Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-10-29

A chat with Farmers. =.
BIZ AGRICOLA.
ABOUT NOxIoUs INSECTS.

We have the wavy-striped tlea-beetles,
found in great numbers in the month oil
May and often through the summer, on
horse-radish, the mustard and turnip.
They are very injurious 10 young plants,
destroying their seed-leiyes rs soon as
they appear. These are small beetles,
longer Than the cucumber species. Except
4 buff-colored stripe on each wing cover
and reddish yellow about their knees
and feet, their co or is Il highly polished
black.
The steel-blue flea beetles are found in
almost every part of the United States, on
wild and cultivated grape vines, whose
buds and leaves they destroy. This species
have great variety of colors-purple, vlo-
let, Prussian blue and green, and all these
kinds may sometimes be found on the
same vine. They come out OF their WIN
ter quarters the last of April, and continue
their campaign for about month. Near
the end of July second brood appear on
the grape vines. They are brilliant in
sects in appearance, and very destructive
in their habits. When disturbed they
Jump and fall. and remain where they fall
without motion. They undergo their
transformation in the ground.
How to get rid of these noXious insects
is an important, practical question. tx
perience has demonstrated that free use
Of ime, as powder or in solution, great
y checks their ravages. AS y powder 1t
should be sprinkled over the plants while
the dew is on, and in solution il will kill
The insects without injuring the plants.
81, In
solving one pound of hard soap in twelve
gallons of soap-suds left after washing.
This should be applied twice day with II
watering. pot. The tea of worm wood or
walnut leaves sprinkled upon the leaves
prevents the tica-beetlc from touching
them. With u bag net of muslin care
uly swept over malured plants many
may be caught and destroyed. The very
Young plant will not bear such treatment.
The third family of this tribe differ some
in form from those already described.
they are even more numerous and beau
fu. The larva are soft, short and thick
grub> having seven leg>-siX before and
me behind, used rs prop leg. They
live on the leaf upon which they feed anu
which finally they ftsJen lhcmselve,
when about to he Transformed A few
however, 90 into the ground before lhi'
change takes place. This species have
not YET become very Obstructive TO plant,
in t is country, AS they have in othel
countries. They may so increase as ye
TO prove so.
The most elegant species Of the beetles
we are descri ing are found upon the lin
lien and elm tree in April, May and June
and the second brood appear in October
rhcy pass the winter in holes and under
leaves and moss. The lrva sometime,
!ujure the trees on which they live. The
eggs that are Land upon the leaves in early
spring hatch and come to maturity il
June. These grubs 80 into the grounc
for transformation
The blue-winged leaf beetles live il
great numbers on the common knot grass
and they strip it Of its leaves two or three
times in the course Of the sumner. The,
adhere TO it from April to September in
elusive. These beetles, with some Other
which have not been described, are til
most beautiful in color and variety tina
can be found.
The fourth family of lcaf.eating beetle
are distinguished by the conccalment q
their heads. Their larva are whitis
grubs which eat the leaves of plants
Each makes to himselfa house mot wit
hands" small, clay like structure witt
an opening ut one end. Inside Of thi
the grub lives, and when he reaches til
point of his destination he backs out agai
and rrtireS out Of sight. When full
grown lie closes up the end of his case an
changes into the proper state, AMI after
wards into beetle. Then he gnaws
hole through the case and escapes into tn
wide, wide world" These beetles $
far have been comparatively harmless i
This country.
How strange to contemplate is the hi;
tory Ct tins world of beetles, and III
changes through which they pass.