STOP THE COLORADO BEETLE. 293 



Having thus briefly, and it may be imperfectly, sketched 

 the relations subsisting between art and agriculture, and there- 

 by shown, in a measure, the relative importance of the latter, 

 and its great consequence among the industries of mankind, 

 ■we shall be richly repaid for the attempt, if we shall have 

 induced any one to place a higher and more adequate estimate 

 upon it as a life-work, and shall thus, in any measure, have 

 encouraged the intelligent cultivation of the soil. 



Hebron Vincent. 



President Chadbourne stated that he wished to say a 

 word in addition to what was said at the public meeting at 

 "Worcester in reference to — 



THE COLORADO BEETLE {Potato-Bug). 



Experience is the best teacher in dealing with this pest, as 

 in other matters. And experience has demonstrated the de- 

 cided success of hand-picking. To those who have seen the 

 armies of bugs on neglected potato-fields, or have heard of 

 their immense numbers and know nothing definitely of the 

 habits of the bug, hand-picking would seem like an attempt 

 to bail out the ocean w 7 ith a bucket. But the bugs are large 

 insects, and can be readily seen ; and they never attempt to 

 escape from you. In the spring they are comparatively few 

 in number, and they make their way promptly to the first 

 .potatoes that appear, so that by concerted action of the potato- 

 growers of a neighborhood, in planting a few early pota- 

 toes in every field which is to be used for producing a late 

 crop, and destroying the bugs as they congregate on these 

 early vines, a very large proportion of the bugs can be 

 destroyed before any eggs are laid. It will be a light job 

 then to clear the field of the first crop of bugs. If any broods 

 hatch, their presence can be detected at once, and the leaves 

 and larvse be removed together. A boy who understands his 

 business can examine three or four rows each time that he 

 passes through the lot, and by taking the work in season, as 

 I have explained, he can clear a large piece in a day. If the 

 work is done thoroughly, it will be safe to leave the crop for 

 a week at least. It \i probably best to pass through it once 



