6 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



use, and consequently the demand for Paris green, suddenly became so great 

 that the price went up from 20c. to 75c. and even $1.00 per lb. Indeed, for 

 a while it was not to be had at all in St. Louis. Several parties in our State^ 

 taking advantage of the demand, prepared pound packages, already mixed, 

 and advertised them for sale at 50c. per j)ackage. The price was exhorbitant, 

 and by inducing the well known firm of Michell Bros. & Kern, of St. Louis, 

 to prepare packages according to my recommendation, I soon had the sat- 

 isfaction of seeing the price reduced to a more reasonable standard. During 

 the latter part of May the demand for the green was at its height, and the 

 bugs were in such force throughout the Western country, that the agricul- 

 tural papers teemed with notices of it, and some writers gave loose rein to 

 their fancy, and allowed so prosaic a subject to prompt to poetic deeds. 

 From among the doggerel, the following taken from the columns of the 

 Western Rural will bear repeating and exhibits the right spirit : 



POTATO BUGS AND I. 



In deadly strife we did engage ; 

 From "week to week the warfare wage 

 With no abatement of our rage — 



Potato bugs and I ; 

 From two to 'leven like Falstaif's foes — 

 In one brief hour their number grow — 

 Yet neither an5' yielding knows 



Potato bugs or I. 



Brave fought in ancient times the knight 

 In coat of mail and vizor bright, 

 But more tenacious was our fight — 



Potato bugs and I. 

 Armed to the teeth were foes of old, 

 But teeth and hands our arms all told. 

 Yet still we struggled strong and bold — 



Potato bugs and I. 



I fought my fav'rite bulb to save, 

 Which to the world Sir Walter gave. 

 Each had our reasons strong and grave — 



Potato bugs and I. 

 To exterminate was wliat tliey meant, 

 And I toward them had like intent; 

 Nor one short hour would we relent — 



Potato bugs or I. 



Green armor I've procui'ed of late. 

 Provided by that city great 

 Where bloodshed seems the normal state ; 

 And now our warfare we'll abate — 



Potato bugs and I ; 

 For all their energy is spent. 

 Their spears are broken, armor rent. 

 And now I think we're both content — 



Potato bugs and I. Agra. 



But if the bugs themselves were unprecedently numerous, so also were 

 their natural enemies. I passed through potato patches where almost every 

 Doryphora larva had upon -the back of the neck, just behind the 

 head, one or more eggs of its deadly parasite Lydella doryphorce, Riley, (Eep. 



