Morris tribune., 1909-09-18
NO POTATO BUGS.
South Dakota Man Has Bugles,
Potato. Two New Ways
to Get Rid of Bugs.

apolis Journal published a dispatch
from Brookings, s. D., to the effec
that man named George B. Bonney
of Forrestburg, s. D., former legis-
lator, claimed to have a variety oi
potatoes SO constituted as to cause
| potato bugs to starve to death, his
statement relative to these potatoes
being as follows:
81 have variety of potatoes called
sBugless' and as long as have known
them they have never had bug on
them. I have them growing here
now and can prove this assertion any
day. This variety was brought here
from near Fergus Falls, Mimi, seven
or eight years ago and has been
grown here ever since. Under no
conditions have the Colorado beetle
ever attacked this variety, even along
side of other varieties which were
destroyed. They are good yielders-
subject, of course, to climate condi-
tions. The quality is unsurpassable
in their season, that is from March Is
to Sept. Is. They are in form and
look similar to the Great State of Wis
consin potato, large, round and slight
ly oval. They are fine variety to
ship for late eating, hard and meally
with small eyes. To any one who can
tell me why the bugs do not eat them,
I will present peck of the seed."
Small leaves of the potato were
sent to Prof. N. E. Hanson of the
South Dakota agricultural college,
who has an international reputation as
the man who introduced various fruits
and grains and grasses from Russia,
with request for an explanation and
a statement whether he knew any
thing about any "Bugless" potatoes.
Professor Hanson's statement fol-
lows:
s'I have had no experience with
and do not know of any such variety
of potatoes. Several years ago had
a few potatoes from Germany and
South Africa and noticed that one
variety was practically immune to
potato bugs, but as it was inferior in
other respects, the matter was not
followed up. It would certainly be
wise to have the variety tested care
fully at several experiment stations
to make sure that such a variety
existed"
John HELM, of Viborg, s. D., says
he has raised the bugless potatoes for
several years and invites the fullest
investigation to prove his statement.
The South Dakota agricultural col
lege expects to investigate the matter
thoroughly, as the authorities are
impressed with the claims for the
new potato"
The new article reminds us of a
couple of new methods of fighting
potato bugs which have been brought
to our attention recently.
Though it did not come from him
one of these methods is
credited to Theodore Ogdahl, the well
known Barsness farmer. A visitor to
his fine farm remarked on the healthy
of his potato vines and
was surprised to be told that Mr..
Ogdahl had no trouble with potato
bugs for several years, and that the
only thing he could attribute that
good fortune to was the kind of man
ure he used on his potato patch. And
the secret is, that he uses only horse
manure for potato ground. The, first
time it was purely accidental that he
did this, but for several years he has
continued the practice.
If it is not the use of horsse manure
he does not knew why his potatoes
have been free from bugs for several
years. 1t is a very simple thing, any
way, and it wonld be interesting to
see what the same plan will result in
on other farms.
The second method was suggested
by j. I'll. Fnrtney, of Glenwood. He
says he tried the plan in Iowa before
he came to Minnesota, and has re-
peatedly tested it since he came to
this state. About o'clock in the
afternoon of a bright, sunshiny day
he takes broom and walks through
his potato patch brushing the young
bugs from the vines into the center
between the rows of potato plants,
being careful that the bugs are not
left close to the plants. They never
get back, whether because of the
hot surface of the earth at that time
Of day or the dew and GOODNESS of the
night which soon follows or because
Of combination of the two condi-
lions, Mr.. Furtney does not presume
To cav pOsitiv0Iy. ANYWAY. in his