Connecticut western news., 1884-08-20
FARM AND GARDEN.
The Destructive FIeR BeetIe-whnt The Ex-
 pertinent station says About It.

turnips and radish, doing much injury by eating from the leaves. We have made many applications with the view of discovering the most effective preyen- tive against its injuries. Among these may be mentioned tobacco water, cut tobacco leaves, kerosene soap emulsion, soluble phenyle, buhach powder and air-slaked lime. The date of each appli- cation and the proportions of each used, etc., were carefully noted, and the plants upon which the applications were made examined daily, and the number of in- sects found counted and noted in com. parison with the number found upon plants which had received no treatment We will not burden our readers with de- tails, but will proceed at once to results.
 A saturated decoction of tobacco water is very efficient in keeping off the inc sects, when frequently applied, but it's strength seems to volatilize quickly in the sun; at least, our figures seem to show that little, if any, benefit comes from the application after two days. Our decoction was made by soaking to- bacco leaves in cold water for twenty four hours. when the water was poured off to be used, and was applied to the plants by means of the garden sprink- Ter.
 We found the kerosene emulsion dilu- ted with eight parts of soft water to be very efficient, but its effects are little, if any, more lasting than are those of the tobacco water, and when frequently ap- piled it evidently retarded the growth of the plants. This emulsion is made by combining one gallon of kerosene, one gallon of water and four pounds of con- mon yellow bar soap, heating the mix ture with occasional stirring, until the mass becomes homogeneous, and then continuing the stirring until it becomes cold. This preparation is entirely per manent, and may be diluted to any de- sired extent by the addition of rain water.
 Tobacco leaves cut fine by passing them through fodder cutter and placed about the plants of radish had a very visible effect in keeping off the Nalticd, the appearance of the leaves showing the beneficial result. It may be noted of the application of tobacco, whether in the form of leaves or decoction, that il stimulated the growth of the plant as well as protected it from the insect.
 Air-slaked lime dusted over the plant, while wet with dew is unquestionably beneficial, and in dry weather it's effecti are quite lasting.
 We tried also kerosene mixed witl sand, at the rate of one ounce of tht former to pound of the latter, but tn, mixture had little influence in protect ing from the insect, while it was detri mental to the growth of the plant.
 Buhach powder mixed with alcohol and this mixture reduced with water was applied in different degrees of dilu ton without marked effect.
 Soluble phenyle proved nearly or quite valueless, for when applied in sufiicien concentration against the beetles it in iured or destroyed the plants.
 It is we'll to note that plants grown il frame made of twelve-inch board were not perceptibly injured by tn, pea-beetle. This insect, though yer, agile, rarely jumps high, hence in man, cases we may prevent its attack nor, easily in advance than we can subdu its injuries after their access to tn plants.
 This NaItica is a very timid insect and when disturbed can be seen jump ing in every direction from it's danger Through this feature of its habits i may be possible to drive it from tn scene of it's operations, where it's abund anee is absolutely destructive to crop and then to protect the plants now free,
 from it's presence by surrounding tn
 bed with boards. As many of tn
 plants subject to its attacks are grow
 in beds which supply plants for trans
 planting, this remedy seems often to b ! feasible one.
 II The presence of the radish fly, Ar
 thonUa radicu,u, prevents us from grow ing perfect radishes in our heavy soi So far as our observations determine
 none of the applications noted above of avail against this pest. We noted however, that in a bed of radishes ( , which tue soil had received very liberi , mulching of coal ashes Inst season th
 roots were almost entirely free from th maggot.
 We found also that bi-sulphide { carbon applied to the soil destroyed tl l maggots that had not yet penetrated th
 roots, but the use of this remedy | accompanied by so many disadvantage , that we must consider it in general [ impracticable.