Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-06-23
THE C0LRlDO PoTAT0


city, and that in hue time wo might
expect them in greh. abundance. They
have now appeared in formidable mum
bers, and from the numerous letters
received during the past few days,
asking information regarding them,we
conclude that there are still many
potato growers who are ignorant Of
The habits of this insect and the means
suitable for its destruction
For nearly or quito sixteen years
this beetle has bcehri advancing, or
more strictly speaking, spreading over
the country from ITS native habitat,
the plains near the base of the Rocky
Mountains, where il was first discover
cd. Taking .he ratio of its progress
eastward fer the first two years after
il was found, il would not have reached
the Atlantic coast until 1878; but il
has doubtless been helped along by the
railroads, specimens flying into the
car windows, and being carried miles
before they could escape
This insect crossed the Mississippi
river from Iowa into Wisconsin in
1864, or the spring of 1865, and has
consequently advanced more than one
hundred miles per annum in direct
line, instead of about sixty, the rate of
which it moved through Nebraska and
Iowa. But il has at last reached the
Atlantic coast and abounds from this
city southwark for several hundred
miles. Its progress through the New
England States is only n question Of
time, probably not extending beyond
the present season.
We hear OF some farmers in this
neighborhood ploughing up their po-
tatoes and planting the land with corn,
instead OF trying to destroy the beetles.
Others talk of abandoning potato cul-
ture altogether ThiAis Unnecessary,
if proper methods Of destroying the
beetle are adopted. The people IN
other portions Of the country, where
this insect has been abundant for
years, have not abandoned potato
culture, and there is DO good reason
for doing so anywhere. But the
beetles must be killed, or they will
destroy the crop.
There will be probably three broods
of beetles during the SEASON, the latest
one remaining alive OVER winter in the
, beetle stage, like the common squash
bug and the spotted melon beetle,
crawling away under the bark of old
logs, or into outbuildngs at the ap-
proach of cold weather and remaining
there until the next spring. The
female Colorado beetle, which has
passed through the winter seeks ior
the first potato leaf that appears, and
deposits her eggs upon the under side
but as soon as the eggs hatch tho
small, oval, yellowish grnbs commence
eating the leaves, which they devou
very rapidly. 1t is in this stage that
the insect does its principal damage tC
the crop, as the perfect beetle eat'
very little. Now, when the larva ol
, grub is at work on the leaves, IFS dc
, struction is most readily accomplished
, In dry weather they may be brushed
+ from the leaves with broom. Thost
falling on the hot, parched grounC
will perish, as they are incapable o
crawling to any considerable distance
I and the heat Of the earth and the sur
! soon destroys them. But this metho,
will not answer, except when th'
vines are small, and before they spreaG
over the ground nor viii it be effect
ual in cloudy, moist weather.
The most certain method of destruc
tion is poisoning with Paris green
Objectionable as the use of this viru
lent poison may be, still no iniuriou
effect upon man or beast about TIN
{ farm need follow, if precautionary
7 measures are adopted. A very minute
e quantity only of the poison is require,
! to kill the grubs; consequently TO in
Q sure an even distribution over th
plants without any considerable waste
:. sorno ~ehiolo may be employed. 1
> can be distributed in water, but con
l slant agitation of the mixture is re
!. quired, or the green will settle at Tn
o bottom of the vessel.
Q Probably the best vehicle is houl
/ any cheap, second-rate quality of whicl
$ viii answer the purpose One pount
: of Paris green mixed with lifteel
pounds of flour is good proportion
but it should be thoroughly and evenl,
4 mixed. If the flour mixture
/, sprinkled over the leaves of the poto
. toes in the morning, while they ar
q wet with dew, it adheres closely, an
3 the grubs cannot feed without eatin
, some particles of the poison, which
} certain death to them To mix tn
/, green with the flour, put them bot
into a barrel or any tight, deep vesse
and stir them with stick, being care
'i not to inhale any of the dust whic
4 may arise during the operation.-
h Probably, however, the poison may b
o purchased already prepared for us,
4 mixed by machinety, and this woul
s be preferable to the home-mixe
is arcicle.
$. A two-quart tin pail, with cove
ID will make q cluster affixed TO han
die three to four feet long The bo
tom of the pail should be perforatc
id with numerous small holes. just larg
d. enough to allow the mixture to pas
70 through IN fine particles, There is n
,e use in applying the poison until tn
,e larvG of the beetles begin to eat tn
ID leaves pretty freely. If the poison
IN applied too early, it will be washed o
r. by rains before the eggs are hatchet
ct and the grubs may escape it; therefor
ID it best to wait until they are fairly {
M work on the leaves. Then with III
duster 90 over the field and dust eac
hill or row thoroughly. The operatio
VI can be performed quite rapidly, an
y the materials are not expensive. Th
u powder should be applied in the morl
'u ing while the leaves are wet with dey
u and when no wind is blowing.
~ ~ second application may be necessar
'k within week after the first one, bl
nc this must be determined by an exam
lu ination of the plants. Should se
cS ond brood of beetles appear before III
potatoes are ripe, they must be d
nc stroyed in the same manner WestcI
nc farmers, who have had most expei
ence in fighting this insect, assert thi
he they can save their potatoes from d
mt struction at cost ofabout five dolla
'rs per acre by the use Of Paris green.
M A few writers have cndcavored
II. frightcn the people by asserting thi
- A. a