[ 334 ] 
74 
suits. Have not known it fail in a single instance; and have not heard of a single cas( 
of any evil result from using the poison. All were informed that it was poisonous, anc 
to be used with care. 
Why not form a line North and South from Lakes to Gulf of Mexico, at a point Easi 
of where they have thus far been found, and the farmers on that line organize and poisor 
them out as they come, and prevent their migration eastward ? Every farmer east oi 
the line is interested and should aid. Respectfully, 
GEORGE C. CLARK. 
t C'0[A>] 
It is refreshing to read such letters as these, written with a cleai 
head and a strong hand,, and which give us faith to believe thal 
the Colorado Potato-beetle, like most other ills that afflict humani¬ 
ty, can be mitigated, it not wholly overcome, by energy and per¬ 
severance. 
With regard to Mr. Clark’s suggestion of a cordon of Paris 
green across the continent, I replied to him that I thought it a 
very excellent one, with one slight drawback, and that was that it 
would be impossible to carry it out. Farmers are never guilty ol 
such concerted, beneficent action. If they were, the worst pests 
that afflict them, the Potato-bug, the Curculio and the Codling- 
moth would, before this, have been practically exterminated. But 
farmers are like other people; some are ignorant, some are shift¬ 
less, some are timid, and some have other and greater interests at 
stake to distract their attention ; and the result will be that gaps 
enough will be left, through which the advancing hosts will march 
on to their allotted destination. My friend, Prof. Welch, told me 
that when he made his visit to his old homestead in Maine, last 
summer, he took a box of the Potato-beetles with him, and the 
circumstance becoming known on his arrival, the liveliest curiosity 
was excited to see the notorious strangers, and that some people 
traveled fifteen miles to get a sight of them. 
Have patience, friends, and in due time, in all probability, your 
utmost curiosity will be gratified. This Western tortoise in minia¬ 
ture is plodding on his way to you-ward, at the rate of fifty or sixty 
miles a year, and, in good time, he will meet you at your thresh¬ 
old and will say to you, u Lo ! I am here. I have come a long 
and weary journey, I have crossed high hills, broad lakes and 
rushing rivers, enemies have waylaid me on every side, and mani. 
fold perils have beset my path; but I have overcome all obsta¬ 
cles, and have arrived at last, and shall abide with you for a sea- 
v 
