The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-04-12
REMEDIES.

REMEDIES.
The remedy to be used against the potato beetle
is so simple sure and cheap that there is
son why one should suffer seriously from it's at
tacks. Paris green, applied dry in a mixture with
air-slaked lime plaster, IN solution with
water and lime, or in the Bordeaux mixture, makes
a perfectly safe and antidote. The fears
which some have that this will poison the tuber
are absolutely without foundation, although if
used at too great strength the poison IS apt to
have burning effect upon the foliage of the
plants. Let consider the three methods men
toned.
Paris Green and Air-slaked Lime.-Mix good
quality of paris green with thoroughly a1r-slaked
lime at rate of one ounce of the green to four
pounds of the lime. Be sure that it is thoroughly
mixed. Better mix with the hands, stirring it to-
gether again and again until there spots
streaks in the lime which show more greenlsh
color than others. Apply by sprinkling by hand,
by shaking it from sacks made of loose cloth,
or with powders gun bellows. The application
had best be made in early morning while the
plants are wet with dew. Make first application
as soon the beetles appear and repeat often
seen to be needed
Paris Green, Lime and Water.-Slake 2 ounces
of lime and to the milk thus formed add water
to make ten gallons Mix one ounce of paris
green with little water in cup saucer to
form thin paste and then wash it all out into
the water with the lime. This gives one ounce
paris green, two ounces lime, to ten gallons of
water. Apply with spray pump. If pump is
watering pot or brush, but spraying it with
a regular spray pump is preferable.
Bordeaux Mixture with Paris Green.-Dissolve
five pounds blue stone in water by hanging IN
sack at top of keg in which the water is placed.
When it is entirely dissolved add water to make
twenty-five gallons. Now slake five pounds of
lime and add water to the milk to make twenty
five gallons. Pour equal parts of the blue stone
solution and the lime water together to make the
perfect Bordeaux mixture and mix in paris green
at rate of one ounce to every ten gallons. If the
blue stone and lime solutions kept separate,
they may be poured together, in equal quantity,
at any time as needed. Being kept separate, each
will keep through the season, but once the two
poured together to make the Bordeaux, it should
be used within forty-eight hours. Apply with
regular spraying pump, with watering pot if
pump is not to be had.
The advantage of the Bordeaux mixture and
paris green the others is that it is remedy
for blights as well as the Beetles and thus by
protecting the plant from a. number of enemies
at once the general vigor and health is so i'm
proved that the yield is much better. The writer
is strongly of the opinion that our potato-growers
would do we'll to spray their potatoes three or four
times each season with bordeaux and paris green.
The first application should be made soon
the plants are well started, the second, ten days
two weeks later, and the third two weeks after
second, the idea being to keep the plant well pro-
tected by continuous applications that the
beetles will not have chance to get started.
If you have doubts about the remedies here
suggested, why not try more of them on
one half of your patch and let the other half go
as you have done before? Them when you see
plainly just what the results are, let me know.
If you are interested in the matter of spraying
write to me for Circular No. 4 on "Spraying Ap-
paratus" FRANKLIN SHERMAN, JR.
Entomologist of Department of Agriculture, Ra-
leigh. N. @.