The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-08-26
new VARIETY OF
IRISH POTATOES
TRULY BUG PROOF
Burbank Does Not Claim IT.;
Hansen Knows It Not, but
It Is q Wonder.

Brookings. S. D., Aug. 24.-That he
has a variety Of potatoes so consti-
tuted as to cause all the potato bugs
In the United States to starve to death
and save the potato growers of the
country some millions Of dollars paid
amount OF labor, is the claim Of George
u. Bonney, of Forestburg, S. d. Mr.
Bonney is wholly reputable individ-
ual, having served in the state senate
and being generally respected.
In response to an inquiry, the South
Dakota State Agricultural callege, To-
Gated here, declares it has no knowl-
and the department of agriculture at
Washington also declares its ignorance
Of any such vegetable prodigy.
1t Is estimated by wholesale drug
house at Sioux Falls, supplying, per-
haps, third of the demand In this
state, that it sold so tons of paris green
this season, almost entirely for use on
as the potato bug. Many ingenious
persons have endeavored to find a
labor saving device for the destruction
Of these pests, but to date there is no
sure way of killing them except by
personally administering liberal doses
Of this poison. Fifty tons Of paris
means that in the United States the
potato bug costs, in paris green alone,
not less than $3,OO0.OOO a year. Not
only that, but the bug reduces the
yield OF the potato an unestimated
amount. Anyway, it is certain this
insect requires good many millions
OF dollars for its annual support.
Concerning his bug-proof potatoes.
Mr. BOnney says:
Il have variety Of potatoes called
.Bugless,' and as long as have known
them, they have never had a bug on
them. / 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 conditions has the Colorado beetle
ever attacked this variety, even along
side Of other varieties destroyed. They
are good yielders, subject Of course,
to climatic conditions. The quality is
unsurpassed in their season, that is,
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 the table use
speaks well for them. They are fine
variety to ship for late eating, hard
and mealy, with small, shallow eyes.
Any one who can tell me why the bugs
Wv
peck Of the seed''
Sample leaves Of the potato were sent
to Professor N. E. Hansen, Of the agri-
cultural college. who has an inter-
national reputation as the man who
introduced various fruits and grains
and grasses from Russia and who has
been the representative Of the Uuited
States government on such missions.
with a request for an explanation and
q statement whether he knew anything
about any ''bugless" potatoes. The
leaves were particularly healthy and
perfectly sound and declared to be
representative Of the whole patch.
Professor Hansens statement follows:
Il have had no experience with and
do not know Of any such variety Of
potatoes. Several years ago 1 had a
few varieties Of potato from Germany
and South Africa and noticed that one
variety was practically immune to po-
tato bugs, but as it was inferior in
other respects. the matter was not
followed up. 1t would certainly be
wise to have the variety tested care
fully at several experiment stations be-
fore heralding the fact abroad that
such q variety exists"