Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-06-12
agricultural.

several occasions drawn our readers attention
TO this great enemy of the potato, but il the
hundredth part of the reports we have Of its do
ngs in the west were only true, it would still be
worth while to have weekly notes of caution on
the part of potato-growers east to look out for
him. We do not, for instance, believe that nv.
raids of the beetles start for the nearest church.
spire when they arrive in new neighborhood,
and smiliDgly watch the farmers for miles around
dropping potato sets, and calculate to an hour
how long it will take for them to drop Just down
on them as they push through the ground to de-
YOUR the whole crop but do believe it is figu-
ratively speaking, worth our potato-growers'
while to look from church -steeples or any other
Intellectually high place that will aid him in see
ing the destructive insect before he comes too
near.
Every day we are learning some new fact
about the destructive power of the thing. In
the case Of most insects they appear only at GER
tain seasons. If we keep them away for a few
weeks we are safe for the rest of the year. We
have supposed from what We have read about
the Colorado beetle that its ravages were con-
fined to midsummer and autumn, but the Cham
paign, Illinois, correspondent of the Country
Gsntlsman tells us that il appeared in that Sec
ton this season as early as the twelfth of Nav.
1t is by no means certain that the insect will
be very troublesome this side Of the Allephanies
There are little peculiarities of climate which
insects can detect, though we with all our science
cannot, which are often to work TO restrain cer-
tain species within certain limits II is not in
nature that hall
earth. We have in the east O small beetle with
three lines instead of ten, as in the Colorado one
and much smaller every way, which feeds ON
the potato, though not to any serions extent
which species we believe is not known in tbose
regions where the great enemy abounds. 1t NAV
De that each of these is TO keep to its own
boundaries. 1t is also true that though few
scattering cases have occurred of the insect hay
| ing been caught in Pennsylvania, and no doubt
there have been hundreds not seen for every one
taken, they have not as yet made themselves
seriously felt. ---.--.....
! We have some hope from these considerations
that we may escape, and our seaboard States
become the potato-growers for the whole Union :;
but this is mere speculation, and we would not
have our friends abate one jot of their interest
IN making themselves acquainted with the insect
or in keeping sharp lookout for him.-Gsrman-
torn Telegraph.
| REMEDY FOE THE STRIPED Bug AND CoIoRIDo
POTATO BEETLE.-Take one part Paris green and
hfteen parts calcined plaster mix we'll, and
with common dredging box dust the vines
when wet or dry. Once or twice generally is
sufficient. 1t may be used, with great care, on
squasnes, muskmelons and cucumbers The
watermelon, however, does not bear such treat
ment. l give my experience in the business,
limited as it is, because 1 know with what diff
Guilty cucumbers and other vines are protected
from the striped bug. A.x.B.
To the above we would add that Paris green
mixed with twenty parts of flour or the same Of
plaster, scattered over the leaves of the infested
vines, will destroy the larYa of the potato bug.
A small tin box gith the bottom punched full OF
holes, like a common pepper box, attached to
the end of a short stick, will answer for dusting
poison over the vines. An application should b.
made upon the first appearance of the small
larva npon the vines, and repeated as often as
necessary to keep the pest in check. Neighbors
should unite In this war upon the beetle, and il
they will do this there need be no failure of the
potato crop. Paris green can be purchased a,
any of our drug -Niddlstorn Journal
The New SUBSTITUTE FOR CoAL.-It was
stated short time ago that Belgian peasant
had made the extraordinary discovery that earth,
coal and soda, mixed together, would burn al
well as, if not better than, any other combustl.
BILE. The fact has since then been proved be-
yond doubt. The parisian paper, the Noniss,w
has gone so far as to make the experiment at its
printing office. correspondent of the Josraa
Of the Society Of Arts has also tested the com
pound with the most satisfactory results. The
mixture was made as follows To Is ID. Of
mould were added ID. Of powdered coal; also
one pint of q solution Of common washing soda
water, one pint; soda, one ounce. The mass
was worked up after the fashion of mortar and
then made into balls about the size of large
orange. Half q dozen balls in the wet state
very brightly. In q short time the moisture was
driven OF, and the balls quickly became red-hot
giving out strong heat, and apparently burn.
ing slowly without falling to pieces, the soda nc
doubt acting a Aux. The balls, on being
touched with poker, broke into Jumps, which
burnt like cinders, yielding fire clear at the
top. 1t was observed that after the moisture
was driven off the bale burnt without smoke
The ash was apparently of a heavy character.
different from coal ash.
PACKING PLANTS TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES
In packing plants for transmission to distant
places, Or. Thurber says there is more danger
from too much than from too little moisture
The best packing material is sphagnum or bog
moss, and this should be just so damp only az
to DO elastic to the touch. Plants packed in
this, if not too damp, will remain for weeks un-
injured that is, if the plants are at rest. An
other thing is to pack close. If sending by post
take piece of strong brown paper Lay the just
damp-not wet-moss upon it; put the plant.
upon the moss, and more moss over the plants.
Then begin at one end of the paper and roll uE
hard, secure with string, and then put another
paper over for directions. So, in packing In
boxes, use the moss just damp, and have the
box full and crammed down hard, so that there
can he no possibility of moving or shaking in