Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-04
For the Freeman.
A Chat with Farmers.
ABOUT POTATO BUGS.
BY AGIiiCoLA.

There are more than dozen species Of
the potato bug known and hated in tn,
United States. The foremost among thes,
in the work Of destruction upon the pota
To crop is best known rs the Colorad,
beetle lie is indigenous to the table
lands Of the Rocky mountains, and begal
his eastern march from Colorado. A
nome he fed upon wild plant called so
hmunl. peculiar to thai region. As civil
zatlun advanced westward and fruitful
fields and gardens were cultivated within
the limits Of his natural range, he sool
Il CURED the habit of feeding upon the
leaves of the potato. This new feet
proved II luxury. and stimulated the rae,
u greater prolilicncss. Now emigration
SCI in, and this inscriptions pest grad
uIlly extended his voyages eastward.
The first historical notice of his iniuri
Gus prupensiies was published in 1S59-60
Within fifteen years from that time he hal
taken possession of the potlto-growin9
region of the United States and Canada
And it is said that he has photographed It
Europe that he is coming to that re gion.
In 1861 he had reached the borders oil
Iowa, carpet-bag in hand, and within
,hree years had spread over the state
Now naluralsts began to study his history
and to take notes of his destructive habits
In 1868 Prof. Riley published an article il
The Pfdir1e Fdrner exposing his real ma
lure. In 1860 lie had crossed the Missis
sippi (whethcr on RATS or by flight we ar,
unable to say), and had attacked the pota
to fields of illinois and Wisconsin. Ii
1867 he entered Indiana and Michigan
and in 1868 came into Ohio. and, lik,
Sherman's invading army, pushed his wa,
rapidly across the continent to the Allan
tic states, and reached the seaboard il
1879.
1t has been observed that his southern
columns lag far behind the northern
From this it is inferred that he thrive
best in the north, which seems to be NOR,
like his native home. He can hardly en-
dure the extreme heat and drought of mid
summer in the southwest.
The Colorado beetle is not itinerant, il
the proper sense of this term. He doe
not march through Il country, but Away
establishes permanent colony whereve
he goes. He does the most mischief tn
first year or two. After this his number
are much reduced, partly by the attacks O
parasitic and predacious insects which fol
low this army in their war of invasion
and we hope the intruder will pass on hi
way without much more intrusion upol
our rights rs American farmers. lie
seems bound to the east, and we trust h
will push on until he is overwhelmed il
Atlantic waves.
We saw, II few days since, representa-
ton of an assembly of Colorado beetles il
preparation for emigration back to tn
land of their fathers. They had gathere,
in an open space, selected their leader
monstrous bug Of royal bearing-an
were forming their lines in military order
a few stragglers We're to be seen loalin
about the premises, leaning on their car
pet-bags, BOOSTING upon the fence, an
chatting with their comrades. They wer
all within hailing distance. and ready, nj
doubt, to return to the lines before tn
command to march should be given. A
the left, little distance, was represente,
Il potato field with the crop maturing. A
the corner, upon large tree, there was
poster inscribed in living letters, :" Pari
| Green"
Here we saw, ut once, tine cause G
alarm, and of the contemplated stampede
May The picture prove II reality, that W
may soon be free from this horrid beetle