Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-23

PoTATo FLY.-This insect has committed
greater ravages 10y far this season than hereto,
fore. From every section Of this and adjon.
ing States we hear of the destruction of the
vines, not only of the potato, but of every de-,
soription of garden foliage. In tLis vicinity
these flies, after stripping the leaves from near
ly everything else, have attacked Jamestown
(vulgarly called gymson) weeds (Which 10 one
regrets,) and are fast relieving us Of this
noxious species of vegetation. The potatoe
fields in the country are indeed a sorry sight,
nothing being left above ground bat bare and
withered stems. Several remedies have been
suggested, but the most effective one appears
TO be unslacked lime scattered over the vines
while wet with dew.
With all their destructiveness these flies, it
has been sscertained, may be turned to good
account. II should be generally known, IRE
marks the Louisville Journal,) that the pota-
toe fly (Lytta Vittatd) is as good a blisteriDg
fly as the Spanish fly or Canthsrides, and, be-
ing home product should be used instead of
the imported fly. Most physicians know their
properties and would freely use them if they
could obtain them in sufficient quantities
Those who do not know that they are fully
equal to the Cantharides for blistsrs, can soon
learn their value by fair trial. Now We pro-
pose a profitable means of destroying these
pests and at the same time adding new ar
tice to the materia medica of the country
practitioner. Instead of lining hem or shoot
ing them, light a small fire convenient TO
where the lies are eating the vines, set on it
pot of water, and when it boils take a COM
mon dipper about half full of hot water in one
hand and short stick ia the other; hold the
dipper under the leaves on which are the flies
and strike the plant with the stick so as to
knock them off into the hot water. When the
water gets too cool in the dipper to kill the
flies, empty it iato a strsiner made of mos,
quito net stretched on hoop, aud continue
the process with hot water from the pot. Dry
the flies in the sun till they will rub into pow
der, and take them to your family physician,
and, if he knows their value, he will be glad
TO get them at price which will pay well for
the young hands that may have been engaged
in killing them. They are worth from $3.50 to
So per pound. We have seen them 50 thick
on potatoe vines that a smart boy ought to
get two or three pounds in day. This is no
experiment. Their value has been well tested;
and if physicians would use them instead of
CanthariGes they would soon supersede the
the latter in commerce.
STEAMER EnrIRE SUNE.-The Empire from Cairo
bound TO New Orleans, was sunk at Island 81 10 the
Mississippi. She had but little freight, which was
saved. The boat is a total loss. She was owued
by Capt UnderNO God, her commander, Mr.. Paacio
Of Louisville and probably other parties. They
purchased her about four months ago for tl4,
O0O She was insured for $4,000 in New Albany.
FALL Style HArs.-The new style Of hats for
the Fall Of 1856, is opened to day in this city, by
Francisco. They are very eenteel and becoming.
or course there will be rush Of the 'olOods" for