The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-08-14
THE GREAT PEST.

rh. ColarnIo BrcIIs In n Srw ri. Id..iIow
the bug. Work In Sew SUrk md llrouk-
lyn.
The potato bug cannot be iguored.
They are having Jolly times at Rocka.
way, at Canarsie aud in the City OF
Churches. At Rockaway the beach is
alivo with tho bugs, and bathers who
enter tho breakers find themselves sur.
rounded by the half dead, half lively
insects, who float in and float out, until
some enterprisipg wave sends them far
up on the sand. Then, under the re-
viving influence OF the sup, they re.
cover consciousness, and march of
quickly toward the hotels, the green
fields and the gardens. No one seems
to know where they come from. But it
is very evident whero they aro going.
Tho potato fields at Cluarsie, aud OF all
the region roundabout, are dcnudcd OF
every leaf, and the vegetable itself is
utterly destroyed. In that vicinity egg
plant is largely cultivated. For this
delicious viandthc bug manifcsts marked
partially, and all the patches in which
that plant is grown arc devastated and
ruined. The streets Of Brooklyn arc
alive with them. They crHwl upon tho
pNvements, enter at the windows, creep
upon tho walls, mud nestle in the beds.
It does no good to sweep them out, for
they rally in force and return. It is un'
pleasant tomash them on the carpet. 1t
is impossible to drive them of.
Tho great social problem is " How
shall We get rid Of the potato bugs I"
A reporter OF comic paper called on
farmer White, OF Bergen county, N. j.,
and told him he wanted " material for q
funny article on the potato bug"
Brother White regarded tho reporter
intentIy for moment, then leading him
to u window, pointed impressively to q
desolatel tomato fed, burst into tears,
and loft him without q wor1. These
bugs arc no longer al entertainment.
Thoy aro o great public nuisance, under
everybody's feet Ind in everybody's
month. They come from the West in
swarms. They ly, they hop, they run,
they Heat, they jump. They travel on
boats, in carI, by wagons. Various
theories arc advanced about the myriads
that come by water. Some assert that
overcome by long flights across the
watcr they fall exhausted on the sur
face. Others argue that instinct leads
them to the water, on which they trust
themselves in full expectation OF bliss
iul cutrepot beyond the sea. But how
over men may differ on that point, they
absolutely Ggrco on the fact Of the
abiding presence OF tho monster pests.
An ingenious farmer Of New Jersey hHs
invented nu instrumentality OF relief, 80
far rs potato fields and tomato patches
arc concerned. It consists OF large tin
pot, looking not unlike IN oyster stew
pau, the bottom Of which is made OF
gGu.e wire. This pot ho fills with o
mixture OF paris green and plaster, Ill
parts OF one to twenty. This, by the
aid OF long handle attached to the pot,
hc sprinkles on the leaves cf he plants,
tho bugs inuocently partNko thereof, mud
iGcoutinently dio. Ho charges nothing
for tho information, and guarantees the
cure. Other farmers act differently.
They carefully pick the bugs from the
leaves md scoop them on shovcIs and
carry them in barrels TO tho Eenshore,
where they dump them on m outgoing
tide. This is rather boomerang mr.
rangement, however, for while n few
thousands may be drowned, the great
multitude return, and when thrown
upon the sandy beach. and exposed to
tho inspiring heat Of the sun, .propaga.
tim is accelerated, md what was bad
before becomes worse and worse in
deed. An cnterprising keeper Of bath
lug houses near Rockaway dug a large
hole, a kind OF pit, iu which, on the
ashes OF large fire, he shovels bushels
Of tho bugs, and covers them with
eArth,-NeW York Sun.