Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-06-17
to 6;12l, $50. in 1870, the average fall

TO 6;121, $50. in 1870, the average fall.
ing of from liz, 600 to 1000 acres
The battle has since been waged with
varying success, the returns for 1871
9,627, 75S, and for 1873 5, ,966, ,3l6 BUSH
els. The first effect of their appearance
vas to deter the farmers from planting,
after which the advanced prices caused
a determined rally.
We have noticed briefly their won-
derful powers Of reproduction, and tits a
matter Of conjecture. with many per-
sons how their numbers are kept even
within the present limits. Doubtless
there are many causes for it, but we
think the greater part is due to the
insect agency, a there ass slaav spe-,
cies of insects that prey upon the Colo
RADIO beetle in nearly every stage of its
existence. It is destroyed in the egg
state by the ''lady bugs" (several spe-
cies), and in the larva state it is preyed
upon by a dozen or more species of plant
bugs and beetles; the larva Of pari.
site fly lives in the body of the larva of
the beetle, and wasp carries it to its
nest for food. There are, i'm all, over
twenty different species of insects that
prey upon it, but in our limited space
we cannot giveeven their names, though
the farmers should know them and learn
their habits and even protect them from
injury, for they viii do more than he,
with all his intelligence, in keeping
down this pest.
This brings us to the practical rart
of the subject-the means that l.all be
employed, not to exterminate t.Iem. for
that is hardly possible, but to lessen in
a great degree their rave ges; for, if by
artificial means We CAP SAFE one half of
the losses that woIld occur without
such effort, much has been done. Thus
far Paris gree. Las proved the only
available ard effec.ual remedy, if we
except hr.nd picking, which is only re-
liable to the same extent that It is la
borrow. It must, however, be pure to
'.,e Cfectual, and we regret to say that
tons of inferior or adulterated stuff are
sold every year. 1t is mixed withashes,
land plaster or -four, in the proportion
of one to twelve or fifteen, and should
be busted over the plauts in the morn
ing when the dew is on the foliage, re-
pcatinP in n week or ten DAYS, or after
rains, when the insects are most plcnti-
full, though We should advise taking
them early and preventing them from
becoming very numerous. A conve-
nient wlv Of dusting the vines evenly
is to prepare dredge on large scale,
from an old fruit can by puncturing
the bottom full Of hoss. and securing
to the side a piece of broom handle,
about two feet long The operator fills
this, and. CARRYING it in one hand. gently
taps the handle with similar stick,
held in the other hand, being careful
to always keep to windward. TIE speed
of the operator regulates the amount
used. Three pounds of Paris green to
about forty pounds of the plaster or
flour will answer for an acre.
Another method is to mix the green
with water at the rate of one pound to
forty gallons, and it is said to be as
effcctual as the first named plan. In
localities where the sun is hot during
the middle of the day some persons ad-
wise brushing them from the vines at
that time. and il has been stated that
the plan succeeded well. 1t is cheap
remedy and an easy one. Where hand
picking is resorted to, unless great care
is exercised. ther. is much danger from
the poisoning principle of the insect
which has caused death in several in
stances. They may poison in three
ways-from contact hy crushing be-
tween the thumb and fingers or hands
from persons eating without first care
fully cleansing the hands after handling
them. and from iuhaling the steam
arising from the vessels in which they
are sometimes scaldcd. There are cases
on record where persons have been Sc.
ricusly injured. and death even result.
cd from all three causes. As Pari,
green is also violen. poison, composed
largely of arsenic. great care should be
exercised in its use.
IL there are doubts as TO the purity
of The green used the following simpl,
test will give the amount of adultera-
tion Place n small quantity of tn,
green in test tube, adding little wa.
ter and caustic potash, which vii
take up the arsenic, throwing down
the oxide Of copper; wash this with q
little water 10 free il from the arsenitt
or potash: then add nitric acid and wa,
ter, which will dissolve the copper, leav.
ing the adultcration, if any. As mauy
farmers are predjudiced against the use
Of Paris green, fearing that it may. af.
ter continued application to the soil. be
assimi!ated by the plant and render the
tubers unfit for use. we will mention
briefly that Mr., McMurtrie, chemist oi
the Department of Agriculture, has af.
ter careful experiment, determined tha,
there can be danger from this source
but rs the result of his interesting ex.
perments will soon be published in full
We give the simple statement. In conclu.
sion. it behooves the farmers of COM
munitv 10 work together and in earn.
est. 4 few DAYS of hard fighting at the
beginning Of the campaign is worth
continued sieses Later i'll the season af.
ter the second brood has appeared and
the beetles are out in fun force
Nor should we advise reiying upon
one remedy alone, but taking the enemy
always at the best advantage. Early
in the season hand picking viii do much
TO keep them down; then, as they be,
come more numerous, follow with tn,
Paris green, always remembering tha'
eternal vigilance is the price Of
potatoes.
i CHARLES R. DopeE
| Ass.sta,f Eptnp,1y.~,,s, Irn..~l Ca.