Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-10
The Boil Weevil Saved


nent, and secret remedy for the eradication
of this insect, and would for consideration of
two thousand dollars 60 to America, demon
strate its efficacy, and hand over his secret
After nearly years correspondence with
the Department of Agriculture, various Texas
farmers. and Others. this eradicator of weevils
called at the Consulate. His appearance was
not reassuring His letters had been business
like and faith inspiring; but his manner was
hesitatng and confidence DESTROYING, and
quiet search disclosed deceptive intention
to obtain free passage to America. buy
farm, and locate. Thus were high hopes
destroyed and two thousand dollars saved,
while the boil weevil still pursues the even
tenor of its way.
All This About Potatoes
PUT about the barrel of potatoes. once made
short report concerning new vegetable
which had been imported from Uruguay and
was being tested by the Marseilles Agricultural
College. Among other things the report
tanned the substance of an essay read before
the French Society of Agriculture in Paris on
the value of this vegetable. or tuber. 1t
resembled the Irish potato, its yield was
eight times as great. blight could not attack it.
perfume could be manufactured from its
blossoms, etc. After the publication of this
report by the Government at Washington it
went the rounds of the American press and
was particularly emphasized in agricultural
journals. One remarked
The good old Irish potato is doomed. 1t
is to be supplanted by new vegetable from
Uruguay which somewhat resembles it, This
was not so bad; but when the writer added,
The French National Society has adopted
the new potato officially" thought the limit
had been reached But not so. Among the
hundreds of letters received in regard to this
potato. which had grown by the manipulation
of country editors into the eighth wonder of
the world, was one from Western farmer, as
follows:
DER MR. COUNSEL. visit you wood
send me peck of that new tuber which looks
like a potater the french government has
adopted it as its NOTICE if you ca send a
barril will take barril what the - is let
me no and will send you.
"yours trueley-
The resultant evils of opening Pandora's
box were pleasure compared to the irksome
correspondence that report occasional. Let
tiers from Maine to California and from the
Great Lakes to the Gulf fairly flooded the
Consulate, and have since Travelled positively
to find me attested by the almost unreliable
readdressed envelops bearing American, French.
Chinese, and English postmarks. Even to
this day they still come. Here is one bearing
this months date:
~. S. CONSUL
Paris france
"DEAR SIR i have been informed that the
national Society of Agriculture of Paris france
has imported vegetable by the name of Uru-
quay TUDOR which somewhat resembles an
irish potato but in shape is more like sweet
Potato would like to know how it succeeded
in france to yield and quality and hardness
also would like to know if could Buy few
to try here in U. S. States if they haven't got
them to spare yet about how soon they will
have them more.
yours truly"
Another one read:
"U.S CONSUL paris france read in DR.. Mac
donalds book of life of vegetabel tuber root
which some what resembles sweet potater
which is grown in france pleas send me some
if you can not send as much as half bushen
or peck send me one potater by male and if you
cant do this send me eye i will pay you back
all expenses wood buy ten BUSHELS if node
they was all rite
'yours respectfully"
Josh Billings would probably have turned
from his literary efforts in disgust, had the
following ever come under his eye:
ITO THE HONORABLE U S CoNSULE PARIS
FRANCE
my onerabel consule sir rite few lines of
the tuber root witch resembles potatoe piece
send me few roots to trie am sitisin of the
u states will report to you the sucksess Of
them i am ser verey trueley-'
This might also have tended to discourage
Mr.. Billings:
Gu S. coNsIL PARIS FRANCE today i write
you concerning your Uruguay roots l wish to
buy some of them from you plese send me your
prise list of your tubers by male. yours