The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-06-21
STOP THE CHINCH BUGS
AT HARVEST TINE

When great numbers Of chinch bugs
occur at harvest they are almost sure
to migrate into adjoining corn fields.
T. J. Talbcrt of the University Of Mis-
souri, College of Agriculture offers
the following suggestions for con-
trolling the chinch bug in dry wealth
or: Make not less than two or three
parallel dusty burroughs with steep
sides, between the wheat field and the
corn field. Drag log through the
bitches several times to form dust.
The effectiveness of bitches will de-
pend on the thoroughness of prepara-
ton. The sides of the bitches should
be free of trash and litter. If the
bugs have already passed into the
corn, prepare another series of dusty
bitches between the infested and nom
infested rows.
If the bugs have crawled into the
dusty burrows, they may be killed by
flaming the ditch with a gasoline blow
torch, or by dragging the log in the
ditch which grinds the bugs into the
hot dust. The ditch should be drug
each afternoon while the bugs are at
tempting to cross. This will not only
destroy the pests, but will keep the
ditch in repair.
In case Of rainy weather, the bugs
may be prevented from entering the
corn field by the use of an oil or tar
barrier. The ground may be pre-
pared for the barrier by dragging the
log on top of the ground until clean
hard path is made or by scraping the
weeds and grass away with hoe. A
groove for the oil or tar may be made
by driving an empty wagon along the
path with the wheels on one side of
the center of the path. Fill the groove
with heavy road oil or liquid gas tar.
Where a groove cannot be made, pour
the oil or tar along the center of the
path in line about an inch wide.
Heavy rains destroy the chinch bugs
and oil and tar barriers are not need
ed.
AS long as the oil or tar line is kept
frosh and free from dust and litter
the bugs will not cross it. Bugs
which connect along the tar line may
be killed with gasoline blast torch;
or post holes IL to IS inches deep and
from 20 to 30 feet apart may be dug
on the edge of the tar line nearest
the advancing army of bugs. The
bugs in massing along the tar line
will roll into the post holes where they
may be killed by flaming with torch
or by spraying with kerosene. 1t
may be necessary to renew the oil or
tar line once of twice each day.
The bugs which have settled on the
first few rows of corn may be killed
by spraying the corn thoroughly with
kerosene emulsion. To make kero-
scne emulsion dissolve about one
half pound of laundry soap in one gal
Ion of soft water. While the soapy
water is still hot, remove it from the
fire and add two gallons of kerosene.
Churn or agitate for five or ten min
utes, after which the emulsion will
be ready for use at the rate of one
part of the emulsion to twelve or fif-
teen parts of water. In spraying
against the chinch bugs it is well to
remember that the bugs must be wet
by the spray. The mixture must be
well stirred during application to kill
the bugs and prevent burning the
corn.
A soap-suds spray made at the
rate of four pounds laundry soap to
20 or % gallons of water is often used
effectively against the chinch bugs
when they have collected on the first
few rows Of corn.