Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-24
line. It has also orerrun PORTIONS Of

line. 1t has also overrun portions Of
Canada.
A writer in the Canadian EntopsoIo-
gist estimates that if the progeny of a
single pair of theseinsects wereaIlowed
to increase without molestation for an
entire season, the result would amount
to over six millions Of bugs, which will
give some idea Of their powers of re-
production.
Though the potato is its particular
food it viii feed upon other plants, such
as the tomato, egg plant, etc.
Considering the wonderful reproduc-
tive powers of the beetle, it has been a
matter of conjecture with many per-
sons how their numbers were kept even
within the present limit. The main
canse is due to insect agency, as there
are many species of insect that prey
upon the Colorado beetle in nearly
every stage Of its existence. 1t is de-
stroyed in the egg state by the "lsdy
bugs" and in the larva state it is
preyed upon by a dozen or more spe-
cies of plant bugs and beetles; the
larva of a parasitic fly lives in the body
of the beetle, and a wasp carries it to
its nest for food. There are altogether
over twenty different species of insect
that prey upon the beetle.
The United States Department of
Agriculture recommends the use of
Paris green mixed with ashes, land
plaster or -four in the proportion Of
one to twelve or fifteen, which should
be busted on the plants when the dew
is on the foliage. Any sort of a dredg-
ing box will answer the purpose. Three
pounds of Paris green to about forty
pounds of plaster or -four will answer
for an acre. Another methods to mix
the Paris green with water at the rate
of one pound TO forty gallons, and
sprinkle the plants Herewith.
Where manipulating is resorted to,
great care should be exercised, as
there is much danger from the poison
GUS nature of the insect, which has
caused death in several instances.
They may poison in three ways-from
contact by crushing between the
thumb and fngETs or hands, from per-
sons eating without first carefully
cleansing the hands after handling
them, and from inhaling the steam
arising from vessels in which they are
sometimes scalded. There are cases
on record where persons have been Sc
riously injured, and death even result
ed from all three causes. As Paris
green is also a violent poison, composed
largely of arsenic, great care should be
exercised in its use.
The value of potatoes IN local mar
kets, according to the statistics Of the
u. S. Department of Agriculture, has
fully averaged $50, 600, 900 for the whole
crop since the prevalence of the potato
bug, and the loss from these insects
may be considered an underestimate at
S12,0OO,O0O year.
Several European Governments have
prohibited the importation of American
potatoes, fearing the introduction Of
the pest into the Old World; but these
proceedings have been regarded as
foolish, as it is known that the insect
has nothing to do with the tuber either
in the egg, larva OF beetle state. As
they become numerous about seaport
cities, danger is to be apprehended
from their finding their way upon out.
ward-bound vessels, and a single pair
taking passage" on one Of our fast
steamers, might be sufficient to estab-
lish the pest IN Great Britain and
eventually the Continent of Europe