The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-31
The Potato Beetle.

IIUttOFS fHteUtyCNCeF: FOE tn1S insect,
which is proving SO troublesome to
potato growers about Anderson, dust
the vines while wet with dew with n
mixture of Paris Green and flour or
slaked lime, using two tablespoonsful
OF the former to quart of either the
lime or -four.
There is no danger whatever of pois-
Oning the potatoes, as articles of hu-
man food, through the absorption of
| the poison, either through the foliage
| or by the tubers from the soil. Paris
green has been in use among potato
growers in other parts OF. the country,
as remedy against potato beetles, for
over twenty-five years. When first
suggested for the purpose many OBJ
jected to its use through fear the crops
would be rendered poisonous MS food
Even some scientific men at that time
expressed some fear of the remedy.
But all such notions have proved
grOundless, and Paris green is now the
standard remedy against the insect i'm
question.
Paris green is poisonous and Il deadly
one, of course, should be kept in vessels
plainly marked poison and out Of the
reach Of children or carcle ; persons.
Paris green costs about 20c pound.
Much that is on the market is aGulte-
rated and sometimes almost valueless.
One should be sure he is getting the
genuine article. A reliable test of pu-
rlty is to put some of the poison in
common household ammonia or harts-
horn. If the Paris green all dissolves
leaving TO sediment it is alright. Any
sediment indicates impurity. BY ap-
plying this simple test much valuable
time may be saved as we'll as useless
expense. especially when extension po-
tatOes are to be treated.
For applying the powder good
method is to tie UP pound of the poi
son diluted rs above in piece of coarse
cotton bagging. This is affixed to the
end of stick some three feet long. A
similar bag is attached to the opposite
end. The stick should be just long
enough to reach from row to row.
Taking this appliance the operator
walks down the rows jarring the stick
while holding It 80 that the bag of
poison is suspended above the vines.
In this way two rows may be treated
at one time, or even three or four rows
by arranging the appliance for the
purpose.
The powder may also be applied with
small hand bellows, specially construct
ed for the distribution of powders.
These may usually be had of dealers in
agricultural supplies, or the larger
florists.
In other parts of the country spray
ing the potato vines with arsenical
poisons for the destruction of the pota-
to beetle has come into use, and is now
more generally the method of fighting
potato beetles than by means of the
powder applications.
AS potatoes frequently suffer from
flea a-beetles and blight OF fungus dis
ease of the foliage, for which Bordeaux
Mixture has been found q valuable
remedy. 1t is common now to COM
bine the arsenical poison with Bordeaux
Mixture and apply the two remedies at
the same time, thus saving the expense
of one application.
The liquid is applied with regular
spray pump mounted on barrel in
wagon. There is special tank and
cart spraying machine geared ND to
work by horse power for use in low
field crops on large scale, but the
apparatus is expensive. The spray
pump mounted on q barrel in wagon
will answer all ordinary needs.
Such n pump, compared with ordi-
nary water pumps, is rather expensive.
This is partly owing to the fact that all
interior parts must be made of brass to
resist the corrosive action Of theliquids
used in spraying.
The nearest point where spraying
appliances may be had which the writer
knows of is '"The Farm Speciality Co..
of Griffin, Ga. There may be other
dealers in South Carolina. If SO it will
be no doubt desirable to get appliances
as near home as possible.
The spray-pump will need one CT two
runs Of 3-4 inch hose attached. These
should be from twelve to twenty-five
feet long.
The device for forming the spray is q
small specially constructed nozzle at
the end of the hose. Two good nozzles
are what are known as the Bordeaux
and vermorel. The appliance in opera
ton should permit of thoroughly spray
ing all the foliage of one or more rows
as fast as q horse can walk.
Bordeaux Mixture consists of copper
sulphate or 'b1ue stone" pounds,
lime a pounds, and water 45 gallons.
To make crush six pounds of copper
sulphate, enclose it.in piece of gum
my sacking and suspend next the sur
face of the liquid in a half barrel of
water. In n separate vessel slake four
pounds of fresh, quick or unslaked
lime, with q small quantity of water,
afirriu a. tho limo ohr.,t 30 cx.zooo.-- -