The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-07-12
HOW TO KILL
POTATOES BUGS
County Agricultural Agent
Smith Explains Scientific
Methods.

HI. Smith. Marion County Agricul'
tural Agent, is sending out today a cir
cular setting forth the best and most
effective method OF potato spraying.
The circular tells Of the insects that
attack the potato and the best method
OF Kidding the vegetable vines Of these
insects. The circular is most practica!
and helpful. The circulars are being
sent to farmers, truck gardeners. etc.
The following is the text OF the clrcu'
lar:
"Of all the insects that attack the
potato. none does as much damage as
the Colorado potato-beetle. A descrtp-
ton OF this insect Is unnecessary since,
unfortunately. It is know nto every
farmer. This insect eats the leaves
and stalks OF the potato from the time
It comes up until the top dies. The
adult bellies. young grubs and eggs
may be found upon the plants at the
same time. The eggs are usually in
clusters on the unedr side Of the
leaves. They are orange yellow and
! about the size OF clover seed.
Potato beetles may be killed by
spraying the plants with arsenate OF
lead-three to five pounds TO fifty gal.
longs Of water-or Paris green-one'
half pound to fifty gallons Of water.
The first material IS safer and more
satisfactory all around and its use IS
generally recommended. Fifty 10 one
hundred gallons will spary an acre.
II 1t is not possible to spray, either
powdered arsenate of lead or Paris
green may be applied in the form OF
duct shaken onto the plants through a
muslin bag or busted through small!
holes in the bottom of a tin can, The
poison should be mixed with some sub
stance like -four sulphur. or air.slaked
lime at the rate OF about one table
spoonful to a quart. In this way less
material Is ued and there is less dan
ger Of burning the leaves.
"A smaller beetle resembling the
Colorado potato.betle but only third
as large. often occurs with il and may
be controlled the same way. This in
sect is known as the three-lined pota
to-beetle.
The 'old.fashioned potato beetles
are different kinds of blisterbeetles.
They are either black. gray. or yellow
and clack striped. They usually oc-
cur later in the season than the 9th
ers. but may be killed in the same
way.
"Flea.beetles-sm black beetles
that jump like fleas-puncture the sur
face OF potato leaves. They may do
more damage than any of the other
insects excepting the Colorado potato
beetle. The treatment given for the
other insects will usually hold the flet-
beetle in check. but a Still better treat
ment where they are numerous is TO
spray with Bordeaux mixture.
Potato blight is the disease usually
treated by spraying the plants with
Bordeaux mixture. There should be
four sprayings. one about ten days
after the plants come up. and the
other three at intervals of two weeks.
The spray material should be applied
so it covers every part Of the plant
above ground.
Tie two pounds Of bluestone in a
cloth bag and suspend 1t in five gal
Ions Of water until all the material is
dissolved Use a wooden vessel in
which TO dissolve the bluestone. Stake
two pounds of stone lime in another
vessel by first adding a little hot wa
ter. When the shaking begins stir CON
tinuously and add more water as re-
quired &c keep the lime from burn
ing. Dilute this lime water 10 five gal
Ions. Now pour the two mixtures to-
gether and add enough water to make
20 gallons. Stir continuously while
using.
by adding two pounds OF arsenate
OF lead to the above mixture a spray
material for both insects and disease
may be prepared. Paris green may be
used instead Of arsenate Of lead II so
desired. Before adding the Paris green
make it up into paste by mixing with
water at the rate of one quart to four
ounces OF the poison. This amount Of
Paris green Is sufficient to mix with
twenty gallons OF Bordeaux mixture"