
ceding methods to check their progress are
the various combinations Of coal tar and
ridges OF earth, smoothed and packed along
the apex, or instead of the ridges of earth q
six-inch board placed on edge and the tor
coated with tar. Another idea is to spread
a thin tar line. interesting it with pos
holes every fifty rods. The bug comes up Il
the line, follows it and finally drops into thu
holes. The tar methods are better adapted
to wet weather, as the material will no
wash away.
With these barriers of either ridge or fur
row and the use of coal tar or crude petro
leum, supplemented by kerosene emulsion,
very large per cent OF the injury from
chinch bugs may be prevented, and, with
reasonable degree OF watchfulness an
prompt action, all injury from migrating
hordes may be prevented.