The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-07-27
Farm, Garden and Household.


cut There arc many persons who do
not know this pest when they see it.
TIE beetle Is about half IN inch long
and fyo.eights OF an inch broad color,
pale yellow with Ave black stripes on
each wing cover, hence It's scientific
name, chTysomela 10.liHeata. The
beetle itself, in the beetle state, does
comparatively little damage tothe pota.
To-; but II lays It's eggs, which develop
into laryie, which feed upon and denude
the vines Of foliage. There are three
broods Of these beetles in O season, and
as each female lays an immense mum.
Der Of eggs, the larvn becomes exceed.
ingly numerous and destructive in n
short time. In the West, where this
pest has rayaged for several years, 1t
has been fought in oil manner Of
modes. Manipulating, beginning the
moment any signs OF the beetles could
be discovered, and persisted in. has
been successful, and some farmers have
ayerred that 1t paid them to keep a
hand or more IN their potato fields for
this purpose alone-especiRlly when
their rayGges resulted in enhancing the
local price OF potatoes enormously.
Machines have been invented, aud pro-
nonn6ed successful, for gathering the
beetles and larvn from the vines. But
the agent that has been most extern
sively and successfully used for their
destruction is Paris green. II should
be thoroughly understood by every
one that employesit, however, that tits
n dangerous poison, and great care
must DO taken in handling II. Any
mode Of using II by which the operator
inhales II is dangerous and in some
cases has proved fatal TO the operator
This should not DO forgotten. Ner
should II be kept in any vessel that is
not labelled poison" Its use, how.
ever, does not affect the quality OF the
potato tubers nor endRnger those who
eat them. There are several ways Of
usiug it for the beetles and lGryao's
destruction. One method is 10 care
fully mix one part OF 1t with from ten
10 twenty patts Of common -four, put
il In tin dish perforated in tho bottom
with small holes, having cover and a
long handle, and thus Bift the poison
upon the potato vines infected, care
being taken by the operator TO keep To
tho windward Of the falling poison.
Plaster or gypsum is also used, diy, in
place Of flour. Plaster, II available, is
preferable, since it is has n value as an
application to land aud especially 10
potatoes, which flour has not Whether
II Is as effective combination In do.
Btroying the pests we are not advised.
A safer and probably as effective mode
Of using Paris green is TINT which is
now coming into uSe-that OF mixing
one teaspoonful OF pure green in pail.
full Of water aud sprinkling the vines
with II by the use OF q wateripg-pot, or
by dipping u broom In the pail and
shaking 1t over the vines. II should
be remembered that Paris green does
not dissolve In water, and the water
must be frequently stirred, else the
green will settle 10 the bottom OF the
vessel. AS soon rs this insect appears
on any farmers premises he should
commence fighting II II he desires To
grow potatoes otherwise 1t will eiIec.
tually destroy his crop. The descrlp.
tion given above will enable any farmer
10 identify the rascal at once II he finds
one on his potato vines.
Planting an. Orchard.
In planting m orchard, the frat
thing Is 10 have the ground we'll under.
drained and Literally supplied with well
rotted stable manure. Early IN spring
II should be plowed from eight TO ten
inches deep, when It will be ready for
planting. I recommend the following
list OF all good apples for an orchard Of
800 trees Ten Newtown PippinE, 80
Yellow BellAowerS, 10 Red BeliAoWers,
90 Rhode Island Greetings, 30 Smiths
Scid, 30 Northern Spy, 20 BGldWins. 30
Peck's Pleasant, 20 Wine Sap, 90 Tai.
pahavkiH. These varieties are all
hardy and sAlAble. In purchasing fruit
trees the best plan is 70 select from the
nearest nursery. Many have ben
brought TO 4 plinful sense Of the de-
pressing fact that large portion Of tie
trees purchased from distant purbsrJ
prove untrueto name and utterly worth.
less. When trees or Beeds are Yus.
chased the buyer should take = rscsspt
specifying the number or qsErtEty u
each variety for which tie money wa
paid. In planting thsss trees, IN the
sake Of e0nvenie6oe IN gl.5eribg Tie
fruit, II IL better " place the trees u
each variety IN hquAres Of blocks,
rather than in long rows, ~ IL The on.
mon custom. The trees should not be
over two years old. The ground should
be loosened for about IL inches around
the trees, In the fall manure hbJuld
be hauled TO every one. To prevent
mice from making their nests In II, II
should be left till after frost or SNOW.
--An Ohio Farmer.
Household MsaIursl.
As oil families are not provided with
scales and weights, referring 10 ingre-
dients in general use by every house
wife, the following information may be
useful:
Wheat flour, one pound Is one quart.
Indian meal, one pound two ounces is
ono quart.
Batter, when soft, one pound one
ounce is one quart.
Loat.sugar, broken, one pound Is one
quart.
White sugar. powdered, one pound
ono ounce is one quart.
Best brown sugar, one pound two
ounces Is one quart.
Eggs, average size, ten eggs are one
pound.
Sixteen large tAblospoonfuls are half
apint, eight are q gill, four half gill,
etc,
I,to,,,a lii, t,,,.a.