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


cut. Ghere are many persons VINO DO
not know this pest when they see il.
TIE beetle Is about half an inch long
and fye.eights OF an inch broad color,
pale yellow with five black stripes on
each wing cover, hence its scientific
name, ckrysomeia 10.linsatd. The
beetle itself, in the beetle state, does
comparatively little damage tothe pota.
to; but 1t lays It's eggs, which develop
into laryn, 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 lArvm becomes exceed.
ingly numerous and destructive in q
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 it paid them to keep a
hand or more IN their potato fields for
this purpose alone-especially when
their fayages resulted in enhancing the
local price OF potatoes enormously.
Machines have been invented, and pro-
nounced successful, for gathering the
beetles aud larvte from the vines. Bat
the agent that has been most exten.
sively and successfully used for their
destruction is Paris green. It should
be thoroughly understood by every
one that employees it, however, that It is
n dangerous poison, and great care
must be 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 be forgotten. Nor
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 endanger those who
eat them. There are several ways Of
usiug 1t for the beetles and larvm's
destruction. One method is to care
fully mix one part OF it with from ten
70 twenty parts Of common aour, put
it In tin dish perforated in the bottom
with small holes, having cover and a
long handle, and thus sift 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, dly, in
place OF -four. Plaster, II available, ia
preferable, since it is has a value rs an
application to land and especially to
potatoes, which -four has not. Whether
u fa aa afT..nttHn n nan, htoa k;at, In da.
Btroying the pests We are not advised.
A safer and probably as effective mode
OF using Paris green Is that which is
now coming into use-that OF mixing
one teaspoonful Of pure green in pail
full OF water aud sprinkllng the vines
whit by the use Of watering.pot, or
by dipping broom in the pail and
shaking 1t over the vines. 1t should
be remembered that Paris green does
not dissolve in water, and the water
must be frequently stirred, else the
green will settle TO the bottom OF the
vessel. As soon as this insect appears
on any farmers premises he should
commence fighting 1t ifhe desires to
grow potatoes otherwise 1t will etfec-
tually destroy his crop. The deserip.
ton 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 an orchard, the first
thing Is to have the ground well under.
drained aud Literally supplied with well
rotted stable manure, Early in spring
itshould be plowed from eight 10 ten
inches deep, when II will be ready for
planting. recommend the following
list Of all good apples for an orchard Of
800 trees Ten Newtown Pippins, 30
Yellow BellAowers, 10 Red Beliflowers,
90 Rhode Island Greetings, so Smiths
Scid, 80 Northern Spy, 20 Baldwins. 30
Peck's Pleasant, 20 Wine Sap, 30 Tai.
pahawkin. These varieties are all
hardy and salable. In purchasing fruit
trees the best plan is to select from the
nearest nursery. Many have been
brought TO painful sense Of the de-
pressing fact that a large portion OF the
trees purchased from a distant nursery
prove untruet TO name and utterly WORTH
less. When trees or seeds are pur.
chased the buyer should take receipt
specifying the number or quantity Of
each variety for which the money was
paid. In planting these trees, for the
sake Of convenience in gathering the
fruit, 1t is better to place the trees OF
each variety in squares or blocks,
rather than In long rows, as is the com.
mon custom. The trees shonld not be
over two years old. The ground should
be loosened for about IS inches around
the trees, in the fall; manure should
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 Measures.
As all families are not provided with
scales and weights, referring to ingre-
dients in general use by every house
wife, the following information may be
useful: Tfq
Wheat flour, one pound is one quart.
Indian meal, one pound two ounces is
ono quart.
Butter, when soft, one pound one
ounce is one quart.
Loat.sugar, broken, one pound is one
quart.
White sugar, powdered, one pound
one ounce Is one quart.
Best brown sugar, one pound two
ounces Is one quart.
Eggs, average size, ten eggs are one
pound.
Sixteen large tablespoonfuls are half
apint, eight are o gill, four half gill,
etc.
Infested with Lizards.