AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 209 
Potato—continued. 
blue stripes, on each side, each pair of which meet on 
the back. The body is sprinkled with minute, black 
dots. A variety sometimes occurs of a brownish-olive, 
with the stripes darker. The larve feed only by night, 
hiding in the soil by day. Their large size renders them 
somewhat destructive ; though they are never so common 
as to endanger the crop. When full-fed, they crawl 
under ground, and there each forms an earthen cell. In 
this it turns into a large pupa of a red-brown colour. 
Some of the moths may emerge in the late autumn, and 
hybernate; but most do not appear till spring. Should 
it be necessary to reduce the numbers of larve, they 
must be sought for at night, by lantern light, on the 
ravaged plants; their large size renders them conspicuous. 
The pupz are frequently turned up in the fields during 
Potato harvest. 
Several species of Hemiptera, or Plant-bugs (see 
Insects), have been recorded by Curtis, in “Farm 
Insects,” as living on Potatoes, boring into the tissues 
with their long, sharp beaks; and, by sucking the sap 
from the green organs where abundant, they greatly 
weaken the plants. Several of them belong to the group 
Hemiptera Heteroptera, in which the fore wings have the 
basal half leathery, and the other half membranous. 
Curtis mentions several, as found by himself, feeding on 
the Potato crop, all of them belonging to the genus Lygus. 
These insects are green or ochreous, passing into rosy, 
and are about jin. long. He also describes two species 
of Frog Hoppers, which belong to the group of Homoptera, 
which have the wings of uniform texture (see Frog 
Hopper). These are also about jim. long. One of these 
(Eupteryx picta) is yellow with black spots, and brown 
clouded markings on the front wings. The other he 
names E. Solani, as a new species (G. C. vi. 388), and 
describes it as lively green, with the tips of the fore 
wings rusty-brown. The name is noticed in the latest 
list of British Homoptera as a synonym of Chlorita 
viridula, Fall. 
Remedies. These — do harm 
when very numerous. Probably, the most effective means 
of reducing their numbers would be to sweep the rows 
of Potatoes, every now and then, with a large insect net, 
removing and destroying the insects caught. Applica- 
cations to the plants are scarcely required, though Paris 
Green, applied as recommended for the Potato Beetle, 
would be effective. 
Aphides do so little harm that it is a weatoely necessary 
to refer to them. The only species noted by Buckton, 
in “ British Aphides,” as feeding on Potatoes, is A. urti- 
caria. Two or three others have also been recorded 
from the Continent. 
The insects most hurtful to Potato-plants in the 
United States of America, and in Canada, are beetles, 
most of them belonging to the group of Blister Beetles, 
of the genus Lytta. Five species of this genus have 
been observed to feed on the leaves and stems, but only 
as beetles. There seems little reason to fear injury 
from them on this side of the Atlantic, since their habits 
do not favour the chances of their being accidentally 
imported. The same holds good of the Three-lined Leaf 
Beetle (Lema trilineata), one of the Chrysomelidew, which 
lives, as larva and as beetle, on Potatoes; the larva 
shelters itself under a coating of its excrements. The 
famous Colorado Beetle (Doryphora decemlineata) re- 
quires a longer notice, and this will be found under the 
heading Potato Beetle. Still another American beetle 
that injures Potato crops is the Potato-stalk Weevil 
 (Baridius trinotatus), which does harm only while in the- 
larval state. The larva bores into the stems near the 
base, and eats downwards towards the root, killing the 
plants. It is white, —— The beetle is a dark, 
long-snouted Weevil, about ‘Hin. long. It does not seem 
pat fas ta EE — — 
4 ‘Vol. IL 
Potato—continued. 
seem reason to fear the introduction of the other 
American insects that injure Potatoes. 
Sorts. Varieties of Potatoes are exceedingly numerous, 
and new additions are annually made. It is requisite 
to have a selection of early, second early, and late ones, 
for maintaining the supply throughout the year. Some 
few sorts are grown in immense quantities because of 
their generally good flavour and cropping qualities under 
varied circumstances ; others—a far larger proportion—are 
grown for private consumption, on a more limited scale, 
in gardens, and also by persons who exhibit collections 
at shows. Soil and locality have an important bearing 
on the quality and productiveness of different varieties 
of Potatoes, and the effect on each can only be properly 
learned by experience. A few good sorts known to 
succeed should always be depended upon, and new ones 
tried at first in small quantities, until their respective 
merits are ascertained. The extent to which any sort 
will withstand disease, especially in an unfavourable 
season, is now a material consideration when judging of 
its suitability for extended cultivation. Subjoined is 
a limited selection of sorts which are — those 
most approved. 
peony ASHLEAF, MYATT’S PROLIFIC, a well-known, 
prolific sort, which follows the old variety in season. ASHLEAP, 
OLD, a very "old variety, but still one of the best for early supplies, 
ASHLEAF, VEITCH’S IMPROVED EARLY, a very heavy cropper, of 
handsome appearance, gy sre quality, fine flavour, oat a first- 
rate —— Sree serra distinct. BEAUTY OF N, a heavy — 
smooth in texture, and slightly 
eye; fine for exhibition, COSMO- 
—— of fine form, very — 
, of ware reat produch IDNEY, very 
shape; one of the font exhibition Kidneys 
organa ne a well-known and good sort, of fine shape, and ex 
- cellent quali —— iy Po pag heavy cropper, "of robust | 
— handsome 
wth, — very rom disease. Iss FOWLER, a 
fate, wh vite variety, —— from —— KIDNEY, but much 
a thorough disease-resister ; top growth strong 
see ditan p a very heavy cropper ; tubers of moderate size, very 
even, and of finest table quality. PRINCE — of the 
best main crop Potatoes ; a heavy cropper and excellent aber: 
the fiesh is white, and, when boiled, very floury, and = first-class 
quality. WELFORD PARK KIDNEY, tubers large, of first-rate 
table quality, very smooth, with clear, white in; one of the 
finest varieties for exhibition or table use. WOODSTOCK KIDNEY, 
a very handsome variety, of beautiful shape, with very level eyes 
and rather skin ; a good cropper, white and mealy when 
cooked ; fine Sei exhibition. TORRE geiko T e ex- : 
cellent for table use ; a great keeper. YORK: = 
SHIRE HERO, a variety of tna excl — — of the finest 
of the LAPSTONE — smooth, handsome tubers of highest 
quality, and a long keeper. 
Round. BEAUTY oF KENT, a very handsome, second early variety 5 
the tubers are flattish-oval in shape, and of a rich 
colour, and keep good till March; a tine variety for exhi! ition. 
_ BEDFONT PROLIFIC, a second early sort, very — cropper, of 
the finest uality, andah hand bitic variety. ARD, — 
a fine, —— :variety, of handsome shape, with clear, white 
skin, ly streaked with purple ; very desirable for ‘exhibi- 
ti DALMAHOY, a second early variety, of excellent 
quality ; one of the best for general use. DUNBAR EGENT, a well- 
—— late sort, very productive. EaRLY COLDSTREAM, a 
remarkabl, poe Pa ac ge variety, of beautiful shape, and very 
white por floury ; for for EARLY REGENT, early, 
flavour. GRAMPIAN, a handsome and 
uctive, and of 
early variety ; —— inkish-white, flaked with rich 
roer round the eyes; cropper. M.P., a really 
white variety, with —— deep eyes; seedling from 
PATERSON’S — of dwarf, stout growth, the crop remark- 
able for agen Bag evenness, of most excellent size, and the 
that can be desired; it is a second early, but re- 
for the table. — s —— an ex- — 
ti _Rapstock Brau, tubers —— hanson Er * 
ne quality ; a robust grower vy cropper. READING HERO, 
x a , — ca lity, and very free —— 
pang 
tubers ; 
2 Very superior main crop variety — 5 — 
E o 
