Connecticut western news., 1876-08-11
FARM. GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Facts About Potato Beetles.

grown and ready for procreation. Dur ing the day, it remains upon the potato plant and does not fly till night, when it traverses whole fields and whole sections of country, the males ill search of the females, and vdce Versa. The beetle does not eat, and so does no immediate harm. The eggs are laid on the under side of the leaves, in patches about an inch square, and are golden yellow color. In a few days the young soft grubs are matched, are ravenously hun gry, have but slight hold of the foliage, and are easily knocked of. They have but slight ability to travel on the surface of the soil, and never descend to it vol untarily, until they have reached the perfect slug state, when their natural in stinct prompts them to seek the earth, into which they burrow, form cocoon, and in due time emerge full grown bee ties, ready to begin new colony. This series of changes takes place from two to four times in a season, controlled by its length, warmth, etc. In the last change they remain dormant throughout the winter, merely because the tempera- ture is too low to perfect the insects. It is therefore probable that, if they ever reach tropical climate, their transmi- grafton will be uninterrupted.
 Reasoning from these facts, we arrive at the following, which are borne out by actual experience: Any mode of de- stroying the beetle, practiced by 8 farmer here and there. is only lost time, as the nightly flight of the sexes in search of each other is sure to supply local fields from the others in the neighborhood, the sense of smell being probably the insects guide to the nearest plant, and to the general rem dezvous. If extirpation of the beetle is determined upon, it must be general and simultaneous. The great difficulty of accomplishing this is insuperable. Therefore let the beetle alone. Beetles, however, produce slugs, and slugs in their turn produce beetles. Slugs do not migrate, are easily dislodged, must eat, and are therefore at our mercy Ill at least two ways. If they are knocked off the plants in the middle of dry hot day, and ground into the hot soil (say by harrow or any similar means), they perish; and if the leaves are rendered, by any external application, unfit for their food, they starve.
 An experience of six years has satls- fed me that the slug state is the only vulnerable one, and either of the two modes of warfare indicated above is probably successful. They feed indis criminately on all the sol0nGce9. They are not poisonous, cannot bite or sting human being, need not be a terror tc any; and to conquer them, it is only necessary to attack them in a calm, cool intelligent, business like manner.-S E. M., 6sa Scientific Farmer.
 Domestic Hints.
 SIX MONTHS YEAsT.-It is thus called because 1t will keep this length of time Make very strong hop tea, and thicker with flour, let it ferment, then stir il corn meal until you can form cakes thu size and thickness of 8 small cracker say two inches in diameter dry on dish in the shade. One-third of on dissolved in half cupful of milk warn water will raise quart of flour.
 GRANDMOTHER SAUsAaEs. - Si: pounds lean pork tenderloin and nic scraps trimmed from the hams, fou pounds chine fat, four ounces of salt two of pepper, with the following herb dried, pounded and sifted, added ac cording to taste; sage, thyme, swee marjoram and winter savory. Yer, good sausages are made with sage, leav ing out the other herbs, but with thei use you have a breakfast dish that superexcellent.
 Why should beans never be put int cold water to soak, as is often recon mended? Because all the nutrition portion of the bean is extracted by tn process. They should be washed l Warm water, then in cold, be tied loose ly in cloth, be put into boiling water with spoonful of dripping and littl salt iu it, and be kept boiling for fou hours. They are then excellent if serve with gravy, and noG with melted butter They serve as garnish around roast mu ton or beef, and are excellent eatin served whole or as 8 1)atree. To maH the latter, wben the beans are don throw them instantly into cold wate when the skins will slip off. Rub u beans through a colander, and mix lump of butter with them. A lit stock, or milk, or cream IS excellel mixed in.
 How to Apply Paris Green.
 Probably the most effective weapc for the destruction of the potato beet is to be found i'll every properly fu nished househoid-a flour s:eve. Sul ply 1t with cover and handle mae of green rod (because it will bel easily) of Q suitable size for the han bent in the shape of the letter U verted, attached at each end to opposi sides of the sieve, the part to hold immediately over center of sieve al about sixteen inches above the botto of it, and 1t is completed. Use pal green thoroughly mixed with siftt flour, in proportions of one ounce the former to one and one- half poun of the latter. Hold the sieve charg with the poisonous mixture in left hal over 8 hill of potatoes, and with sti in the right hand rap it hard enough produce light discharges of poison, al proceed in this manner, taking two TO at time, till the work is done. A m can probably in this way poison abo three acres 8 day. If it is desired
 make 8 sieve, the proper proportio are about ten inches inside diameter a feur inches depth, and square in shay because most easily made. The W gauge for bottom should count twer wires each way to the inch; total e about forty cents.
 Sowing for Fodder.
 In cultivating the sorgho for it's fora it is recommended by one who has
 perimented that it be sown in dri Is feet apart, letting fall about fifteen
 twenty seeds to the foot. When GU
 vated for fodder the crop should
 moved down as soon as 1t is lal
 enough to feed to stock, and, accordi
 to the length of the season, two, thr four, and even five crops can be tained. This fodder is greedily ca
 by all cattle, and Is valuable acqu tion, as it is not only nutritious, but
 withstand long thoughts.
 GrasshOppers ill the West.