The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-06-06
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Potato Beetles Again.

Potato Beetles Again.
We are already IN receipt of specimens
of the Colorado potato beetle from locali-
ties where it did not appear last season,
or, at least, not in sufficient numbers to
attract attention. There seems to be no
alternative but to poison these insects or
raise no potatoes. for they multiply far
too rapidly to admit of hand picking be-
ing a practicable remedy. We, there
fore, advise our readers to purchase
some of the various poisons recommend
ed, and begin using them as soon as the
beetles appear upon the vines. Paris
green has been extensively used for this
purpose, and with good results, as it is
probably as cheap aud as easily applied
as any Of the pest poisons. 1t may be
applied by mixing with water at the rate
OF a tablespoonful to O pallful, and
sprinkling the vines with the mixture;
but we prefer using it with -four. Any
cheap, poor article of flour will answer,
and fifteen pounds of flour to one of the
paris green will be strong enough to kill
the beetles or their grubs.
A good way to NIX is to put the flour
into half barrel or barrel, according to
the quantity wanted; then pour on the
paris green, and stir in with stick of
convenient length. As the poison works
down into the flour, it will become thor
oughly incorporated with the mass. OF
course, in mixing one should be careful
not to raise dust, which, if breathed,
might be injurious to the operator.
Further, the mixture should be kept in
o safe place where children or animals
of any kind cannot get at it; for, rs
everybody should know, paris green is a
deadly poison, even in small quantities.
The vines should be busted with the
mixture while the leaves are wet, and
the early morning is generally the best
time, while the air is still. A duster
can be made of almost any deep tin
vessel, with small holes punched in the
bottom. The vessel should be fastened
to q handle four or five feet long.
ANT1DoTE FOR PARIS GREEN.
As accidents will happen even where
great care is taken to prevent them, and
children and other persons sometimes
get poisoned with paris green, it is well
to have m antidote on hand. The anti
dote for this poison is hydrated sesquiox-
ide of iron, which can be had at almost
any druggists. If it cannot be obtained,
it may be prepared as follows: Dissolve
copperas in hot water, keep warm, and
add nitric acid until the solution becomes
yellow; then pour in some ammonia
water-common hartshon-until a
brown precipitate falls to the bottom.
Put this precipitate in a bottle, tightly
corked, and keep it moist. A few spoon
fuls of this is q perfect antidote for poi
soning with paris green or arsenic.
Useful Fnm!ly Hints.
To PRESERVE BERRIEs.-Take
equal parts of rich, ripe fruit and granu-
lated sugar put in an earthen cooking
vessel layer of sugar, then berries,
then sugar, etc., until all are used ;
cover and let stand over night. To
every pound of fruit allow one halfpint
of red currant juice place upon the fire
where it will boil gently until the syrup
is rich, skimming well.
Mold ON CATsUP.-To keep mold
from rising on catsup or pickles, add q
tablespoonful of ground horseraddish to
every quart.
FoR SHAMPoo1NG.-Dissolve one tea
spoonful of borax in cup of hot water
apply the liquid to the scalpuntil a good
lather is produced ; then rinse well with
warm water, until the hair feels soft and
natural if desired, q cold water rinse
may be taken at the last; wipe the hair
dry, and let it hang loosely about the
shoulders to get the air through.
FoR FRUIT TREES OR LARGE PLANTS.
Boil one tablespoonful of borax in one
pint of water, and, while warm, paint
the stems of fruit trees or plants. This
will destroy the green fungi, and prevent
insect life from forming in the bark ; it
will also make the trees healthy.
ESCAPE FROM RED ANTs.-Keep all
articles which they are apt to molest on
hanging shelf, in cellar ; suspend the
shelf with iron rods; ; each rod surround
ed about half way up with little tin or
sheet-copper cup, soldered on ; fill the
cups about half full of white crude
petroleum, or other kind of oil, which
will prevent the ant or any other crawl
ing insect from coming down the rod to
the shelf.
CLEANING PAINT.-In cleaning paint
an old flannel cloth will be found very
serviceablc, as it removes the dirt with
out much friction, and an addition of the
magical mixture to pail of water, for
washing paint or scrubbing tables or
floors, will be found very efficacious.
Also will polish windows beautifully.
Dead Shot for Vine Bugs.
Having often seen inquiries in your
columns for something to keep bugs of
squashes and melons, and having tried
everything I ever heard of, and found at
last what seems to be, here at least, u
sure cure, I wish you to help me make
it known. Nearly two years since, while
talking with friend of the ravages of
the bugs, she said: Have you ever
used plaster of paris2 we used it last
season and it worked we'll" Of course
we took the hint, and that season. 1875,
we saved cucumbers and squashes with
tive had no melons. Last summer we
used it on melons, summer and winter
squashes, and cucumbers with very satis-
factory results. Now for the process.
Get your plaster of paris at marble
shop, where you will find it best and
cheapest. Watch your vines closely,
and when the leaves have grown large
enough to please the striped bug 60 out
early in the morning while the dew is
On, taking basin for your plaster, get
on the windward side of the vines, and
sprinkle the powder carefully over them
till they arc well whiteucd. If there are
striped bugs on them you will see them
double up and roll off in very dis
gusted manner. It is just rs good for
the large black bug. The vines must be
watched and gone over after every
shower, as the wind and rain will wash
most of the plaster off. Don't fancy that
gypsum, or plaster as it is called here
and in many other places, will do. IT
will not. Plaster OF paris is the thing.
-Aonroc in NeW York Tribune.