The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-06-01
Agricultural Department.
CoypucrEp BIZ ALrrRr CHAPMAN
How to Destroy the Potato Beetle.

How To Destroy the Potato Beetle.
The following is from the pen of DR..
Asa Fitch, late New York State Ento-
inologist, and is part of Il paper read
by him mt q meeting of the State Board
of Agriculture at West Rupert last win
ter, and which will he published in full
in.the next report oi the Secretary OF
the Board. DR.. Fitch is one Of the best
entomologists in our country and his
recommendations are entitled to the
fullest confidence.
The measure which recommended
tor the destruction of these insects soon
after they first began to attract public
notice, was one which had been success.
fully resortcd TO in some instances. AS
the beetles have the habit of dropping
themselves to the ground when the
vines are suddenly agitatcd in any man.
ncr, advised that q tin pan partly filled
with water should be held under tho
vines and that these be then gently
struck and beaten upon with stick,
whereby the insects thereon would fall
Into the pan; passing in this manner
from one hill ofpotatoes TO another, and
so often as aquantity ofthc insects were
accommodated, empty them from the
pan into bag, securely tieing them
therein, and finally killing them by i'm.
mersing this bag in boiling water; this
operation TO be repeated every day OIL
two, so long as any considerable mum.
Der of insects could be obtained. This
measure was extensively resortcd to
and it was soon discovered that it was
unnecessary to have any water, as the
insects upon dropping into the dry par
will lay still and motionless for while
and when they begin TO stir and crawl
about, they are so slow and clumsy IN
their motions that they are not liable tc
escape, except when warmed into unu
eual life and activity by the strong heat
of the SIM in the middle ofthe day, when
some of them seem to be opening theii
wings and attempting to fly from out
the pan, but q brisk tap upon its side
instantly stills them again. 1t was found
that by gathering and destroying the
insects in this manner, fair crops of po-
tatoes could be obtained. And for sew.
eral years this "bugging the potatoes
as it was frequently termed. was the
only effectual mode Of combating these
insects, that was known Countless
bushels of them have been thus gathered
and destroyed. And to this day many
continue to prefer and practise this be.
fore all other relnedics-a man being
able TO pass over nbout two acres day
in this manner.
perseded all others for the facility with
htah - - opxlsa1 a,,l - nflt, , 4
speed in destroying these insects, is the
Paris green. This is an exceedingly
fine powder Of a bright green color, and
is much used by painters, il being the
basis of The most beautiful green paint
Of any substance known. 1t is n chem
zeal p roduct, n conbintion of arsenic
and copper, and is one Of the most viru-
lent, most deadly poisons Of which we
have any knowledge. 1t therefore re-
quires to be used with the most extreme
caution, the most excessive care. Ex-
ternally, upon the skin, il does no in
jury. Ones hands, if there is no scratch
or sore upon them, may remain busted
over with il without injury. The skin
does not absorb it. But very slight
quantity swallowed into the stomach,
or inhaled into the lungs in breathing,
puts ones life in jeopardy. So also this
potato beetle may be buried in this Par
is green powder, and will crawl out
from it unframed. But the least porti-
Gle Of it, swallowed with its food, is sure
death to ii.
For use, this powder requires to be
largely diluted, by mixture with some
other substance. Some prefer diffusing
il in water and sprinkling the potato
plants herewith from watering-pot-
frequently shaking and stirring the wa
ter to prevent the powder from settling
TO the bottom.
But it is generally used dry, intimate
ly mixed with ground plaster, wood
ashes, road dust or other fine powder,
usually about thirty or forty parts OF
one of these is mixed with one part of
the Paris green. In applying it, every
possible precaution is taken to guard the
least particle of it from entering the
mouth. The powder is so exceedingly
fine, that in transferring it from one pa
per to another, some of it floats in the
atmosphere and is liable TO be inhaled
in breathing. To dust it upon the po-
tato vines therefore, it is usually placed
in tin can having close-fitting cover,
and its bottom perforated with small
holes. To this can handle five or six
feet long is fastened, whereby the oper-
ator stands at distance of one or two
rows from the row that he is dustiug
and If any air is stirring, he is careful
10 place himselfupon the windward side
Of the row. He passes along, giving the
can q slight shake over each hill in the
row, thus sitting the powder upon ii.
The slightest quantity is all that is nee
essary. The leaves being thus busted
over with this virulent poison, every
insect upon them, old and young, are
Immediately killed by it. Ii cleanses
The potato vines nj once from these YER
min.
This remedy is 10 be rcsorted Ia
whenever these insects are found to be
numerous in the potato field. One ap-
plicatiOn usually suffices for the season
But where these pests greatly abound
in the neighborhood, the field may be
come again invaded, whereby a second
and even third application is some
times required.
Although this Paris green is such {
deadly poison, ions of il have bcei
used in the Western States, and thou
sands Of persons have worked with il
yet not one has ever been poisoned
with ii, to our knowledge. If such ,
death had occurred, intelligence of tn,
sad incident would no doubt have beei
circulated by the newspapers, through
ont our land. Hence it appears that
iearfully dangerous though il be,
-uilable care is taken, no injury is TO b.
apprehended from resort 10 this pc
tent remedy.