The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-06-24
THE POTATO BUG.


THE POTATO BUG,
The largely increased forces of this
pest which have made their appearance
over different parts Of the country, has
caused unusual attention to be directed
towards them; their rayages, and the most
effective means OF procuring their des-
truction. They have long been Il source
of much anxiety to the farmers Of our
own State rs has been fully exempitied
10y the tone of our country correspon.
Icncc and now they have appeared in
large numbers in New York, New jersey
and Pennsylvania, and threaten to cx-
tend their ravages in every direction. He
"a staying creature too, say the cnto-
mologists, for where he once gets foot
hold, it is almost impossible to get rid Of
him entirely, though, fortunately, 1t is
believed that the greatest amount of
damage done by him is during the first
few years Of his soiourn The full grown
bugs hide in the earth MI winter, and APP
pear again in the spring, when the rapid
ity of their increase is almost incredible.
We notice that one scientist estimates
that the increase from asingle pair in one
season will reach thcenormous amount Of
COOOO,OOO. The female insect reaches its
lull growth in about fortnight ana be-
gins to deposit its eggs by the thousand.
These hatch ont in few days, and the
Young Immediately begin feeding on the
tender leaves of the vine. Several gem
cratiuns hatch out in season, and
constant efforts ut determination are re-
ces,ary to keep them down. Some idea
can be- formed from this, how much dana
age they threaten to the potato crop, and
not to this alone, but reports
show that they attack the
tomato plant with equal yoracity.
The most natural thing in the world
which suggests itself to farmers first Of
all regarding this pest: Is TO devise ways
and means for lis destruction. The
remedy usually adopted in thi, State is
To- poison them with Paris Green. This
appears to be- effective, though among
many farmers, u strong prejudice against
the Use of this poison, I'M, sprung up. \
scientist of Philadelphia, Professor
WILLIAM PAINE, asserts that 1t Is a dan
gcrous remedy, and that potatoes grown
from vines which have been Sprinkled
with this poison, are likely to be- harm
ful. The bugs do not eat the Paris
Green, he says They cut only the leaves
of the vine after its juice has been poi
soncd by the arsenic of the Paris Green.
A. the root is fed from the sap of the
leaves, and as there Is poison enough in
the leaves to kill these parasites, he does
not see why the tuber should not also be-
come infected. The Professor is now cX-
perimenting in the matter, and not quite
prepared to give final opinion; but he is
strongly inclined to think that the prciu-
dice against rari, Green is one that
should be respected
He bases his opinion on the ground
that the bugs are poisoned by eating
leaves which have absorbed the poison
and since the root is fed from the Leaf
II too. must'bc effected. He recommends
AS safe and sure, the following: "a
prcparatiou of water, lime and sulphur,
in the proportions of pound each OF
lime and sulphur and four gallons OF
water. The bugs drink grecdiIy of thu.
and die very soon aiterward.'
ON the other hand, it is asserted that
mo- harm whatever can result from Pari,
Green. and the authority is OF the highest
heinr no less than that of Professor Nc
MrRrRlE of the National Department OF
Agriculture AT Washington. Regarding
him and his experiments, we read that
othis gentleman is rcputed to be the most
thoroughly and infinitely informed scien,
tifc man in the county on this subject.
In particular, ne has made constant
experiments with view to ascertain the
effect Of mineral poisons, especially those
containingarscnico on the health otPlantS
This is point of great interest, mas
much rs it has been found that the pota-
to bug can be exterminatcd by poison,
and Paris Green ia mixture of arSenite
and acetate of copper is the cheapest
and most easily applied poison adapted to
this use. Fears, however, have been
raised that the poison which kills the
grubs of the beetle may enter INTO the
composition of the plant, making the
remedy worse than the evil. Upon this
point Prof. McMURTRIE's experiments
tend to dissipate all fears.
In the plants that were