Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-05-26

THIs is what 4 recent writer says about
the coming potato bug: Notwithstanding
the many skiru,ishes we have bad With the
Colorado Potato Beetle, the real greet bat
tie is yet 70 be fought, and it win probably
be fought the coming year. The field of
the struggle has hitherto been west of the
Allcghanies, but that has never been q dis
t.nctively potato-growshg segion. Potatoes
were, Of course, grown in large quantities,
but never to the extent OF leading article
Of commerce. In the East il is one of the
leading staples, and We question very much
whether 10 the farmers of Maine, Massachu-
setts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New
York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware,
and Maryland, there - not more s,ade from
potatoes than from any crop grown. To
,he pcop,e Of these States the invasion OF
the Colorado Beetle will be nearly as great
blow as the grasshopper invasion was to
Kansas and Nebraska.
There Was no doubt an immense number
Of eggs deposited last fall, and it will be
hopeless TO cope with these insects in
general Ssy. The newspaper did their
duty in calling attention 10 them, but there
are so many people who do not read the
papers. All last season the writer had
10! go through his potatoes and pick off
the larve as soon they appeared. 1t
did not cost much, but the continual influx
of beetles from other peoples potato fields
kept W the stock to such a degree; that
before the tall the foreman felt il hopeless
task, and required considerable encourag.
ing to induce him TO persevere 10 the end.
So many people 40 not read the papers, and
the whole community suffers from This class.
But it cannot be helped. Their neglect of
last year will bring the enemy down on US
in legions. For this reason hand picking,
except. perhaps, very early in the season,
win be no Use at all. We have to make up
our minds that we are on the eve Of a seri-
Gus battle if VIC would save our potatoes;
and We may as wen at once review our re-
sources, 50 that on the morrow we may be
ready when the ehemy comes.
SO far nothing has been found equal to
Paris greeu--a cheap but poisonous COM
pound of arseiiic and copper. 4 few pounds
OF this is mixed with ashes, dry earth, or
anything that will serve to commute or
make The few pounds do for whole acre.
The young larva eat the poison with the
leaves, and are in this way destroyed. Ii
is best, therefore, to sPsly the matter while
the dew Is oi tile leaves, or after shower,
as il sticks on the leaves better; and, per-
haps it may be necessary TO repeat the dose
after a heavy rain. The plan of mixing
with earth or ashes is Western one. Some
in the East say il is better to dilute with
wa:ef; aid Use in a water cart or sprinkler.
II may be best, but we do not know any
thing from experience. Ii it answer, il
might save from danger in handling The
poisonous mixture, rs great care has to be
used 10 get ON the wi.dward side in dis
tributing the powder, to keep it out of the
eyes, nose and mouth. Indeed, the use OF
the Paris green in this way was made the
OCCASION of a depreciative paper last fall ry
an excellent scientific gentleman, who
thinks the land viii be poisoned, and many
evils result from its use. But the best
answer is that in the West, rhHte for some
seven years it has been in extensive use, no
case ui injury is recorded. Indeed, iarm-
ere arc uscd 10 handling roisons Tor yer-
lnin. They have arsenic for rats, strych-
nine for Other things, and know how to use
these things judicious!y; and if they know
that Paris green Is a poison, they will
scarcely scatter il about OH their cabbage
and ssIad, or on such things as tomatoes
and fruits that one might eat fresh from the
vine.