Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-07
The Colorado Beetle.

The immense value of the potato crop to the
State of Maine, and the importance OF Kidding our
fields of the Colorado Beetle, which now threatens
them in vast numbers, has induced Mr.. s. l..
Boardman, the able Secretary of the Maine Board
of Agriculture, to issue a circular, describing
the pestitentisl varmints, the safest and
most reliable means for their destruction, and
showing the importance Of immediately graphing
with this great question. We publish the circular
below. and let all who interested read, ponder,
and act:
The beetle is of a regular oval FORM very con-
vcx above and fiat beneath, of hard, crustaceous
texture, smooth and shining, of bright straw col
or, with ten black stripes upon the back of its
closed wing covers II is half inch in length.
The eggs, which are q deep orange color, are de-
posted on the under side Of the potato leaves; the
lsrve-the voracious feeders upon the leaves, (he
beetle itself while eating the leaves being but
slightly injurious IN this respect are OF reddish
yellow color. The three stages in the life of the
insect are passed through in less than a month,
and there are usually three broods in year. The
first two broods when about to change TO the pupa
20 into the ground and appear in the beetle state
in ten to twelve days, the third last remain
ing in the ground all winter, and appearing in time
TO lay its eggs on the first leaves put forth by the
young potato plant.
There is only one way to deal with the insects
when they take possession of potato fed-THEY
MUST BE KILLED. In many cases throughout the
West 1t appeared in such numbers as to discour-
age the farmers from attempting any means of
destruction, and the consequence was the insects
increased TO an alarming extent; SO much SO that
they were only conquered after the most vigorous
efforts. WHEREVER THE BEETLE APPEARS IN
MAINE THIS YEAR. 1T MUST BE STAMPED OUT AT
WHATEVER COST! Do not be dismsyed by num-
bers, but put in active and vigorous the most
approved means Of destruction.
After many years of experience, the employ
ment of mechanical means of killing them, and of
various kinds of poisonous applications, the farm
ers all through the Western and Middle States
have settled down to POISONING WITH PARIS
GREEN, as the best and most effectual mode of
killing them. Indced there is other remedy
which amounts to a total destruction of beetle and
larva. Paris Green is almost pure arsenite of
copper, AND VERY POISONOUS; but, says Prof. Ri
ley, the accomplished head Of U. S. chronological
Commission WHEN APPLIED JUDIcIoUsLY 1T is
BOTH EFFICIENT AND HARMLESS" 1t Is an al
most impalpsbe powder, and whether there is air
stirring or not when using the powder it is almost
impossible TO use so its presence cannot be felt
in the mouth and throat. When mixing it with
flour for application to the plants, or when APP
plying it, THE MOUTH MUST BE MUFFLED.
There are two modes of applying it first as a
powder; second, suspended Ct is not soluble,) in
water.
To apply it as powder, mix the genuine Paris
Green with from twenty-five to thirty times its
weight Of cheap flour. Flour is better than ashes,
plaster, Stacked lime. and other like substances
which used, because they are cheap; as it
forms q sort of adhesive paste when applied to the
potatoes, as it should always be- an early morning
pheR the deic is on! To apply it, cut out about
half the bottom ola starch box having tight COW
err, lacking on wire cloth over the opening, and
with handle nailed on TO the side of the box
made sort OF dredging box, by means OF which
the powder may be busted over the vines. The
Paris Green and the flour MUST BE THOROUGHLY
MIXED.
AS liquid, use one tablespoonful Of pure green
to bucket full Of water. The green is NOT SOL
81 -
the bottom. Prepared in a bucket used for no
other purpose, and applied with an old whisp
broom it will keep the water so constantly stirred
as to be quite evenly distributed over the surface
Of the leaves but cons derab lie waste attaches to
its in this form. Riley says II have found it
much more convenient to use powder" as above
described, "when it can be obtained ready mixed
by machinery.
Recently, several articles have appeared in the
press of New England fro very competent
hands, discouraging the use Of Paris Green on
account of its very poisonous nature. Indeed, so
eminent a chemist as DR.. S. Dana Hayes of Mass
achusetts, is among this number. and he says in
recent letter 10 the press. that "the indiscr mate
use of Paris Green may be more disastrous in its
results than the loss Of several crops of potatoes
His letter is liable to lead astray, because farmers
will not use it from fear of injurious results
whereas there is, in fact, no other POSITIVE REM
EDY, and when JuDICIOusLY USED, cautioned
above, no injury can result from it, while if not
used our potato fields will be devastated by these
| it is remembered that Paris Green has been used
| throughout all portions of the country ravagcd
by the potato beetle. during the past twelve years,
| at the rate of from three hundred 10 free hundred
| tons per dRnun,, with hardly of injury to
person, of the poison being communicated to
| the tubers. and with evidence constantly accumu-
| lating from practical experience that it is the
MOST RELIABLE REMEDY KNowN-our farmers
need not hesitate to use it.
| The question has been frequently asked "Does
the use of Paris green poison the tubers growing
| in field to which it has been applied y In an
swer, quote from Prof. II. c. Kedzie, of the Mich
| igan State Agricultural College, in the report of
the Michigan State Board of Health for 1875, page
| H. lie says: -Four years ago, aided by my
| sstant, now Professor of Chemistry in the State
| Agricultural College Of Kansas, | made careful
| investigation to determine whether the potato
| tuber abso bed arsenic when Paris green was APP
| piled to the vines to destroy the potato beetle. |
took potatoes raised IN the ordinary course OF field
culture, but whose vines had been repea tedy dus
ted with Paris green, and others to which all the
| Paris green had been applied that could be used
| without destroying the plant but in no instance
| could find trace of arsenic in the tubers. 9th
| er chemists have made similar Investigations with
similar results" He further says, (same report, p.
/ 25) that "Paris green, when applied in small
quantities, does not seem to affect the health of
the potato or wheat plant; the arsenic which it
contains does not reappear in the tuber Of the po
tato or the era OF The wheat, and that these sub
stances not injured as human food by the SIN all
quantities of Paris green whch is required to free
| our fields from most destructive insect. Paris
! green does not pass from an inert into active
form by prolonged contact with the soil. The
power of the soil 10 remove from solution and
hold an unsoluble form arsenous acids and
mites will protect the water supply from deadly
contamination by this agent unless the poison is
used in excess of any requirements insect
destroyer
Another question is "Are the beetles and Larvae
poisonous :" The juices of the insect on the human
skin "are as rule harmless says Riley, "yet
the rule is not without exceptions" But the ex-
halations resulting from bruisng or crushing
large masses of them, Or of burning scalding
large quantities at time, have by being inhaled
frequently proved fatal. THIS SHOULD BE
AVOIDED.
Use only pure article of the Paris green. The
pure is cheap at 81 per pound: the cheap is dear
IL A Of fha xalaro ia