The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-06-27
vhe Potato Bug.

We como no W 10 speak of the artiil-
c;al remedies 40. inst this potato beetle.
And first we will suggest that u Is OF
great Importance to destroy the first
crop of beetles THAT appear In the
snring. The surest way TO do this IL 10
nick Them from the vines and execute
them on the spot. The method of kill
iup them is not so important as the fact.
We once saw IA representation of such
tragic scene, where the farmers
"bired hands" were dragging In the
victims from the potato field for exec'l-
ton. A large trip-hammer, run by
steam, had been arranged for the pur-
pose of snhasning them, and the exec,i-
TONERS seemed to make sure work oil IT,.
But less expensive way OF dsing TINS
important work may he devised. Dur
ing the first few years after the appear
ance of this beetle in some OF TIE west
ern states, several implements were III
vented to facilitate his destruction. In
hot and dry weather most of them may
be destroyed by knocking them Oft the
vines, and then passing between the
rows with brush harrow drawn by
horse. But this is not so reliable as the
use of poison, which they are made to
eat as part of their breakfast. Paris
green is the most effective and common
now in use. Some mix il with flour or
plaster, from twenty to thirty parts,
and sprinkle it upon the leaves. But
this is not SO sure to reach the bugs and
is more dangerous way TO leave the
poison on the crop. The best method
of using Paris green is to mix table
spoonful I'm some three gallons OF water,
and sprinkle it over the vines where
the bugs and their young are found
Prof. Riley gives the following direc-
tons for using both the powder and the
liquid. "The green may be shaken
over the vines in various manners, and
some persons have found an old sleazy
sack, such as are used for table salt, to
do good service, when attached to the
end of q stick. IL is most safely APP
piled By aid of perforated tin box at
tached to the end of a stick three or
four feet long. The least possible dust
ing suffices, and by taking the handle
of the dust-box in the left hand, and
tapping the box with a stick held in
the right hand, one can walk rapidly
along the rows and regulate the amount
sifted. The green cannot well be mixed
with flour or plaster except by the aid
of mill, and for this reason those who
mix in large quantities have the advan-
tage. The liquid has the advantage
over the powder in that there is less
danger from injury in its use, and that
it can be effectually used at any time of
day, while the powder can be employed
to advantage only while the dew is onthe
plants. 1t has, however, some advan-
tages. LIST, The green is not soluble,
for, though. it quickly gives a green
tint TO the water when stirred, il soon
settles to the bottom, unless kept in
suspense by continued stirring. I'd, 1t
settles in spots on the leaves, the natu-
raj tendency of the water in finding its
level being to concentrate it wherever a
drop finds rest and evaporates. Sd,
Too much wasted on the ground in the
sprinkling. have, therefore, found it
much more convenient, on small
scale, to use the powder when it can be
obtained ready mixed by machinery.
| Applied when the dew Is on the plants,
it will adhere more uniformly, and it
obviatcs the necessity of carrying about
so much water. But whether the green
be used in water or as n powder, the
flour will prove desirable addition,
since it renders the green more adhesive
and consequently more serviceable.
Some care will bcJrequired in using,
however, to prevent its forming Jumps.
This adhesive quality in the liquid may
also be obtained by dissolving dextrine
or gum arabic in the water-both, how.
ever, much more expensive than the
flour" There is no danger in using
Paris green, if used with proper care,
by either Of these methods. This poi
son kills the insect without injuring the
plant either above or below ground. -
Recorp and Farmer.