The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-07-26
Potato Crop Prospects.

Last year was disastrous to the potato
crop over large portion of the Eastern
States. In the early spring the Colorado
pest appeared for the first time on thou
sands Of farms, the owners of which,
knowing little or nothing of the habits OF
the insects, paid little attention to the few
beetles found here and there, feeding on
the leaves of their potatoes. Many were
so positive that this pest was incapable of
doing any great harm, that they refused
to take even the simplest precautionary
measures against preventing an increase
in number; but what was their surprise, q
few weeks later, to find that from the
eggs of these first few beetles had come q
brood of grubs in numbers beyond COM
putation and that the potato plants were
disappearing before their attacks. A few
hours, in some instances, suff1ced for the
despoliation of whole fields Of vigorous
plants, leaving the bare stems covered
with grubs in various stages of growth.
Following close upon the potato pest
came one of the longest and most severe
droughts known, which would have nearly
or quite ruined the potato crop had the
beetles let it alone. Consequently, taking
the two together, few potatoes were
gathered in localities where for years they
had been considered one Of the most sure
and paying crops. Of course, such .
wiping out of q crop was very discourage
inc. and many farmers in consequence
had no seed this spring to plant. The
price of Northern and Western.grown po-
tatoes was so high that few could afford to
purchase them If they really desired to do
so; beside, the risk Of losing anothercro
by the beetles was fully as great as last
year. Taking all these circumstances
into consideration, it is no wonder that
very few potatoes were planted. Farmers
who generally plant several acres have
this season only few rows in their garden,
and some have not planted tuber.
Now, had all taken our advice, and
planted the usual quantity, fighting the
beetles with Paris green, or otherwise, q
full crop would have been obtained. We
also advised planting early varieties main
", In order to shorten the season for
fighting the beetles, and from recent OBJ
servati0n we are fully satisfied Of the wis
dom of the recommendation. The farm
ers of New Jersey, who really suffered
most from drought and the beetles last
year, seem to have awakened to the neces-
sity of making good fight, in order to
save the crop; and, of Ia e, men, women and
children may be seen every morning go
ing through the potato fields. either with
:in-cans in their hands, gathering the bee
ties and grubs, or scattering poison over
the leaves Of the plants.
The collecting Of the beetles early in
the season virtually cuts of the poseibili-
II Of crop Of grubs, although few will
always escape detection, and their prOge-
ny appear on the vines latsr in the seq
son. The abundant showers of late have
also been Of great assist nce to the potato
crop, and, q result We never saw p0ta-
toes look better 1t this season, and prom
ise 3 lareor yield, wherever the precau-
tionnxy measures named have been at
tended to. The early rose, and similar
carly sorts, are in the main ont Of dam
ger from either pests or drought. Still,
we would conjure our farmers not to
cease their efforts in battling. with the
beetles, for It b only BY constant vigi-
nom the pest in future years can come.
Owing to the small quantity Of potatoes
planted, the supply will probably AN short
Of the demsnd, and prices higher than
usual win rule; md u this instance. e IN
many Others, the intelli daring and
industrious win have the advantage over
their les enferpxisipg neiGhbors. There
are, however,, dangerOus phases even, q
success; and The present DEoepect q -.
curing modezafe crop q ppmtQo hes'
led some peroons 10 thtqk ~ ~ ColoFn-
do potato beot1e Is Differentiated. or q
No. only : tempceesy exils Which WI
}cQe pe9 AMY, Hnf s1ssSvle9 q - sup-