Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-09-28

The advent OF the potato bug in New
rag AID, portions of nIch have been visit
Cd this season for the frs. time by the des-
truetive insect. creates considerable alarm
IN view OF Its large increase next year, and
consequent devastation Of the potato crop,
which forms SO considerable a staple of ag-
rIeultural produce. The Colorado beetle is
not 50 recent = discovery or product of
evolution as many suppose. having been
described as long since as l334, when speci-
mems were seen on tho Upper Gissouri.
Its original habitat WS~ supposed 10 be CO.
extensive with liz EatgrIl TODD, the soLaruna
rostrGtli1l, which ranges from Texas and
New Mckee 30 tins Upper Missouri, east
ward OF the mountains. Probably the
Eastern migration OF the bug, which has
tfough; 1t into prominence during the last
lew years, Commenced when the lnroads of
elyllizatiOn brought tho potato into the
native region OF the bag and furnished him
at once with tie incentive for travel and
the means OF subsistence alcng the route
As early as 1859 ths colorado bug had
reached point one hundred miles west Of
Omaha. 1t appeared IN X .ns.s and Iowa
in 1861, and entered Wisconsin the follow
ing year. In le6i } tbs bug crossed the
Mississippi. landing 10 Illinois at i've points
upon frontier OF Two hundred miles.
Ii has since iJurneyed towards the East
at the rate OF something over seventy
miles year. In 1867 /; appeared in the
western portions of Michigan and Indiana,
and By the following year had 0verspread
the latter State and invaded Ohio. In 1871
1t swarmed throughout tae Ontario PENN
sula ana made its first Appearance In the
Middle States. \ year OF tWo precious the
bug had penetrated south W ri 20 kentucky
New YORK was Ovor>UFoid with the pest in
1878. Ii became well established in the At
lantIc State-. from Connecticut 80 EII ginia,
during 1874, IN the iummer of which wear
II appeared in WiiliImst,Wn. Mass, In small
numbers Toe scar 1915 witnessed its in
crease and occupation ut other localities in
the State, and its entry into Vermont, New
Hampshire and Maine
Inc experience OF the regions il has passed
over IN Its eastward course hI- been sub
siantlally the same d. 90 the manner of its
propagation and distribution, and the close
observations oil eminent nsturulists have
rendered Us familiar with Ii, habits and the
best means for its desiEuc ION. Inc bug
hybernateS few inches bet9r the surface
and appears above ground in spring, before
the potato plants clIpe up, feeding upon tho
young shoots. Wben the leaves are deTel-
Oped, the female iay- her eggs On the under
side OF the Leaf. The average number pro-
dueed by S.dslc insect IS estimated at one
thousand, rom which consideration the sd-
vantage II killing h-m OF early IL the season
will be apparent. In the West there are
three bToJd~ q year. generally speaking,
though the beetle may usually be found at
any time IN al 49, stages. - the laying
period covers a tenn ri firty day, and the
earlier deposits Viii have Matched out and
grown to maturity Will S,me are yet in
In b. = IL
srOdnd about October. ?, remain dormant
until Spring.
The bs-t remedy Is hanJ-2icking,
thoroughly ant Systematically continued.
fne survivors OF The wiOtcr are comparative
" few, and they make tbs,r way directly to
the first potatoes, 81 that by concerted &C
tIon Of the putgtn growers Jt a n5ishbOr-
hood they could Doe C1-.iy disposed %. By
planting 4 'cw carly POTATOES In u corner by
hem>eiy IN every h4d g. te used tor a
ate crop, and carefully destroying the bugs
Is they gather to the early vines. a vast
AMOUNT OF trouble LATER IN The season will
be saved. The eg-s and iJryss On the vines
hOulj bs looked ai,er aud destroyed 1t.
however, the carly handwriting has failed
q get rad OF the bugs. poison should be
applied. PAsIS grecn being a
l5adiy poison should b., used with great
autlOn. ule part may h' mixed with
wenty ut cheap 1lur and busted o. the
ines in the early morning when .ne dew
: on the leave. Out OF The mos: >imDie of
he E,aby erntr,yIDcts winch Yankee in
enulty has devised & accomplish this eff
Is to silt the dlur after mixing
rom fine muslin bag. attached to
pole or from q dredging box.
here are many patent prepare
ions, sprnSlcr-, etc, Ia the market,
which profess 70 be Gii'arjou- IN spreading
ne poison. CTbolatc cl lime, made hy
mixing bali m ounce ui csud, clrbolic
cid with pound ct Il9, Is used ny some
: substitute Tor Plsi~ 4r,tn IL l. busted
n the leaves N q -iml'tr manner. AR
lacked limo has also rc,u used ogcasionaI>
7 The Idea ct sta-y'u, tae hug out 6y
lantirg only early p'.Atns- ami leaving
im IN the Fall without SIh-i>.sng. Is i'm
raetIcahie. Garre are many other plants
Inch he will eat IN cas-, has l,yorite food Is
MIru-iu1, which tends 10
'oduCo a luyuTisAt growth ni vines, makes
ne removal ct the bags more difficult. The
otatCes ~heuld be plu;eda it'ic further
part than usual and manfred with ashes,
r such InaaCrG, As d. not promote the
rOwth of Vines 3, q C0meinttiOu OF the
IrmerS 90 a ucjsahorho1I 10 plant each
W early p tito,- auG Gc~'r'y che first bugs
the season and taetr r-us g. RAPIDLY as
,ey appear, tac ,vI. rlu hl easily got un-.
sr. but even p, isolated effort potatoes G Ar
, ral,cd aud projected hy haud-pIc' .ino
nj poison. go an extra expense Of nc Z orsr
Sc cents per hd~hci. But ualess a. tanner
resolved e. sN'srn'natc by eve * possible
cans all bug appearing upr-t ms crop,it
better to iore-o planting ncxt season
.ther than to he the mans ofaG5rdirs
'eeding ground to Jhc insect 0stor.
rarslir,