The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-06-12

Very severe damage is annually
done in tobacco fields by insect pests
and to a lesser degree by parasitic
fungi. Much of this damage may be
prevented by proper attention. To
bacco, like other crops, must be
sprayed or busted with an insecti-
eide. The best treatment for to-
bacco, and one that is entirely safe,
is the following:
Paris green, 1 pound.
Flowers of sulphur, to 5 pounds.
Powdered soap stone or air slaked
lime, 100 pounds.
DIRECTIONS.
Mix thoroughly and apply to the
plants while wet with dew or rain.
The first treatment should be applied
soon after the plants have been set
out. The second two or three weeks
later, and a third two or three weeks
after the second. If the weather is
wet, more frequent treatments may
be necessary, but usually three treat
ments will be sufficient for the crop
and season. No treatment should be
given within 15 days from time of
harvesting crop. The best instru-
ment for applying the above powder
is d so-called powder gun" Ad-
dresses of dealers in powder guns
will be furnished by the undersigned
to those who want them. The above
powder may also be put on by Earring
from a coarse sack held in the hand,
or by two sacks attached one to each
end of a pole long enough to reach
across two rows. The pole may be
carried on a mules back. Only a
slight dusting is necessary, but the
powder should be evenly distributed
on leaves so that no insect can gnaw,
any leaf without eating the poison.
No possible harm can come to the
tobacco or those using it from this
treatment which is similar to that
given fruit for many years without
the least danger or complaint.
The worst and most destructive
pest of growing tobatco is the flea
beetle, Epithri.r parUula. This is a
small, oval, brownish beetle about
= inch long. 1t eats small, round,
pin holes in the leaves which
then admit a saprophytic fungus
which enlarges the holes. These
holes ruin the value of the leaf for
many purposes and in every case
render it light and chaffy. The larva
or grub of this beetle also feeds upon
the roots of the plants and does
much damage. Besides tobacco, this
insect feeds upon jamestown weed
and horse nettle, and to some extent
on ''ground cherry tomato, potato,
egg plant and pepper and other
plants of the tobacco or sOlOnaceOus
family. If the Jamestown weed,
horse nettle and other solonaceous
weeds in the vicinity of a proposed
tobacco field are heavily poisoned
with Paris green a week Or ten days
before setting out the tobacco plants,
the chances of damage to the tobacco
will be greatly lessened. These
weeds act as nurses and supports for
the beetles before the tobacco comes
on the field. The tobacco is so much
more juicy and tender that the in
seets soon quit the weeds for the cul-
tivated crop. After the tobacco has
been set out all these solonaceous
weeds, horse nettle, Jamestown,
ground cherry, etc, should be cut
out. After the crop is gathered the
stumps should be plowed under at
once or heavily poisoned to prevent
them from breeding insect pests
which will damage succeeding crops.
Next in Importance to the flea
beetle. we must place the horn worm,
PrOtOpGrce Carolina. The remedy
advised for the flea beetle will at the
same time serve for the horn worm
provided it is applied in time. But
II the worms get large before being
poisoned they must be hand picked
Plckers should carry a small bucket
holding some water and little kero-
sene oil. Throw the worms into this
as soon as picked.
The bud worm or boil worm, Hello
mas, is often very destructive to
young tobacco by eating into
The leaf buds. The best remedy
Ior this insect is a mixture of Paris
green part and finely ground corn