The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-04
THE POTATO PEST.

RAvAeEs OF THE COLORADO BEETLK-rN
NATURAL HISTORY REMEDY ron IT'S Ell
TERMINATION IMPORTANT FACTS FOR porA-
TO GROWERS.
LANSING, Mich, June 2, 1875.
The following 10 extracted from the forthcoming
report OF the State Agricultural Board OF Michi.
gan, and is written py Professor A. ]. Cook OF
Lansing, Mich
II any one should doubt that this late conner
among our pests takes first rank as an enemy ia
our field crops he would only need TO glance al
the market columns OF any OF our journals "a
become speedily convinced o. his error. what
signifies the fact that potatoes are quoted.
and have been for the past two or three
years, even In the rural journals, at 81
that the potato beetle is Iast converting com.
mon article OF diet into luxury? Nay. more, II
asserts that even known remedies are slow OF APP
plicaton. Though In this we have a very
cheap and perfectly effective remedy, still actual
observation and the high price OF potatoes prove
mat barely hail our farmers make use of IL. Tner0
can be no doubt that, should this article induce
AL our farmers Ito hgat the potato beetle by the
500, 600 to the wealth OF our State the coming
year.
The history OF this beetle; that IL is native Of
Colorado, where 1t was discovered named and
bridge OF potato vines 1t infested our western
states less than score OF years since. and from
actually gained our Atlantic coast where IL only
awaits opportunity 70 take passage Tor Europe,
where II VIII continue It's dreaded ravages In tho
already wen known.
NATURAL HISTORY.
The natural history OF tho potato beetle Is also
familiar TO most or our farmers. IL comes forth
out OF the eartn as a beetle, just as the potaAo
vines are peerlng from the ground. Sometimes 90
the creature stands over the hl 1t seems larry to
grin In expectaut longing Tor the rich, tender
feast which nature Is ABOUT TO spread. With the
coming OF warm days the female LAYS her clusters
OF orange eggs, sometimes 10 the number OF
th0usand-a single beetle which | confined
her on
under side OF the leaves or the potato
vines, or on blades OF grass or other vegetables
near oy. These soon hdtcn when the Young or
larvae are found TO eat quite voraciously as the
mature beetle. In about dlteeR DAYS he Young
ground to pupate. After about ten days OF such
quiet chey oome forth IN the beetle state, ana
from tnelr freshness IL might he thought that the
old-time beetles had been absent 10 get new
suit, aud nad Just returned TO show their
nasa. Of rns yellow sns ba wa nass
eggs ana soon die, behaving IN all respects az
before. So too the larve aud pu2a. These again
are followed by a third brood. which completes
toe rulnous work Tor the season; but the pupR OF
TINS last brood do not come forth ten days, nor
earth, seem TO be gathering strength Tor 4 miser.
able repetition oil the previous years aoomlnation.
REMEDIES
Inasmuch as Paris green is so practical, so EN-.
Client, and SO cheap remedy Tor TINS pest, shall
in this place do what every farmer mad better do
on MS farm-ignore all otner means, such
as manipulating, machinery, &c, as too
expensive anu not sumcienty tnorougn.
q
OF cOurse-ls entirely safe, ana we may well well
como the change OF Its use from our beautiful
green tinted wall papers, where It's poisonous ex.
halations have long gcndered disease ana death,
10 the richer green OF our potato 1elds The two
methods which nave been tried at the College,
with the best success as TO economy are either 70
mix the green with water, q neaplng tablespoon.
ful TO ten quarts OF the iun, and sprinEle with
o common sprinkler or an old broom, or 10 MIX
the green with nour IN the proportion Of
one part Of green 10 six or -four, suited
when there Is no dew on the vines, either
I through muslin bag, suspended 10 9 conventent
handle, that IL may be carried and shaken over
the vines, the person making tue application
walking upright. or with pau, the bottom being
OF due wire gauze or finely perforated tin. Where
these methods are used tho whole expense pei
acre, Tor botn material and cost OF application,
will not exceed SIS Tor tue season. After careful
pre- eraDle TO all otner preparations. Tue 1oui
makes the green adhere 90 the vines, that
the heaviest rain Is poweriess 10 remove
It. No second application Is needed TIL
enlarged growth OF vines demand IL.
l mako the mixture strong-One OF
powder TO six OF -four, so tnat in making the an.
phcation we need add only just enough oil the
mixture that we may be able TO see II 90 the
vines. | nave thus Teen enabled TO safety Apply
ths mixture even 10 our tender melon and
cucumber vines. would not apply Il we tnd
dew Is on as the application will lie more even II
the vines are dry, aud, win the strength recon-
nended above viii always prove crectual. I
think this is the most economical method yet
recommended By using the -four mixture nave
found that Two applications are always sufficient
Tor our early varleties, ana frequently for later
ones, ana three applications are IN case all
that are needed, even IN seasons OF heaviest rama