Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-05-14
Cultivation of Irish Potatoes

Cultivation Of Irish Potatoes Beetles.
: The impression now abroad is that, in
: consequence of the fear Of the Colorado
beetle, vast number Of farmers will fail
to put in the usual supply of potatoes.
We think this is wrong, as the enemy to
this csculcnt can be thwarted in his ravages
by a little care and at an expense OF not
more than 50 to So per acre. We have
frequently presented our views upon the
subject of the management of the beetle,
but the importance of the matter induces
us to present some hints from the New
York Times, which may be considered use
full in connection with the application of
the Paris green, which, by the by, it may
be considered as an established fact, is the
; surest ingredient for the prevention of its
ravages.
This substance is deadly poison, and,
applied in a fnely-divided condition to
the foliage of the potatoes, is instant death
to every beetle upon the leaves or stalks.
On account of its poisonous qualities, 1t
must he used with caution, The safest
method of using it is to mix it with water
in common garden watering pot, taking
care to keep the mixture stirred. AS tie
poison is not soluble in water, it must be
kept in suspension. This is easily done,
as 1t is very finely divided, and frequen:
stirring or shaking is all that is needed.
TO make the mixture more permanent, we
would suggest the addition of portion
Of the cheapest kind of molasses to the
water. or some gclatinous or mucilaginous
substance. as thin glue or starch water, or
the jelly of limseed This would keep the
powder longer in suspension. and cause it
to adhere to the foliage more strongly.
One teaspoonful Of the powder to the pail
fll If water is sufficient. and the mixture
is scattered over the crop as one walks
along the row. This is perfectly safe
method of application, and obviates the
danger OF inhaling the powder which oc-
ours " hen it is scattered in "a dry state
upon the crop.
As soon rs the crop appears above the
surface oi the ground, the beetle may be
looked for \ few may be seen to-day,
and. if neglected, there may be a myriad
Tomorrow The beetles will soon lay their
eggs upon the underside Of the leaves, and,
l> these hatch, the repulsive Larvae crowd
over the plants and quickly strip them of
their foliage. II is, therefore, absolutely
imperative for success that as soon as the
first beetle is seen the Paris green should
be applied. This application will dispose
Of the first colony. Fresh arrivals may be
expected in the course of few days, when
The application must be repeated.
New arrivals must be provided for and
treated rs soon as they appear. If watch
tulneSs is exercised there is no reason why
this dreaded beetle should be of any
greater damage than an extra cost of two
or three dollars per acre. \ pound of the
Paris green. costing probably fifty cents
will be sufficient to cover an acre. AS to
the fear Of injury to the quality of the crop
from the use Of the poison there need be
none. That exists only in the imagina-
tion OF excitable individuals who seek
after = new sensation. The Western far
me-s have used enormous quantities OF
n..is green t17 years past, but the first case
Of injury 10 the crop has yet to be heard
of Ihe quantity used is so small as to
have no effect upon the soil whatever, and
.coulI not be detected by the most careful
chemical analysis.
But there are some other considerations
which ought To be noted. At the best,
the crop will receive some damage from
the pests, and it will be matter of wis
dom 20 enrich the soil as much as possible
that the plants may be enabled TO resist
the draft upon their vitality by partial
loss oftheir foliage. Early planting and
quick maturity will get the crop out of
the way before the main army appears. 1t
viii be we'll TO manure the ground liberal
ly; cultivate thoroughly and frequently,
choose free going early y-maturing varieties,
and force the crop from the first. Once
the tUbcrs are matured, no injury can oc-
cur to them through any attack upon the
vines. The late crop may be planted as
usual, ii desired, bat constant watchful-
, ness must be exercised to save it until it
is mature
There is no better fertilizer for potatoes
than thoroughly -rotted barn-y yard manure.
Fresh. strong manure tends to produce
! diseased tubers, rough, scabby skins. and
, it encourages the presence OF white grubs,
which frequently attack and damage ten
der Iicshed varieties. We have had fine
crop of early rose halt consumed by these
grubs, which were Matched from eggs laid
in the fresh manure. The best special fer
tilizers are superphosph flime or wood
ashes. In place Of the latter, German
potash salts may be used at the rate of
800 pounds per acre. Two hundred and
fifty pounds of superphosphate of lime, or
fifty bushels ofwood ashes per acre, or both
together. would furnish valuable dress
ing for this crop, in place of barn-yard
manure, or as help TO it.-B,1N. -4mericon.