210 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Potat tinued, 
form, with small eyes; flesh white and floury when cooked ; an 
abundant cropper, very handsome, fine for exhibition, and ex- 
cellent for general use. ScoTcH CHAMPION, a good main crop 
variety, a heavy cropper, and very free from VICAR 
OF LALEHAM, a very fine and distinct variety, seedling from 
VICTORIA ; the tubers are purple, round, and of very handsome 
shape, with beautiful white flesh, of first-rate table quality, and 
fine for exhibition purposes. 
POTATO BEETLE (Doryphora decemlineata). This 
insect, also often called the Colorado Beetle, though not 
yet a resident in the British Islands, is among the best 
known of insects, by name, at least, to most persons in the 
United Kingdom, thanks to the scare that arose with 
regard to it a few years ago. It was first observed in 
the Rocky Mountains of America, in the Colorado region, 
feeding on a wild species of Solanwm, the genus to which 
the Potato belongs. When Potatoes were planted by 
settlers in the beetle’s native home, it attacked the new 
food-plant, throve on it only too well, and commenced 
. to spread rapidly eastward; and in 1876 it reached the 
Atlantic coast. It is now common along the Eastern 
States, and in Canada, and it is not impossible that it 
will be conveyed to, and may be able to establish itself 
in, our own islands. It has proved able to withstand 
heat and cold, dry and moist climates; and would pro- 
— 
Fig. 261. POTATO BEETLE (Doryphora decemlineata), natural size. 
bably find our climate snit it. In its passage eastward 
in America, it committed great havoc in the Potato- 
fields, and excited fears in the minds of many, lest it 
should continue, year by year, to inflict severe injury to 
the Potato crop, and lest it might effect a footing in 
Britain, as appeared very probable. To against 
this latter risk, the Privy Council of Great Britain and 
Ireland passed an Order, which was published in the 
“ London Gazette” of August 17th, 1877, to the effect 
that “If the owner of, or any person having the charge 
? 262. POTATO —— (Doryphora decemlineata), —— The left wing-case 
been removed to show the wing. 
rok any crop of Potatoes, or any vegetable or substan 
Be finds, or knows to be found, thereon the Colorado Beetle, 
in any stage of — ** he shall, with all practicable 
‘Habis. — exceeding ten pounds.” 
An ides of the general form, size, are markings of - 
-the larva from Fig. 263. 
| be used in han 
Potato Beetle—continued. 
beetle may be obtained from Figs. 261 and 262, and of 
The colours of the beetle are 
as follows: It is usually straw-yellow above, though, at 
times, the head and thorax are tawny-yellow, with black 
spots on them, as shown. The wing-cases each bear five 
equidistant, black bands, the second and third of which, 
counting from the middle, frequently meet behind. The 
legs are tawny-yellow, with black knees afd tarsi, and 
(in, at least, the last pair) black thighs; the antenne 
are yellow in their basal part, black in the rest of their 
Fig. 263. LARVA OF POTATO BEETLE (Doryphora decemlineata), 
natural size. 
length. The larva (see Fig. 263) is pale yellow, or, rather, 
dusky-yellow, or freckled with minute black dots on the 
back ; and there are two rows of larger black dots along 
each side; the legs are black. The females place their 
eggs in small clusters on the lower surface of the 
FIG. 264. Ecus oF Potato BEETLE ON A LEAF, natural size. 
Potato leaves (see Fig. 264). The eggs are oval, smooth, . 
bright yellow, and glossy. In five or six —— larvee 
: appear, and in from two to three weeks 
they are full-fed, and creep under 
ground, to become pup». In about a fort- 
night, the beetles emerge, and the fe- 
males proceed to egg-laying. In America, 
three broods are produced each year, the 
third brood hybernating under ground, 
or in any suitable retreat. Both larve 
and beetles feed on the leaves of Po- 
tatoes, and soon leave nothing but 
* mere ribs, utterly destroying the 
p. 
In June, 1877, the insect was found 
at Mühlheim, on the Rhine, and in three 
places at Schildau, inf Prussian Saxony; 
but it was stamped out by the energetic 
action of the Prussian Government. Oc- 
casional living examples have been found 
in British seaports, but they have never 
appeared in this country on the Potato 
crops. In America, and in Germany, it 
—*— — that, vhen they — * 
usted the Potato-plant 
to low weeds, e.g., Goosefoot, — — 
and even to C 
ves. In 
Scheele’s Green (hydrocupric arsenite), sold at about 6d. 
. 
| per lb., is found effectual in saving the crop of Potatoes. 
It may be dusted on the plants, but it i ix i 
A Pag t is better to mix it 
bil ania r of a tablespoonful to a bucket 
water, and to sprinkle them with this. Caution must 
ndling this substance, as it is a 
poison. Hand-picking would probably be 
3 
Es 
g 
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