394 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
JUNE 48 
(Biitomological 
INSECT ENEMIES OF THE POTATO 
BEETLE. 
Max seems powerless before such a nation¬ 
al scourge as the grasshopper plague of the 
West, or the ravages of Iho potato beetle and 
its larva on on3 of the most important articles 
of food grown in this country. Really he is 
less able to protect himself than he seems 
for his efforts at fighting his enemies are al¬ 
ways supplemented by the help of myriads 
of insects of which he makes small account. 
Wheat growing would long since have been 
impossible through Western New York at 
least and probably throughout the country if 
a parasite had not destroyed the wheat-midge 
“ A little red bug,” we are now told is in the 
good order of Providence doing the same 
work for the grasshopper. The cabbage 
crop is saved with comparatively little labor 
from man wherever the parasite to the 
cabbage worm has appeared. It was long 
known that there were numerous enemies to 
the potato beetle attacking it in various 
stages of growth from the egg to the mature 
beetle. We And the following description of 
them in tlieN. Y. Weekly Herald : 
Entomologists assure us that there is a for¬ 
midable enemy of the Colorado potato 
beetle, known as a two-winged fly (Lydella 
doryphnra), a quarter of an in inch in length 
and half an inch across the expanded wings, 
of a black and silvery gray color, the larva 
of which burrows into the larva of the 
potato beetle and makes it an unwilling but 
certain victim. This fly oviposits its eggs on 
the soft body of the larva of the potato 
beetle, and when the eggs arc hatched the 
little “ maggot ” penetrates the skin of its 
host and feeds upon the Internal substance 
of its body and continues there “waxing 
fat” and prospering generally. When the 
larva of the potato beetle enters the ground 
to assume the pupa form it carries the para¬ 
site with it ; and, whether it Is able to effect 
its pupa] change or not, it is all the same, for, 
Death is written in its face, 
And sorrow in Its dwelling, 
and instead of a living Dorphora coming 
forth a Lydella rises from Its ashes, to the 
great joy of the farmer and the overthrow 
of one of his most destructive insect foes. 
Then we have at least four species of 
“lady-birds,” the larva of which feed upon 
the eggs of the potato beetle. Almost every¬ 
body knows what a lady-bird is, but not 
every one knows its lizard-shaped larva, 
variously covered with pink and black and 
orange spots, for we have seen those who 
were crushing the Colorado larva, including 
these useful little friends in their list of 
proscription. 
Some years ago, when the “ Oat-aphis ” 
(Aphis arena) devastated tho oat crop, we 
found this species abundant, regaling them¬ 
selves on the soft bodies of the aphids. It 
is now found to be equally as fond of the egg 
of the potato beetle, and “ feasts sumptuous¬ 
ly every day ” on them, both in the larva 
and the perfect Btate, and, as it undergoes 
all its transformations on the .vine, it is al¬ 
ways conveniently on hand. 
The Spotted Lady Bird (TTippodamia 
maculata), color, deep pink and black. This 
is one of the most successful hibernating 
insects that we know of, having found from 
300 to 500 of them in a single nest, under 
hark, in early spring. They are, however, 
not exclusively cannibal in their habits, for 
we have frequently found them abundant 
on the flowers of the “ buttercup ” (Ranun¬ 
culus) feeding on the petals, pistil 3 and 
stamens. They are now known to destroy 
the eggs of the potato beetle. 
Two other Lady birds, of tho same canni¬ 
bal habits, arc known to feed on these eggs ■ 
—namely, the “ nine-spotted ” ( Coccindla 3- < 
not atn) and the “thirteeu dotted” (Hippo- i 
damia 13-piwcfafn). These two we found i 
numerous in potato fields last summer. Of 
course, applied Paris green would be equally ' 
as fatal to them as ft is to the Colorado pest, } 
and here no discrimination can be made ; < 
but many of those who depended on hand < 
picking crushed both friends and foes to- i 
gether. j 
The “ spined soldier bug” (Artnaspinosa), i 
belonging to the order Hemiphtera, ako i 
feeds extensively upon these potato pests, i 
and not on these alone, but also on other j 
noxious insects. Belonging to the same i 
order arc three other true bugs which feed i 
on the potato beetle, sucking out their sub- s 
stance and leaving little more than the \ 
empty shell or skin—namely, the “ bordered s 
soldier bug,” not common in this locality, C 
but further South. The “many banded t 
robber” (Harpector clnctus), the “rapacious i 
soldier bug” (Reduvius raptatoriu *), with 
whose i>enetratiug habits we were made ac¬ 
quainted many years ago, and a few others 
have been known to attack and destroy the 
larva of the potato beetle in other localities ; 
therefore we may count upon their assist¬ 
ance here. 
In addition to the foregoing, several other 
species of bugs have been discovered per¬ 
forming the same useful service. Con¬ 
spicuously among them is the “wheel bug” 
(Reduvlue novenarius), which is not known 
to have been found in some places prior to 
1855, although it was cotvmiou about Phila¬ 
delphia in Thomas Say’s time. It is of 
bronze brown color, and is particularly 
distinguished by having a longitudinal row 
of blunt spines on tho middle of the thorax, 
that remotely resemble a portion of a cog¬ 
wheel or the part of a circular above a plain 
surface. 
Several species of the “ground beetle,” of 
the predaceous families, have been found 
feeding on the larva of the potato beetle, 
among which & re the “ Fiery ground beetle ” 
(Catcsoma calidutn), a large black insect, 
with many copper spots on the wing covers, 
and at least three other common and well 
known species ; and lastly it is on record 
that the common gray “Blister beetle,” 
which itself feeds upon the potato tops, as a 
change from its vegetable diet, manifests a 
redeeming trait by making meat of the 
Colorado beetle. 
ish their area of meadow, plowing under 
their young clover, instead of cutting and 
housing it for winter use. 
(Jicltt tihpjp. 
DRILLING vs. SOWING COEN. 
Tuk widely-varying opinions as to the 
' value of corn fodder as feed for stock result 
mainly from difference in the methods of 
growing and curing, and difference in the 
times for cutting it. Farmers who have dis¬ 
carded corn fodder as worthless are generally 
t hose who sow it broadcast and very thickly, 
or cut it too green, while the sap is watery 
and immature. Often in such cases tho fod¬ 
der is put into close mows or large stacks, 
where it speedily heats and becomes worth¬ 
less, except for manure. But let such an 
one write his experience in the agricultural 
press and lay down the rule that corn fodder 
isn’t worth growing, and, bless us ; what u 
buzz of opposing farmers will he hear in de¬ 
fense of the practice ho condemns J The 
fact shows that, when rightly grown and 
used, com fodder makes a valuable, as it 
certainly is a cheap, winter feed for all kinds 
of stock. 
IVe are satisfied that corn for fodder should 
be drilled rather than sown broadcast, and 
drilled widely enough to allow a narrow' cul¬ 
tivator to pass between tho rows. Sow at 
different limes if you wish for n succession 
of fall feed ; but always leave time for the 
latest sown to tassel and partially develop 
ears. Until this period of its growth com 
stalks have neither starch nor sugar, and 
their crude juices contain very little nutri¬ 
tive value, and when grown too thickly the 
stalks and leaves are pale and immature. 
Give room for sun and air to get between 
the rows, and allow the plant to grow long 
enough for its juice to become sweet, and the 
corn stalks will be nearly equal to hay—bet¬ 
ter than some hay we have seen which was 
mow-burned mid musty. 
It is a mistake to suppose that growing in 
wide drills implies a smaller yield of stalks. 
By admitting some cultivation, the weight 
of feed produced per acre may be increased, 
while its value is enhanced sLill more. We 
have seen sowed com shrivel and dry up 
during July and August drouths so as to be 
hardly worth cutting. This can never hap¬ 
pen where corn is drilled and cultivated even 
once. The com will shade the ground suffi¬ 
ciently to produce a crop of stalks, though 
com for caring in adjoining fields may prove 
an entire failure. 
The severe -winter just passed has been 
very severe on roots of clover and cultivated 
grasses in all parts of the country, and the 
diminished winter wheat crop from the same 
cause means small straw stacks in sections 
where winter wheat is largely grown. Cora 
fodder is an excellent substitute for hay as 
food for cattle, and Is better than hay for 
any horse subject to heaves. But to be this 
it must be well cured without heating. As 
good a way as any is to wait until the stalks 
are nearly mature, but not frosted ; then cut 
and bind in small bundles, putting up in 
small shocks in the field. With the first cold 
weather these shocks may be put into small 
stacks near the barn and fed as required. 
Grown thus, com fodder does not even ueed 
barn room ; and when farmers have learned. ( 
its uses, they will find it profitable to dimin- < 
A GRASS FOR BARREN LANDS. 
It appears to me that for the barren lands 
of the West some grass# should be found that 
will resist drouth and thrive under the most 
discouraging circumstances. The couch or 
quack or wire grass (Triticnn repens) seems 
to fulfill theme requisitions. When once 
grown, it is almost Impossible to be eradi¬ 
cated. Cultivation only makes it thinner. 
Salt has little effect upon it ; it cannot be 
killed t ill dried and burned. I haveno doubt 
it would grow on the alkaline lands of the 
PROFIT 
SEEDING. 
- West. It makes good hay ujid pasture.—H., 
, Geneva, N. I'., in. A . 1'. Evening Post. 
We have not the smallest doubt that 
. “couch” or “quack” grass would grow in 
i the localities and soils described. We hare 
even heard farmers afflicted with quack 
‘ praise the grass as making an early and reli- 
I able pasture, one which would stand drouths 
well and bear any kind of ill-treatment. 
Still, we always thought their advice to 
other farmers to grow a little “ quack ” was 
on the principle of the fox who recommend- 
[ ed the general bobt-ailing of liis species be¬ 
cause he had been unlucky with his own 
caudal appendage. Wo should hale to rec- 
, ommond the cultivation or sowing of quack 
gross seed, for it needs no cultivation in 
any locality whore men and women are ever 
expected to live. Every family of farmers, 
i if only herdsmen, should have a garden, and 
if quack weed is present, it makes gardening 
almost impossible. The alkaline plains of 
the West are rather hopeless for farming 
purposes for many years to come ; but if 
quack grass has no lodgment there, it is 
better to keep it out as long as possible. 
A good grass for barren soils is the common 
red-top ; blue grass is another; and these, 
though obstinate in some heavy soils, can be 
got rid of with careful cultivation so as to 
be of comparatively little trouble in field or 
garden tillage. 
--. 
POTATOES IN THE WEST. 
Tmc discussion of how to fight the Colorado 
beetle is one of the principal topics of the 
Eastern agricultural papers. We have al¬ 
most got over that business, as it is just as 
well understood here as potato planting. We 
notice that in Southern Illinois it is remarked 
that no “potato bugs” have made their ap¬ 
pearance this year as yet .—M ich. Farmer. 
Win, our esteemed contemporary explain 
how it happens that potatoes are largely 
shipped West from ‘Western New York every 
year it Michigan and Illinois farmers have 
conquered the Doryphea i This Western 
shipment of potatoes began just about the 
time that the beetle made its appearance in 
Illinois, and has continued ever since. Pos¬ 
sibly the beetle is less troublesome in Michi¬ 
gan than formerly; but may not this be due 
rather to the increase of insect enemies than 
to greater skill on the part of farmers ? We 
understood, last year, that in Illinois the 
drouth was more injurious than the beetle 
to the potato crop ; but drouths at the West 
seem lately to be of very frequent occur¬ 
rence, and a large dealer In potatoes in¬ 
formed us a few weeks ago that he believed 
the West would always hereafter import 
Borne Eastern potatoes. 
-- 
ORCHARD GRASS. 
A friexd of ours—a progressive farmer in 
one of the best farming towns of Western 
New York—is enthusiastic about orchard 
grass. He says he can keep a cow on a half 
acre through the summer and have some 
hay for winter use from the same plat of 
ground. Orchard grass starts earlier than 
any other feed, stands the drouth well, and 
not only bears but needs frequent cuttfng or 
cropping. Our friend’s plan would be to 
pasture in sections, tying the oow to a stake 
through the day and letting her eat the 
grass in a small circle around it. As soon as 
any part of it became large enough to cut it 
should be mown, and either fed to the cow 
at once or saved for hay. Nothing injures 
orchard grass more than to let it get too 
large. The stalk becomes woody and the 
root is enfeebled. When cut often and early 
the grass starts with astonishing rapidity. 
No other grass will yield as much good feed 
per acre, and no other will better pay for 
liberal manuring. 
Corn ix Veumoxt.— Two hundred thous¬ 
and bushels of Western corn were bought and 
used in Vermont last year, mainly by farm¬ 
ers. Some farmers are protesting against 
this state of things as disgraceful, but we do 
not see why. lr Vermont is not naturally 
well adapted to growing corn, we fail to see 
why her farmers should seek to force its pro¬ 
duction any more than to grow their own 
oranges, raisins or rice. 
Mr. L. L. Lucas, in the Maine Farmer, 
makes the point that winter feeding is un- 
I profitable—that all the hay and grain con- 
i sumod in winter barely keep stock in as 
* good condition ns they had when going into 
winter quarters, without proportionate gam 
, in flesh, fat, or milk. He saj's that as soon 
, as the Btoclc comes from pasture growth 
■ j ceases, there is no more increase in flesh, 
and not enough milk to pay anything near 
like the cost of keeping through the winter, 
and adds : 
“If this be so, are not our pastures worth 
more to us than our field crops ? Our pas¬ 
tures positively produce us something, and 
does our winter feed keep that good ? I 
think not. I think the stock as a whole 
throughout the Stuto loses in winter ; and if 
so, are our crops designed and used for win¬ 
ter feed worth anything to us i Is a farm 
worth anything (hat won’t produce any¬ 
thing 1 Would money be worth anything if 
nothing could be got for it, or for the use of 
it ? Is it not what property pays that gives 
it its value ? Then why attach any value to 
our winter feed for stock which we labor so 
hard to put in store, then throw it away for 
the want of a better knowledge of how to 
utilize it ? Mr. Good ale woil-described this 
manner of feeding some years ago. He said 
it was like running a train of empty cars 
over the road one way to get a load of 
freight.” 
Undoubtedly Mr. Lucas is right in repro¬ 
bating this method of wintering stock ; but 
it would be too much, therefore, to condemn 
winter feeding us generally unprofitable. 
Evidently tho practice in Maine is higher or 
better feeding in summer than in winter. 
The pasture is good, and as Maine is not 
largely a corn-producing State, winter food 
is apt to be thin and inuutritious. But to 
forego winter feeding of stock and sell off 
cattle aud sheep in the fall would be to lose 
the opportunities for making barnyard ma¬ 
nure, which is the basis of all success in 
Northern agriculture. One reason why our 
i Southern farmers have generally exhausted 
rather than improved the fertility of their 
soil is that open -winters have enabled them 
to winter their stock without feeding other 
than what it could pick up in the fields. The 
result of this practice, long continued, is that 
much Southern land has become too poor to 
take grass readily, and the downward tend¬ 
ency after this point is reached is rapidly ac¬ 
celerated. In any system of mixed farming 
land oaunot be kept in a proper state of fer¬ 
tility by pasturing alone.. The severe win¬ 
ters In Maine are against profitable winter 
feeding ; but ilr. Lucah; sensibly suggests 
that this evil may be remedied by warm 
stables and barns. His further recommend¬ 
ation of cutting grass early to make a more 
palatable hay is good, but not alone sufficient 
to meet tho difficulty of which he complains. 
The trouble is more radical than he thinks. 
According to his picture of the results of 
Maine methods in feeding. Maine farmers do 
not feed high enough, and must, for profit¬ 
able farming, use more of either coni meal, 
oil-cake, or other rich food, whatever they 
can get cheapest either by growing or buy¬ 
ing. It certainly does not pay to keep stock 
six months, possibly seven, with no return ; 
and as winter feeding cannot be safely aban¬ 
doned, more and better food is the only al¬ 
ternative. Possibly this may require im¬ 
proved breeds of cattle — Short - Horns for 
milk or Jerseys for butter. That must be 
determined by experience ; but somewhere 
in the line of improvement either in feeding 
or breeds of stock lies the remedy for the 
evils complained of. Generally the more 
radical and thorough the improvement, the 
more marked the success. 
In some sections of high-priced New York 
farms stock growing has been changed, and 
with profit, to winter fattening of cattle and 
sheep. Farmers keep little stock through 
the summer, only working horses and milch 
cows, which can be soiled without much ex- 
pense. In November, or later, they buy 
cattle or sheep and fatten them through the 
winter, getting full pay for all the corn meal 
used and generally profit on the fattened 
stock, apart from the manure. By this plan 
they are enabled to grow large quantities of 
grain, utilize the straw in the manure heap, 
and make the farm constantly richer all the 
time. Though these farms are well adapted 
to com growing, much of the corn fed is 
Western; so that farmers in States where 
corn is less grown can feed nearly as cheaply 
and make the same profit if they choose to 
do so. Li 
