The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-09-12
The Colorndo Potnto Hectic.

Mountain regions west Of Iowa, has al
ready spread in an castcrly direction in
to Upper Canada and around lake Erie,
nearly into Pennsylvania, aud there is
scarcely doubt, but that in the course
of two or three years more it will reach
the Atlantic scaboard, and that you will
suddenly find it flying through the streets
Of New York, as you did last year the
other stranger from distant land-the
Rape Butterfly (Pieris RAPE, SnRANK).
Let it not be understood, however, that
in onward spread, or march it ever en-
tircly quits any district where it has
once obtained footing. This idea of its
itinerant character seems very generally
to prevail, and great many people labor
under the dclusion that, soon after its ad-
vent, this dreaded foe to the potato will
Of its own accord take its leave as sudden
ly as it camc-that, like every other dog
it will have its day. Nothing could, how
ever, DO farther from the truth, or less in
accordance with past experience. 1t may,
and very generally does, prove more in
furious during the first two or three years
of its advent than subsequently because
time is required for its natural enemies to
multiply sufficiently to keep it in check.
But wherever it once obtains footing,
there it may be expected to remain for
all time to vacilating, it is true,
from year to year, in numbers and conse-
quent power to do mischief, according as
the condition for its increase and decrease
are favorable but always present to take
its chances in the great struggle for ex-
istencc, and to get the upper hand if it
can.
This insect has become such pest in
the Mississippi Valley that potatoes can
no longer be grown without some effort to
check its ravages. l have elsewhere
shown that solutions of tobacco soap are
of no avail in fighting it, and that carbol.
ic soap cannot be used strong enough ev.
en- to kill the larvae. without likewise kill.
ing the vines. l have also lately tried
arsenic and cobalt, but with poor results
So far Paris green is the only antidote
known, and so general has become it,
use in the infected districts of the coun.
try that the price of the poison has this
year increased from 20 to IS cents q
pound, and it is extremely difficult to OBJ.
tain it in st. Louis or Chicago at the lat.
ter price. 1t is effectual when mixed
with fonr or plaster, and if the green be
pure, one part to II of -four is about the
best proportion. | have known it to act
well when diluted with half as much a.
gain. Buy no green that is pale in col.
or, but always buy that Of a bright and
dark green.
Paris green is deadly poison, being
arseniate or copper (often called Scheele's
green, and containing varying pro.
portion Of arsenious acid. Caution, should
therefore, be had in its use. 1t is most
safely applied by aid Of a perforated box,
attached to the end of stick three OF
four feet long The least possible dust
ing suflices, and by taking the handle Of
the dust box in the left hand, and then
tapping the box with stick held in the
right hand, one can walk rapidly along
the rows and regulate the amount sifted
The remedy is destined to become 6
very general one, as it effectually Destroy
many other leaf killing insects.
Though the great bulk Of the potato
crop in the more northern portions o.
the Mississippi Valley has grown by the
aid of this poison during the past few
years, we have no record of any evil ef
fects resulting therefrom. Fears have
been expressed that the poison may b.
washed into the soil, absorbed by thu
rootlets, and thus poison the tubers; bu
persons who entertain such fears forge
that they themselves often apply to tn
ground as nourishment for vines, eithe
animal, mineral or vegetable substance
that are nauscous or even poisonous to us
Animal or vegetable substances, Of what
soevcr nature, must be essentially chang
ed in character and rendered Harmless
before they can be converted into health
tubers, and mineral poison could onl
do harm by being taken with the pota
toes to the table.
~ tuOsc VIII udNt CdlClullJ NalShS
the eastward progress Of this insect, tn
manner in which its natural enemies hav
increased in number and kind is interest
ing and significantly There are no LEI
: than 10 cannibal or parasitic insects tina
have been specially observed to attack
7 in one state or another, and as man
again, mostly of small size and incor
4, spicuous makings might be added to tn
e list. The toad, and perhaps some otht
4, reptiles, devour them, and among birt
. the crow has been observed to do 3,
S Among domesticated birds, the duck WI
e for several years the only species th'
! would touch them, and for long tim
: chickens would invariably give them til
, go-by. l can now, however, give yc
a the pleasing information that by the tin
/. this beetle reaches the State of New Yoi
}. these fowls will, in all probability,
a very generally and successfully used
a the warfare against them. Last year
e few cases were reported Of its eggs az
y some Of its larvae being eaten by ther
!, but this year cases are numerous, in va
e ious parts of the country, where Il
e beetles, as well as the Larvae and eggs,a
= being devoured by them. l know of o.
}. case near st. Louis where, with fe
n specimens of the common May beetle,
n less than 81 perfect specimens Of 4
a Colorado beetle were found in the CIR
Z of chicken; while in another instan
4e in the same neighborhood, the chicke
d, forsake every other kind of food for IL
1t nauseous insect In these instances t
j. chickens have taken naturally to the ne
C. food, but it has been shown (see L
ID Brown, Trans, Ind. Hort. Society, 1877
in p. sl) that they may easily be taught
ne like it, by first shutting them up, ar
a after denying them all animal food
ng about ten days, turning them into an
lis tested potatoe field and keeping tn
there. Indeed, coops may be taken