Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-03-27

engaged, she did not rip the patch of his
coat. rs she had at first Intended
The Potato Becfie.
lMr. Editor:-
Allow mc To communicate to the read
ets OF the Democrat 4 sketch Of the
potato pes, generally known "a
the Colorado potato beetle. rs have
watched their manner and say Of breed
ing; also have endeavOrod to iind their
origin, and trace their history and mode
of travel to the present time. In the
year 1921 they were found in Upper Mis-
sour, from then 10 the year 1859 it had
spread eastward and reached a point one
hundred miles west oi Omaha Guy, in
Nebraska. In 1861 il i7vaicd Iowa, grad
ually in the ucxt three or loar years
spreading eastward over the Safe. ln
/ 1854 and 60 it crossed the Mississippi
invading iucis, and pushing eastward
at the rate of abou, fifty miles = year, in
1869 its presence was expected in Ohio.
Early in the summer OF 1871 it had made
/ It's appearance on tho Atlantic sesboard,
and was reported during the year from
several parts OF Connecticut, New Jer-
sey, New York, Penn-y ylyania, Delaware,
Maryland aud Virginia; its iajaries also
increased in It's n4live hInc. Daring the
/ year 1876. the insect sNarmed In most OF
the New E1gland States, and especially
on the sea.hore. 1t has extended north
around Montreal, aud was especially
abundant AS far as Tevis Riyieres; While
in its eastern ptogreSs /. has Cverrun
Massachusetts,, Vermont and New IlAup-
shire, aud extended some distance into
Maine. A. the iarvI IS sluggish and
never leaves the plant from which It IL
l hAtched, except in q lest OF more iood,
until it is ready to pupate, all the jour
neys OF this insect are necessarily made
| In the periec; or beetle state 5y means Of
/ he ample rose-c)lored wings, which,
/ when tho insect il at rest. are cOmpactly
/ folded up beneath the striped wiag cases.
/ is spread, however. over the moe pop
ulous portion Of the c,nniry, is not 10 De
attributed 10 It's powers oil Il ght Ia one.
/ l. undoubtedly avaiis itself. 10 no iucOn-
| siderable extent. OF every means ii tran $
| por,AtiOn afforded To other travellers aud
often got lit on eastern bound trains.
aud, most probably crossed the NOR,
barren plains bordering is native con-
fines through mans direct agency, ). e.
by being carried. There l. u possibility
that in some Instances IL may have been
carried ia the egg slate on uvins plants,
or in the pupa state in Jumps OF earth
but these modes II transit, II ~ all. have
necessarily been exceptional. Let II not
DC understood that this insect, in It's on
ward spread. or march, ever entirely
quits any district where it has once OF
tanned A ioothold. This idea OF i,s finC-
rant character seems very generally 10
prevail. and great many people labor
nnder the impression that soon alter ITS
advent, the Dreaded Toe TO the potato
Of ils own accord take it's leave as sud
denly rs it came--lhat, like every other
dog, il will have lis day. l. may, and
very generally does, prove more inllrl
Gus during the first two or three years OF
Is advent than subsequently; from care
;lul observation am confident in saying
the wetter the season the less damage is
done by them. The question that The
jaces OF the insect on the human skin
are poisonous. is as a rule mistake.
Yet persons with blood in bad condition
may be poisoned by getting said J1ices
destroying, and getting potato fields rid
of them, l am of the opinion that the
process of picking, and burning on pile
OF brush or straw, NOT scalding them
is the cheapest add surest. as in this way
you have q chance to pick off also the
leaves with the eggs on at the same time
FROM careful observation have found that
the female begins to lay her eggs on the
under side of the leaves as soon as the
potato plants appear above ground. The
eggs are oval, OF q translucent dark
orange color. in clusters OF from ten TO
forty. The larvae are liatched in less
than "a week, and are at first OF dark
venetian red, becoming lighter and ac-
quiring a double row Of black laters
spots as they approach maturity.
Respectfully yours,
i. c. FARwELL.
Lynnfeld. Mass.
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