The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-22

were nrst seen in Pennsylvania. LaN season they
injured the tuDers very much, having matters an
their own way, the farmers being unacqualniea
with their habits and ignorant Of any remedy
10 nse against them. The full grown
beetles hide In the earth all the winter
and appear again IN the spring. and, az
they are known TO Increase with incredible rapid
ity-one scientist estimates that from single pair
the increase ia one season VIII equal the astound-
Ing number Of co. 100000 lit becomes matter OF
importance TO know how great this multiplication
has been since last year, TO what extent the bug
has injured the potato plant IN their State, and
now the supply OF the vegetable VIII DC affected In
the markets OF the country. In fact tho question
OF the success OF the crop all over the country Is
becoming q very serious one, and too careful con-
sideratlon cannot be given to the necessity OF
finding, If possible, some satisfactory means OF
extermlnating this voraclous little creature. NOR
is IL the potato alone that suffers The reports
show that they destroy The tomato with equal
voracity. The information given below VIII be
seen, unfortunately, to verify the predictions OF
naturalists. The present condition OF nearly every
county In Pennsylvanla, as far as the potato crop
IS concerned Will be found, in a condensed form,
over 500 dispatches having been received
from every agricultural district OF the
state. 1t is rather too early IN the
season to make any positive predic-
ton as to what the fate OF the crops may eventu-
ally be, The season Is unusually backward all
through the State on account OF late frosts and
drouth, and the second crop' OF bugs land the
most destructive by far has not yet put IN It's ap
pearance IN many places so that, although the re-
ports which we publish snow, unfortunately,
that there has already been much destruction OF
tho tender vlnes later aovlces viii snow still
worse condition IL Is feared. The female insect
reaches its full growth IN about fortnight and
beglns to deposit It's eggs by the thousanu. These
hatch out In q few days, and the young immedl-
stely begin feeding ON the tenoer leaves OF the
VINE. Several generations hatch out In season.
and constant EFFORTS at determination are neces-
sary TO keep them down. There has been very
strong prejudice against using Paris green on the
vines by many farmers, and IL seems 10 be
an open question whether this objection
is not wen founded. Some authorities
state that This preparation OF arsenic Is the
best to Kill The bugs, ana that no harm TO the
vines can result. on the other hand, 1t rs asserted
that there Is no danger In using tails poison. Pro-
lessor William Paine, OF this city, asserts that IL
is a dangerous remedy, and that potatoes grown
from vines which have been sprInkled with this
poison are likely 70 be harmful the bugs do not
eat the Paris green, ne says Tney eat only The
leaves OF the vine after its juice has been poisoned
by the arsenic OF the Paris green. As the root Is
fed rom the sap of the leaves, and as there is poi
son enough In the leaves to Kill these parasites
ne does not see why the tu0er should not also be-
come injected. The Professor Is now experiment
ing In the matter, and not quite prepared
TO give 3 final opinion; but he strongly
inclined TO think that the prejudice against Paris
green is one that should be respected. lie based
his superstition on The belief that the bugs do not
die from eating the poison ITSELF but from tue
,ufcaa nj lany abaOrhed the
arsenic In this your correspondent can corrobo-
rate the Professor. for IN some experiments with
the bugs In their fully developed condition he
found that they might be lett in the strongest
preparation oil Paris green or corrosive snblimate
for day without any dlmlnuton OF their vitality.
1t viii be seen by the advlces below that very
many farmers find that picking by hand Is the
only sure way OF Kidding their potato patches OF
the beetle. 1his Is the method which Is generally
USED on small places. Another means oil extermIna-
ton is to use Denzne, but this destroys the vine
as well, even when carefully used. Professor
Paine recommends as certain cure, ana one
cheap enough TO be always available, prepare
tion or water lime SULPHUR, In the proportions
OF pound each OF lime and sulphur and Tour gal
Ions OF water. The bugs drink gree Oily oil this,
and die very soon afterward.
Another important suggestion TO farmers Is 10
acquaint themselves with and encourage all IN
sects Qke the le0td caccinil1J which prey upon
and destroy the eggs OF the beetle. To let the
chickens into the patch II practicable is excel
lent assistance TO the market gardener. as they
win eat the insects greedlly.
the potato crop this year viii undoubtedly fan
far short oil last year, and prices wiz consequently
be higher
The prospects are good for an average crop.
Early potatoes have not been much injured as
yet The bugs have not been as voracious nor
as numerous as last year. Farmers have taken
warning by last years. attacks and nave killed the
eggs in time, and the bugs have been thereby
kept down. Late potatoes VIII be planted as
usual. The prospect or good late yield, how
ever depends much upon the weather. II 1t should
be dry the bugs viii increase. There Is q pre-
JUDGE against the use OF Paris green.
ALLEGHENY
The beetle Is not SO numerous as last year,
ana late potatoes viii not be planted In some por-
tons The prospects for a good yield are favora-
Die More potatoes have been planted than last
season, and Paris green Is used TO destroy the
nlts Potatoes, ike everything else, VIII be late.
ARMSTRONG.
In some portions the Bugs arc scarce and the
yield VIII only be Eept BACK by the late season;
bur in others a constant war,are Is necessary 10
prevent the bugs ron spreading. Hand-pickinG
Is found 10 10 the surest method OF extermlnation
on the whole the crop viii be as good as last
Years II the farmers continue watching It Us
vigorously "a az present. A despatch from Free
port says THE prospect OF good crop or It's
early varieties IS better than last year at pres
emit. The bugs have increased TO such an extent
that there VIII be ABSOLUTELY no potatoes where
the bugs are not destroyed. The farmers are
doing battle to some purpose, however. The bugs
are nov deposltlng their eggs on the leaves or
the vine, blades OF grass, &c, and planters must
90 over plant By plant The bugs are breeding
fast and are moving north by west. We viii
plant late potatoes because last year the late
crop was the best. Farmers are inclined to try
both this year. If not patted with the insects
would destroy the entire crop. IL attacks every
thing in the garden, and IS a. bad on the tomato
as the potato"
BEAVER
More potatoes planted than for a number or
years, ana the yield will be good. In consequence