The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-15

priated and not used shall revert. We
hope to place the expenditure of this
fund with the state chronological
commission, of which Professor Hun
ter of the university and Professor
Headlee of the Agricultural college
are experts and of which Secretary F.
ID. Coburn is chairman.
You are urged to see your repre-
sentative and senator and impress
upon him the importance of this work
and to secure his support. This is a
matter in which every citizen of Kan
sas is interested and the necessity for
prompt action IS apparent.
If you will take an examination of
the wheat field in your vicinity and
report to me whether you find green
bugs 1t will be of material assistance
in obtaining reliable information on
the subject to present to the legisla-
ture. The fact that the green bug Is
working now indicates the need for
action. 1t might be we'll not to make
too much public talk about the mat
ter if you find bugs in your fields.
In case you find the green bugs,
will you kindly forward samples and
state how extensively they occurred.
Send samples from territory tributary
to Manhattan to T. ]. Headlee, Man
haitian, Kansas. Send samples from
territory tributary to Lawrence to S.
j. Hunter, Lawrence, Kansas. Please
send everything by mail. Small sam
Piles of wheat and bugs in tight tin
cans or boxes will be all that is neces-
sary. Territory tributary to Manhat-
tan: All counties north of the KanSaS
and Smoky Hill rivers and all coun-
ties through which these rivers flow,
except Douglas county and that part
of Shawnee county south of the Kan
sas river and it also includes Wabaun-
see county. Territory tributary to
Lawrence: All counties south of the
Kansas and Smoky Hill rivers not
penetrated by these streams, except
-Wabaunsee, also Douglas county ana
that part of Shawnee county south of
the Kansas river"
The following communication signed
by I. j. Headley and J. s. Hun ter, pro-
teSSorS of Chronology at the State uni
versity, was read and had much to do
with Fastening the action of the con-
'vention:
In response to a request for infor-
nation as to the status of the green
bug in Kansas, we will say that as far
as our knowledge goes, 1t is present in
two counties. and in destructive num-
bers in one field in each of these coun-
ties, where, during the fall and early
winter, it has killed the wheat in spots.
1t exists scatteringly in other counties
throughout the state. For want of time
and money detailed information for
each county has not been obtained.
THE outcome cannot be predicted
because we do not know conditions over
the whole state, this being it's first ap-
pearance in Kansas. no historical data
exist upon which to base an opinion,
and climatic influences over which man
has no control, exert an important
part in Fastening the rapid develop
ment and consequent spread of this in
sect. We do, however. know that the
serious outbreak of last spring had its
origin, under favorable weather condl-
lions, N comparatively small area of
lnfestation, and we feel that in Kansas
there is possibility of serious damage
to wheat and oats next season"
The reading of the letters and reports
had the effect of throwing the conven-
ton into stampede for remedy as it
was generally understood that the
green bugs were now here in evidence.
The warm open winter is said to be to
blame for the conditions as the green
bugs are not easily affected by cold I'M
less the temperature gets extremely
| low. Freezing weather will not kill
them nor does it stop their propagation
though in extremely cold weather they
are not as active as when such weather
as has prevailed SO far this winter.
1t is said that the bugs have been
| found in great numbers in Jefferson
and Leavenworth county localities
which We're free from them last year
| The examination which has been made
was hurriedly done and the idea pre-