The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-01
The Colorado Beetle in Iowa.

Iowa farmers grow potatoes as plenti-
fully now as they ever did, but it is not
done with the same labor or with the
same careless handling common before
the advent OF the greatest pest that ever
sought to destroy the crop. | see the
papers are full of recommendations of
Paris-green; but Iowa farmers use none
OF it. 1t is well known that to grow a
successful crop of potatoes requires
bloom upon the tops. Paris-green will
kill the beetles, but the young ones get
no size until they have worked enough
to eat the bloom buds. as there is where
they cluster first; and to poison them
then is like poisoning mice to keep them
from eating your see6-corn after they
have consumed the sprout. To war
against the bugs" the fight must be
made with those that first come out of
the ground and cluster upon the potato
leaf just shooting above the surface, to
prevent the deposit of eggs. One des-
troyed then IS worth a thousand DESTROY
ed in August. This is done by going
over the rows and picking them off by
them in straw. After the tops get large
enough to admit OF it, a pan and stick
is used by going along the rows and
shaking the old and young bugs into
the pan. and thus continue The fight un-
til the crop is grown: In burning, care
is needed not to breathe the smoke. A
small pile of straw is placed upon the
ground. and the bugs are poured upon
it; some more straw is placed upon the
bugs, and then it is fixed. There is no
danger from handling them, with pro-
per care and cleanliness.
NThose kinds of potatoes that grow a
rank top resist the ravage best, as some
OF the tiner-leaved kinds are more easily
destroyed. The white Neshannock IS
very easily destroyed-the bugs like it
besi--while the Early Rsse and Peach
blow varieties are not well liked, and
are almost exclusively grown in Iowa.
Those who are acquainted with the po-
tato beetle know they attain certain
size, and then go into the ground and
there pass through change, and come
out with wings and can fly. So beetles
are continually entering the ground and
coming out, and you may destroy the
pests on your vines to-day. and there
may be as many more again in a few
days. / see some foreign Governments
have forbidden the importation OF Amer
lean potatoes tor fear Of introducing the
bugs. They might as well forbid the
introduction of American corn for fear
of getting the clt-worm. The cut-worm
does not burrow in the corn: neither
does the colorado beetle burrow in the
potato, nor deposit eggs there. but only
upon the green leaf. The foreign fear
/ from our potatoes is unfounded, and is
| the sheerest nsnsense, Those who
plant potatoes should he made to at
tend 10 them properly, or not plant them,
because they only grow bugs for some
body else's benefit. have seen field
of potato tops completely eaten up, even
the stalks skinned, and then there were
four or five bushels of bugs in all stages
Of growth seeking for pastures new.
Some were able to fly, others only able
to crawl. and all striking out in all d.
rections. They would crawl in the
wells. the kitchens, the hotels, the
woods, and even could be seen trying
the dietetic qualities of young lady )
green-leaved artifcials as she gaily
sailed up the aisle in church,. J. c.,
1 Grand Junction, I0Ud.