The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-05-01
CONTROL OF POTATO BUGS.
Prof. Conrad Tells the Farmers How
10 Check DepredatiOns OF Colorado
Beetie--Paris Green Best Poison.

The following statement is issued
by A. F. Conrad. entomologist ar the
experiment station at Clemson col
lege:
Complaints reach the entomologist
about the injurious work of the Colo
rado beetle, commonly known as the
potato bug. This insect is very easily
controlled, probably more so than
any other insect in America. While
most people use Paris green for poi
soning it on the plants, they gener-
ally use the Paris green without the
addition of lime. Paris green can
never be used on plants without be-
ing diluted in some form unless a
special powder gun for this purpose
is provided, by which the operator
can guage very accurately the
amount Of Paris green put to the
acre, which should be approximately
pound. When the farmer has no
spray pump available of course the
next best thing is to apply the Paris
green dry. In that case it is con-
siderably diluted with some diluent
like road dust. land plaster, flour or
some similar cheap matrial at the
rate or about one part of Paris green
to so parts Of diluent. It can then
be applied freely through a duster,
which may consist of a tin can with
perforated bottom or a bag made of
osnabruck cloth. The material is put
In this bag and then shaken over the
plants. Where spray pump is avail
able it is best to spray the insecticide
at the rate of / pound to 100 or 125
gallons of water. When it is spray
ed it should not be forgotten that to
every pound of Paris green the milk
Of lime made by shaking three pounds
of quick lime should be added to the
mixture. When this lime is added
the solution may be used with safety
on potato plants in any quantities and
no trouble from scorchfng will be
experienced.
"Other measures frequently recon-
mended consist Of sprinkIing the
plants with road dust, flour, air-slak-
ed lime, chimney SCOT, sulphur or
even cottonseed meal. Most Of these
are very cheap, while some are ex-
pensive. All of these have practical
value by killing the younger larvae of
the beetle and by causing others to
decamp. The effect is not as thor
ough, however, as that Of a good pois-
on like Paris green applied according
to directions given above. Where a
powder gun is available a person can
set this at the rate Of one pound TO
the acre. and by little practice can
gauge his steps by walking across the
field so that the proper amount is
applied. In the morning when the
dew is on large territory can be Gov
cred in this way and is one of the
simplest and cheapest ways Of apply
ing the poison.
I'm buying Paris green it should be
borne in mind that a coarse Paris
green is not good as an insecticide. 1t
scorches more easily than a fine
ground Paris green. 1t is a good plan
to- always obtain the composition o.
the material in buying or know +he
obtained. Paris green ordinarily
should not contain more than 6 per
cent. soluble arsenic, while in some
States the law requires that no Paris
green sold is in the open markets
shall contain more than per cent.
The extent to which Paris green
scorches the plant depends upon the
percentage OF this water soluble ar
senic. For complete descriptions for
preparing the various insecticides see
bulletin 141 Of this station