Insects Injurious to the Potato and Apple. 579 



know that the sad experience of Western farmers has re- 

 sulted in the discovery of sure remedies against the pest, 

 but they must be used promptly and thoroughly. A very 

 good way in this State, should they appear in any such 

 numbers as to make ordinary hand picking too laborious, 

 would be to plant, with as little labor as possible, a small 

 patch of early potatoes, and let them be planted thick, sown 

 broadcast and ploughed in if you like. Upon such a patch 

 the bugs will collect first, as they always attack early pota- 

 toes before they do the late ones, and here they can be con- 

 veniently fought. Let the crop from this piece go, give it 

 up to the bugs and destroy them there. Then the later 

 crop may be planted elsewhere. I do not doubt that this 

 mode of dealing with the bugs would prove effectual any- 

 where where the bugs were not well established in great 

 numbers. The more isolated potato fields are from each 

 other, the more easily will the crop be saved. The variety 

 of potato seems to make a good deal of difference. 



In 1870 eighty-one varieties were planted at the Iowa 

 Agricultural College, and the Peach Blow, Peerless, and 

 Chili No. 2 were far less injured than any of the rest. In- 

 deed the Peach Blow seems to be more distasteful to the 

 various sorts of beetles than any other variety. The blister 

 beetles will attack almost any other variety sooner than 

 this. All are familiar with the fact that Paris green is 

 used as a remedy for the attacks of the potato bugs. With- 

 out taking time to present facts or arguments on either side 

 of the debated question as to the safety of using this sub- 

 stance, it is sufficient for me to say here that a careful in- 

 vestigation of the case convinces me that in careful 



