THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 117 



by Mr. Benson, of Muscatine in that State. As this machine, or some 

 improvement on it, may prove advantageous where potato-growing is 

 carried on extensively, I subjoin an account of it. 



"The cost of the machine was about thirty dollars. It consists of 

 a irame-work, which moves astride the row of potatoes, on which is 

 mounted longitudinally a reel somewhat like the one on MeCormicke' 

 old Keaper, which knocks the bugs off the plants into a box on one 

 •side. This box is of course open on the side next the row nearly down 

 to the ground, but is some two feet high on the outside and at the 

 ends. The reel works over the inner edge of the box, and the bugs 

 are whipped of the vines pretty clean; and the most of them are 

 thrown against the higher siJ-e of the box, which converges like a 

 liopper over two four-inch longitudinal rollers at the bottom, between 

 which the bugs are passed and crushed. These rollers are some three 

 or four feet long. 



"Those insects which are perched low down on the plants are fre- 

 quently knocked on to the ground; but I think they would soon 

 crawl up again; and repeating the operation at intervals would very 

 greatly reduce their numbers, and lessen very much the labor of hand- 

 picking, which I think wGuld be advisable in conjunction with the use 

 ©f the machine, in order to destroy the eggs and diminish the young 

 brood, which is most destructive to the foliage of the plant." 



Much may be done by a proper choice of varieties, the Peach- 

 blow having the same immunity from the attacks of this Colorado 

 Potato-beetle, as from those of the Blister-beetles. I have known 

 several instances where Neshannocks { raised side by side with Peach- 

 blows, have been entirely destroyed, while the latter were untouched; 

 and I therefore strongly recommend the planting of Peach-blows in 

 those sections that have been visited by the beetle. 



In conclusion let me give another word of caution. Our friends 

 of the Eastern States will, doubtless, in the course of events, become 

 sufficiently acquainted with this beetle. As already stated, it is now 

 In Ohio, and will continue from year to year to spread eastward. Let 

 9>s, of the West then, not hasten its introduction by our carelessness. 

 Farmers are in the habit of sending insects through the mail to the 

 .editors of Eastern papers for identification. Wherever insects are thus 

 •sent, they should he thoroughly secured so as to prevent any possible 

 escape. Specimens of this beetle were last year sent to the office of 

 the American Agriculturist^ in New York, packed in a very insecure 

 manner. Had but a single impregnated female contrived to escape 

 from the package, it might have been the means of prematurely intro- 

 ducing this mischievous pest into jtiial State. A word to the wise is 



