The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-07-08
AGRICULTURAL department.
sY ALBERT CHAPMAN.
Potato Bugs.

Reports indicate that the Colorado
beetle IL likely to do damage In various
parts Of the country during the present
season. The following discussion took
place few days since at meeting OF
the Elmirs Farmers Club, y. V, and
was reported in the Husbandmnn
President Hoffman, went out to my
potato field just before coming up here
to see II the bugs had come. 1 thought
Of walking over the lot, five or six acres
In extent, just coming up we'll, that i
might Judge of the probable ravages,
but was satisfied with very short
walk, for the bugs were plentiful as far
AZ went. Now would like 10 know
If any farmer has found any means of
destroying them as effectual as Paris
green, and at the same time safer to
handle. Ishall use Paris green unless
safer means Of destroying them are re-
ported. Last year by single appllca'
ton my potatoes were saved, but Paris
green ia a poison, and there Is more or
less risk Ia handling 1t. If farmers
would make thorough work with the
bugs, they must begin early. think
10 that case two applications would eff
fs,t the purpose.
o.. Bandfield--.I believe Oil my Held
there was bushel Of bugs before had
them picked OFF While working In q
field beyond so that the sun shone over
the potatoes toward me, could see the
bugs In the air continually flying to-
ward the potatoes. lam confident that
they will take our crops this season,
unless we meet thom promptly.
President Hofi'man-All my fears OF
the bad effect of Paris green on the tu-
bers have been quleted since last year,
when the matter was discussed. The
clearest and most convincing statement
has been furnished by the faculty of
the Michigan Agricultural College.
Careful experiments were made, and as
the result 1t was shown that Paris green
10 the extent Of many times what is re-
quired for the destruction of the bugs
might be incorporated with the soil
without poisoning the tubers. That
gives me no uneasiness now, but there
IL still an element of danger in the APP
plication. The poison Is of Il subtle
character. and we must therefore be
very par ticular TO prevent inhaling 1t,
OF bringing 1t In contact with the hands
If the skin be broken.
Last year had sitter made, and at
tached 1t TO the end of stick like q
hoe handle. The poison was mixed
with -four. aud then the person operat'
ing walked to the windward of the row
10 which It was to be applied, and sift-
ed little on each hill. The effect was
immediate.
John Bridgman--I put tablespoon
ful 10 pail Of water, and went along
with a small wisp broom, sprinkling
the tops. That WAS my first use Of
Paris green. The second time put q
little -four In the water, which had the
effect of making 1t adhere better to the
leaves, and I think was better. The
two applications completely cleared out
the bugs. saw many persons using
common sprlnklers. and I believe they
were successful.
v. Strouse-I had three and a hall
acres. and had to put the poison on but
once. The rows were thirty rods long
and the potatoes planted In drills eight
teen inches in the rows. so 1t required
a considerable sprinkllng to 60 through
row. put the poison In water, which
was supplied by cask at each end and
one In the middle of the field. Three
men did the sprlnkling In half day
aud boy carried the water to supply
the casks. l bought two pounds OF the
poison, and there was quarter of
pound left. A few rows were 80 com
pletely covered with bugs when pu
the poison Oh that thought they wer'
not worth saving, so 1 did nothing with
them. They yielded no potatoes. Blu
the field gave q good crop with no fur
Their trouble from the bugs after thu
sprinkllng WIS done.
Joseph Hoffman--Wheat shorts Il
better than the -four to mix with, for !
will not work into Jumps so readily. 81
Is buck wheat -four better.
President Hoffman, 1t Is an advan
tage to use something of the kind, 70
1t will cause the poison to stick to tn
leaves. noticed last year that 1t ad
hered after two or three light showers
Thorough Culture.