The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-20
SUMNER PESTS.
The Potato Bses and t,altin nj . pers-The Curse
and Cure.

The potato bug cannot be ignored.
Neither eau the gslhnippcr. both the one and
the other are having jolly times at Rockaway, at
Canaisie and in the City OF Churches. At Rock
away the beach is alive with the bugs, and ba-
theirs who enter the breakers find themselves
surrounded by the half dead, half lively Insects,
who float in and 1oat out, until some cnterpris-
ing wave sends them far up on the sand. Then,
under the revving influence OF the sun, they
recover consciousness, and march OF quickly
toward the hotels, the green fields and the gar
dens. No one seems to know where they come
from. But II is very evident where they are
going. The potato fields at Canarsie, and Of all
the region roundabout are dcnuded Of every
leaf, and the vegetable itself "a utterly de-
stroyed. In that vicinity egg plant Ia largely
cultivated. For this delicious Wand the bug
msnifests marked partially, and all the patches
In which that plant Ia grown are devastated and
ruined. The streets OF Brooklyn are alive with
them. They crawl upon the pavemcnts, enter
at the windows, creep upon the walls, and nes-
tie in the beds. 1t does no good to sweep them
out, for they rally In force aud return. II is un-
pleasant to mash them on the carpet. IL Is
/ impossible to drive them of.
Ine great social problem. Is no longer How
about the scandal, but How shall we be rid
paper called on farmer WHITE OF bergen county,
N. j.. aud told him he wanted I" material for n
funny funny article on the potato bug Brother
ment, then leading bin to a window, pointed
impressively to a desolated tomato field, burst
Int tears, and left him without word. These
bugs are no longer an entertainment They are
great public nuisance, under everybodys feet.
and in eyerybody's mouth. They come from
the West IN swarms. They fly, they hop, they
run. they hoat. they jump: They travel on boats
In cars, by wagons. Various theories are ad-
vanced about the myriads that come by water.
Some assert that overcome by LONG flights across
the water they fan exhausted on tho surface.
| hat IaAA ham
the water, on which they trust them
selves 10 full expectation OF a bliss
ever mem sy dssp " ON tbs, sent tney nsso
lutely agree on the fact OF the abiding presence
Of tue monster pests. An ingenious farmer "
relief, far as potato fields and tomato pat hes
are concerned. 1t consists OF q large lin pot,
loo ing not unlike OYSTER stew pau, the bot
tom OF which Is made Of gauze wire. This pot
he nils with mixture OF PARIS green and plas-
ter. in parts OF one TO twenty. This, by the aid
Of "a long handle attached to the pot, lie sprin-
klcs on the leaves OF the plant, the bugs inno-
Gently partske thereof, and incoutinently die
guarantees the cure. Other farmers act differ
entity. They carefully pick the bugs from the
leaves and scoop them up on shovels and carry
them In barrels TO the sea shore, where they
dump them on an outgoing tide. Iuis l. rather
boomerang Arrangement, however, for while
few thousands NAV he drowned, the great
multitude return and wnen thrown upon the
sandy beach. and exposed to tho inspiring heat
OF The SUM- prO psaatiOn Is acce lersted, and what
was bad before becomes worse and wors, in
deed. An enterprising keeper Of bathing houses
near ROckaway dug large hole, Kind OF pit.
IN which, on the ashes OF a Large IRE, he shoysls
tushel, OF the bugs, aud covers the m with earth.
The sallinippets are species OF horse fly OF
Tremendous size. with vast powers OF suction.
They infest the beaches and attack the hat hers.
Horses aud babies sre their fayurite objects OF
assault aud severe lashinGs are sometimes need
ed to IN AXE them let go their hold. rneir bite 10
poisonous to a certain extent, causing Kind Of
plaques, tue bugs ana the flies, out-of-towners
naye rather an uneasy summer.