Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-08-20

From the Burlington Free Press.
THE POTATO BEETLE.

desire through your columns to ap-
peal to the farmers of Vermont. to make
q general and determined effort to ex-
terminate every Colorado beetle and
every larva of the beetle upon their
premises. / am led to do so from the
circumstances that there is prevalent
negligence almost culpable in this re-
spect. The feeling that because the
pest has not appeared in force sufficient
to pretty nearly wipe out this years
crop it may with impunity be permitted
free range, is quite. too common. An
other sentiment, and most despicable
one, Is gaming currency. and that is
that it would be better for the farmers
if half the crop were to be destroyed by
it. There is PROFESSIONALLY large
crop of potatoes upon the ground in
this State, and elsewhere but cannot
believe the best remedy for over pro-
ductiou, if such is the case, which may
be doubted, is the destruction of the
crop or any part of it with the dreadful
certainty of permanently establishing a
foe to the crop which will hereafter
totally exterminate it or remain tax
upon its production equal to all the
other cost
The Illinois correspondent of the
Country Gentleman. one of the closest
observers in the country, and thorough
ly we'll informed on the subjects of
which he writes, under date Of July
10th says "If the Colorado beetle does
as much damage East as he did last
year, the chances are there will be de-
mand for the Western crop equal to
that of last year, when potatoes went
out of Illinois by the thousand car
loads, at fifty to sixty cents per bushel."
We ought to be encouraged by the ex-
perience of our Western friends and
fight the foe as intelligently and effect
lively as they do and profit by our prOx-
unity to the best markets. If we can
not compete with them in raising
potatoes it is doubtful if we can in
anything. The difference in cost of
transportation. after all that has been
said about discrimination, etc.. amount
to a pretty fair profit on the business of
production.
But to return to the Colorado beetle,
and the question. What shall we do
with him? l answer unhesitatingly,
fight him with the very best weapon at
command till we wipe him out entirely,
and in this ] am but repeating what
every potato grower from the Rocky
Mountains to the Atlantic, who has
fought and conquered the pest, advises.
All temporary expedients and mild
remedies have failed, and but one sure
treatment is known, aud that is to feed
him on Paris green. The sensational
letter of Mr.. Hayes. State Assayer of
Massachusetts, has done the farmers a
great injury. Nobody questiones but
that Paris green is a deadly poison, but
the fact exists that thousands Of farmers
have used it without injury to them
selves or anybody else, except perhaps
some of the insects and birds which
prey upon the beetle, and 1t is an inde-
cent reflection upon the intelligence Of
New England farmers to tell them that
they cannot handle poison as we'll as
the people out West, especially when
they have their ten years experience to
profit by. l know of potato fields which
have been extensively hand-picked all
summer in which there are more of the
pests to-day than ever before, and yei
the owners have not got up to that point
where they can be induced to apply
the only sure remedy. They have
'fussed" with some Of the "safe" rem
edies till they are persuaded that they
improve the condition of the foe, and
have finally abandoned them to keep OF
with their manipulating. saw, to-day
in ride of not more than a mile, no
less than five hand-pickiug parties.
repeat that it is the universal testimony
of those who have succeeded that tn,
only reliable thing to use is Paris greer
and add the caution to buy only of re
spectacle dealers who sell the true ar
ticle. The best is the cheapest
| wish every newspaper in the Stat
and every man in the State could BE-
the necessity of both prompt council
and concerted action against this grea
enemy to our great table succulent.
o. s. BLISS.
Georgia, VT, July %, 1877.