Sudan Grass. 25

rows. Burning this grass and trash in November or December de- stroys a large percentage of the chinch bugs and does much to pre- vent trouble from them the following summer.10

SORGHUM MIDGE.

This insect is destructive only in the South. It very largely pre- vents the profitable production of Sudan grass* seed from central Texas east to the Atlantic coast. The damage to the plant is slight, other than the prevention of seed formation; therefore, there is little loss from a forage standpoint.

There is no effective way of combating the sorghum midge other than planting very early or very late in the season, so that the Sudan grass will come into bloom at a time when the midge is not abundant.

IMPROVEMENT OF SUDAN GRASS.

Considerable work has been done at agricultural experiment sta- tions in an effort to improve the original Sudan grass. No strains of exceptional value, however, have been developed, and in fact the grass as it came from Africa is a satisfactory hay and pasture plant. The chief need for improvement seems to be the production of strains of Sudan grass or hybrids between it and other grass sorghums which will be more resistant to red-spot.

10 Horton, J. R., and Satterthwait, A. F. The chinch bug and its control. U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 1223, 35 p., 14 flg. 1922.