The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-05-03
The Colorado Potato Bug.

IL Ihe Lu1tOI u tne OIEO state journal.
1 avail myself, at your request. O
the opportunity of writing a short
article in relation to the Colorado
Potato Beetle.
In my hasty report to the House
of Representatives, which is not vel
printed, l wrote what I considered
necessary and useful for the farmers
and others to know before the sea.
son for them to damage the potato
crop. For ! am well aware from
conversation and observation among
the people that many of them do moi
fully understand this question.
have spent considerable money
and time, have learned some infor-
nation from travel, observation, and
practical experience as a working
farmer, which may be ofsome impor-
tance to communicate to the people.
Generally the first season the DO
tato bugs make their appearance,
they do not attract much attention
or do much damage, in fact few peo-
pie are aware OF their presence.
Here is the first mistake. The peo-
pie should understand this matter
fully, and wage a war of extermina-
ton against them on their first ap
pearance. The next year, in the
month of June, the potato growers
begin to wake up and find they have
something to do or lose their crops.
for the bugs will be plenty enough
then.
Farmers should remember that
each female beetle lays ZOO eggs ;
there are three crops hatched. The
total amount Of one female Colorado
potato beetle in a season is 58, 100000
The secret of success is to kill them
early.
In Erie county, where l reside. a
large amount Of potatoes are grown.
Information was given to the people
of our county through the Farmers
Club. Although the potato bugs
were very numerous, by commencing
early every potato grower saved his
crop who took care of it; and we ex-
pect to save them this year. In or
der to do this there must be concert
of action among the people. They
must fully understand the danger in
advance. l am satisfied from obser-
vatlon this pest cnuld be extermi
mated in two seasons by hearty CO
operation of the people of our State.
We take the common method in
our county of picking, or use two
shingles or tin pan to kill them. l
do not like Paris green; will only use
it when overrun with bugs. 1t is a
sure and safe remedy, if the article
is good, but the objections are it will
kill our insect friends.
The Colorado potato beetle has
more lives than cat. Fall blowing
will make them grow better; will live
in the water like ducks, and live wioh-
out eating at all.
The female beetles commenced
laying their eggs the first of June in
our section last year. In six or
eight days the larvae are seen, which
do all the mischief, eat voraciously
about two weeks, tumble off the
vines, go into the ground, and in
about a week come out a perfect
beetle; in about two weeks more the
female beetle commences laying for
a new crop.
1t is very important that the peo-
pie should understand the nature of
our insect friends, and not kill them
too with the bug. When the potato
bug is plenty, the lady bug increases
rapidly and destroys great number
of the eggs of the potato bug; also
the soldier bug kills the larvae in
large number. There are several
other insect friends that DESTROY
them and eventually overcome them
to certain extent. They, however
have become naturalized in all the
States overrun by them, and do
more or less damage every season.
All classes of people eat.potatoes
and are interested in this subject
The potato is a nutritious vegetable
if well grown and taken care of,
even good potatoes become poison
GUS if left exposed to the sun for a
few days.
The members of this Legislature
have an interest in this matter, for |
hear general complaint of the poor
quality Of the potatoes at the hotels
in Columbus.
1t is easy enough for any potato
man, who understands this matter.
who had examined the potato tops in
this section last season, to Judge of
the quality of the potatoes. Now, [
am a small potato man and see this
well enough. So when l came down
early last fall to engage my boarding
house, wishing to turn an honest
penny, and accommodate the gentle.
manly landlord, very generously
offered to pay my board with good
honest Peach Blow potatoes, at a
fair price, warranted good. Now, l
am not acquainted with Columbus
fashions. Good potatoes with us
are legal tender, if few catfish
are thrown in to bind the bargain.
Of course l was surprised when he
informed me that they did not take
potatoes for board at that house, but