Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-06-16
Potato BUGS,

We had hoped that this king of
pests would not have got so far East
as the Green Mountain State, but al
ready they have made their appear
anCe in several sections. The first
visit of these destructive bugs in ESs
sex county was this season, and for
the benefit Of our readers, we extract
the from report made by Prof Cook,
and shall endeyor to give our patrons
the benefit Of any remedies which we
may find, from reliable resources, all
vertised or suggested for the destruc-
ton Of these animals:
The natural history of the potato
beetle is familiar to most of our farm,
ers. 1t comes forth out Of the earth,
as beetle, just as the potato vines
are peering from the ground. Some
times, as the creature stands over the
hill, it seems fairly to grin in expect
ant longing for the rich tender feast
which nature is about to spread.
With the coming Of the warm days
the female lays her cluster Of orange
eggs, sometimes the number Of Il
thousand-a single beetle which | CON
fined laid over l,l0O eggs-oither on
the under side Of the potato vines, or
on blades Of grass or other vegetables
near by. These soon hatch, when the
young or larvae are fonn'l to eat qnite
rs voraciously as Tie mature beetle.
In about fifteen days the young become
fully developed, when they pass into
the ground to pulpatc. After about
ten days Of such quiet they come forth
in the beetle state, and from their
freshness it might he thought that the
old time beetles had been absent to
get new suit, aud had just returned
to show their linery. These beetles
mate, deposit eggs and soon die, be-
having in all respects as before. SO,
too, the larvae and pupe. These a.
gain are followed by a third brood,
which completes the ruinous work of
the season but the pup@ OF this brood
do not come forth in ten days, nor do
they die; but resting quietly beneath
the earth, they seem to be gathering
strength for miserable repetition Of
previous years abomination. Inasmuch
rs Paris Green is so practical, eflici-
ent and SO cheap remedy for this
pest, | shall do in this place what
every farmer had better do on his
farm-ignore all other means, such
as hand picking, machinery, ect., as
too expensive and not sufficiently
thorough. With little care, Paris
Green-the genuine article of course
is entirely safe. The two methods
which have been tried with the best
success rs to economy are either to
mix the green with water, heaping
teaspoontnl to ten quarts Of the fluid,
and sprinkle on with q sprinkler. or
an old broom, to mix the green with
-four, in the propotion of one part Of
green to six of -four. sifted on when
there is no dew on the vines, either
through a muslin bag, suspended by
convenient handle that it may be
carried and shaken over the vines,
(the person making the application
walking upright) or pail, the bottom
being OF fine wire gauze OF perforated
tin. Where these methods are used,
the whole expense per acre, for boh
material and cost Of application, will
not exceed S. % for the season.
After careful experimenting, have
found the flour mixture preferable to
ell other preparations. No second
application is needed till enlarged
growth of vines demand it. | made
I'the mixture strong-one of powder
to six Of flour-so that in making the
application we need only add inst
enough Of the mixture that we may
be able to see it on the vines"