The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-08-26
BUCLESS POTATO
Ex-SECRETARY BONNEY TELLS
OF VARIETY THAT BUGS
WON'T ATTACK r.

WON'T ATTACK
In response to an inquiry published
in The Press as to whether any bug
less potatoes are grown in South Da-
kota, G. II. Bonney of Forestburg, s.
D., former state senator and a man OF
high standing, asserts that he has a
variety of potatoes so constituted as to
cause all the potato bugs in the Unit
ed States to starve to death and save
the potato-growers of the country some
millions of dollars paid out for paris
green and an untold amount of labor
and money.
When asked whether any variety of
"bugless potatoes is known, both the
South Dakota Agricultural college and
the United States department of agri-
culture declared there was not. So if
Mr.. BOnney's positive claims are to be
considered he has a vegetable discoy-
cry not only novel, but of great i'm
pOrtance.
1t was estimated by a wholesale drug
house IN Sioux Falls this summer that
it had sold fifty tons of paris green
during the season, almost entirely for
use on the Colorado beetle, commonly
known as the potato bug. Many in
geniOus persons have endeayored to
find a labOr-saving system of killing
these pests, but TO date there is no sure
way of destroying them except by per-
sOnally administering liberal doses OF
this poison. Fifty tons of paris green
is worth to the user about $4,000, and
as the Sioux Falls drug house men
toned probably did not supply more
than a third Of the state it is quite
possible the annual bill for paris green
in South Dakota alone amounts to
something like 100000. That means
in the United States the potato bug
costs, in paris green alone, not less
than 100000 a year. NOtOnly that,
but the bug reduces the yield of the
potato an unestimated amount. Any
way, it is certain this insect requires
a good many millions of dollars for its
annual support.
TESTED FOR YEARS
Concerning his bug-proof potatoes,
Mr.. Bonney says:
II have a variety of potatoes called
'Bugless,' and as long as | have known
them, they have never had a bug on
them. l have them growing here now
and can prove this assertion any day.
This variety was first brought here
from near Fergus Falls, Mimi, some
seven or eight years ago and has been
grown here ever since. Under no con-
ditiOnS have the Colorado beetle ever
attacked this variety, even alongside
of other varieties destroyed. They are
good yielders-subject, of course, to
climatic conditions. The quality is un-
surpassed in their season, that is, from
March Is to Sept. Is. They are in
form and looks similar to the Great
State of Wisconsin potato, large, round
and slightly oval. The date they are
first class for table use speaks well for
them. They are fine variety to ship
for late eating, hard and mealy with
small, shallow eyes. Anyone who can
tell me why the bugs do not eat them
| will present with peck of the seed"
Sample leaves of the potato were
sent to Prof. n. E. Hansen of the
South Dakota Agricultural college, who
has an international reputation as the
man who introduced various fruits and
grains and grasses from Russia and
who has been the representative Of the
United States government on such mis-
sions. He was asked for an explanation
and a statement whether he knew any
thing about any "bugless" potatoes.
The leaves were particularly healthy
and perfectly sound and were declared
to be representative of the whole patch
from which they were taken. Prof.
Hansen's reply follows:
HANSEN DOESN'T KNOW OF THEM
II have no experience with and do
not know Of any such variety of po-
tatoes. Several years ago l had few
varieties of potato from Germany and
South Africa and noticed mat one var
iety was practically immune to potato
bugs, but as it was inferior in other
respects, the matter was not follow
ed up. 1t would certainly be wise to
have the variety tested carefully in
several experiment stations before
heralding the fact abroad that such
variety existed"
Asked for statement upon the sub
ject, w. V. Shear, scientific assistant
in the department of agriculture at
Washington wrote to The Press:
I'VE do not know of any variety of
potatoes that are not subject to the at
tack of the beetle, neither do we think
that the quality of the soil would af-
feet the character of the vine 10 the
extent of making 1t immune to insect
attacks. There Is no doubt that II a
variety OF potato could be obtained
which produced vines that bugs would
not eat, they would be desirable kind
to grow, but thus far such a variety
has not been found so far as our in
formation goes"
John Helm of Viborg, S. d., states
that he has raised the bugless potatoes
for several years and invites the full
est investigation 10 prove his state
ment that the bugs will not destroy
them.
The South Dakota Agricultural COL
lege will be asked to test the new
variety of potatoes in order that their
quality may be proved beyond all
chance Of dispute.
Sioux Falls-A despatch received
Saturday afternoon from Omaha con-