Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 261 



were always abundant on the inside of the potato leaves ; but thev 

 also laid their eggs on wood, spires of grass, and even on dry sticks. 

 While the havoc above described was going on no other species of 

 insects attacked the potatoes. At this time the Colorado bugs were 

 abundant about the farm buildings, and even entered the house. 

 Toads are their natural enemies, eagerly devouring them. But on 

 this farm the hens were never seen eating them. On the farm above 

 mentioned the bugs disappeared suddenly in the early part of Sep- 

 tember. It may be added that they seem to prefer the Chenango 

 potatoes to the early rose, and that they would hardly touch the early 

 Goodrich, though growing side by side with the Chenango, which they 

 eagerly devoured. I would also add that the insects do not confine 

 themselves to the vines, but enter the hills and attack the potatoes 

 themselves. 



Thanks to George Geddes. 

 Mr. G. S. Knight, Brownsville, 1ST. T. — If I were not an invalid 

 of ten years I would come to New York, if for no other purpose than 

 to move a vote of thanks to the Hon. George Geddes, the distinguished 

 agriculturist and practical farmer, for his many essays and the great 

 good sense he has evinced by his pen and his remarks in the Farmers' 

 Club. From the wisdom and experience of such men, the Farmers' 

 Club is sustained and the world benefited. I cannot claim a personal 

 acquaintance with the gentleman, although I had the honor of grasp- 

 ing his hand on an introduction by a mutual friend some years ago, 

 and have long respected his worth. I will deputize friend Trimble to 

 make that motion, as a thank-offering for helping the doctor so hand- 

 somely out of the " Worth's " corn-crib. 



A Lady-Farmer Uses Wood Ashes. 



Mrs. H.E. Galpin, Oswego, N. Y. — I have derived frequent aid and 

 much information which has greatly assisted me in carrying on a small 

 farm, four miles from this village. When I came in possession of it five 

 years ago, the grass on the best meadows did not average more than 

 ten inches in height, and yielded about one-half ton to the acre, and 

 was red, in haying time, with sorrel, for which I sowed hard-wood 

 ashes, one barrel to the acre, all I could obtain, and the next year the 

 same rate in other fields, and so on each year ; and now there is not 

 a blade of sorrel to be seen, and my meadows average three tons to 

 the acre, and some yield more than four. I have half an acre in vege- 

 table garden, and for the last ten years have had no trouble with 



