The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-05-03
Potatoes and Potato Beetles.

In localities where the Colorado potato
beetle has appeared, there is considerable
anxiety felt in regard to the future of the
potato crop. If the beetles are to remain
permanently with us-and we can see no
good reason why they should not become
as much at home on the Atlantic Coast as
on the great plains of the West-then the
cultivators of potatoes must make up
their minds to fight this pest from year to
year. or give up the cultivation of one of
our most useful and valuable farm crops.
The experience of the farmers of the
Western States, where the Colorado pest
has been more or less numerous for nearly
twenty years, affords US no hope OF its
passing away after q brief visit; but
shows pretty conclusively that it has come
to stay with us as long as food ispr0vided,
which might be further Interpreted to
mean, " as long as grass grows and water
runs" for the fact is now well known
hat there are hundreds of plants beside
The potato which serve its purpose.
Taking the most cheerful view we may
IF this potato beetle question, it is q
serious matter, and our farmers must
make up their minds to give the insect no
quarter, but fight it early and late, per
sistcntly killing all that may be found on
their premises. If this is done by one and
all, they cannot become SO numerous in
any one locality as to injure the potato
crop to any considerable extent. The Sc
we're drought, last season, in part of the
Eastern States, and especially within a
radius of hundred miles of this city,
cut off the potato crop so early in the sea-
son that the second brood of potato beetles
found little to feed upon; and millions
must have persisted before reaching the
image or perfect state; still, enough did
find food to carry them through, and they
arc now hibernating in safe quarters
ready to come forth to nip the first green
leaf from this springs planting. If all
had persisted within one, two or more
States, their place would soon be supplied
from without; therefore, there is no safe.
ty in presuming that any particular local
ity, or region of country. is to be free
from them during the coming season.
The farmers in nearly all of the North
ern States having had personal experience
with this insect, there is no longer any
need of telling them what it can and will
do if allowed to have its own way
Either poison or kill the beetles in some
other way, or see the crop destroyed; and
as there Is no other alternative, it Is well
to prepare the implements of warfare be-
fore the appearance Of the enemy. No
other destructive agent has yet been dis
covered 90 effective and cheap - Paris
green, and twenty years. experience in it
use have shown that it can be employed
with perfect safety upon the vines with.
out the least danger Of injuring the tuber'
| for food.
Many will doubtless plant early varie
| ties in order to escape the expense and
| trouble of fighting the beetle during The
season; for, in most localities, there are 9
least two broods in q season. But II al
plant early sorts, it is to be feared tina
there will be scarcity of potatoes late II
the season; although, with proper care
the Alpha and Early Rose four two earli
eat sorts) may be kept over In as soune
condition % the very latest.
Upon the whole, it may be good pollcy
for the present, to plant the early sort
mainly, or until all cultivators OF pota
toes adopt some settled plan of fghtin!
and subduing the potato beetle. Las
year it had its own way over . large ex
tent of country, comparatively few farm
ers making any attempt to destroy them
thereby leaving the few who did, to d
all the work in this direction, with littl
or no prospect of success. on account 9
the vast numbers of beetles maturing l
the fields Of their negligent and pervers
neighbors. This system Of breedin
nuisances to annoy ones neighbors shout
not be tolerated; and If all cannot wor
in accord in subduing such insect pest
there will have to be an appeal made
the Legislatures Of the different States f
. law to compel men to do their duty
such matters. 1t is to be hoped that Il
GOOD sense of our farmers win prevail
, and that all will unite in making war 81
] on this common enemy.-N, 7. Sun.