The New York Herald Newspaper, June 22, 1875, Page 3

THE POTATO. BUG, The Destructive March of the Insect Described. MILLIONS COVER THE POTATO VINE Details of the Farmers’ Fight with the Beetles. RESULTS OF PRACTICAL TESTS Details of the Visitation in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, PROBABLE AVERAGE YIELD ‘In view of the great interest that has been @wakened in the community generally in relation @ the destructive visitation of the doryphora @ecemlineata, or Colorado potato bug, the HERALD has obtained reports in relation thereto trom the States of New York, Now Jersey, Con- mectiout and Pennsylvania. Tne testimony and practical experience of farmers who have had to Mees, and, i{ possible, avert the terrible ravages ofthis insect, are giver in our correspondents’ letters with a fulness and a graphic portrayal ‘that shows that the destruction of a large per- wentage of the potato crop is inevitable. It will also be seen by the undermentioned re- ports that the practical remedies adopted to siay the onward progress of the devouring insect have been very successiul, and they are commended for adoption to those farmers who may be anxiously looking for the visitation of this insect, It is note- Worthy that the taste of this bug is not confined to the potato, It thrives equally weil on the tomato and the egg plans, both of which it con- sumes with avidity and with an apparent relish. The destruction of the bugs and their eggs has be- eome quite 4 rural occupation, and the perusal of the reports given below Will jurnish the latest and promptest methods. NEW YORK. MARCH OF THE BUGS OVER TH STATE—ARE THE BUGS POISONOUS?—EXPERIENCE OF A WARMER AYIER KILLING THE LARVR. Port JeRvis, June 19, 1875. ‘Reports from all sections of the counties of Orange and Sullivan, in this State, and Sussex, in | New Jersey, are to the effect that the Colorado potato bug has appeared in vast quantities ana hag already done no little damage to tho vines. The potato crop in this section last year was an unusually large one, and resulted so profitabiy to many farmers that this spring, although planting ‘was late, more than the customary amount of grdund was allotted to potatoes, Notwithstand- tng the long spell of ary weather that succeeded | ‘the spring planting, and which has yet only been broken by inconsiaerable showers, the vegetable promised todo remarkably well. Very jew farm- ere fe much thought to the pest that has been | favaging the Western crop for seasons past, al- though the advance guard of its marcn eastward eppeared here and there in these counties last fall, generally one or two bugs only being seen in ® locality. But the thrifty plants had reached but | a few inches in height woen the leaves were dis- | wovered to be covered with the eggs of the bug, | and in some places the larve and beetle were vigorously engaged in the work of destruction. Some iarmers have had their hands and members | ‘of their family engaged in combating the bug for @ Week past, and in tue towns o/ Florida and War- ‘wick, this county, it 1s reported that the un- ceasing looking after them has caused a wery visible decrease in the number of the ugs. The farmers tnere go over their fieias armed with two paddies made of shingles. | Tuey examine every leaf, and wherever there is @ deposit of eggs the paddies are brought smartly together upon it, and thousanas of future Beetles destroyed at a blow, The larve and mature bugs are picked of by hand and thrown in deep vessels and carried away and crushed, No farm work except that actually necessary to be Gone is allowed to, interiere with this process of exterminating the potato bug in this county, and itis expected that the crop will notbe as Badly affected as it was at first feared. In the upper part of Sullivan coanty tbh Voracious bug seems to have appeared in greater | @umbers than along the river bottom. IN THE TOWNS OP ROCKLAND AND BETHEL Doys and men are hired by the day to pick them from the vines and destroy the eggs. In other Places boys are paid three cents @ quart for ail they can pick. It is no uncommon etgot im these towns to see rows of chiléren engaged in the FAds at this entirely new employment. In Sulli- an county the farmers are also using Paris green | bas @ well regulaved farm, He is a member of the NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1875.—TRIPLE SHEET, amination the cause was traced to the presence on the leaves Of astriped insect, in various stages of growth, from the newly laid eggs, of an orange color and attached to the leaves in close masses, to the mailed, maculated aud winged parents, dis- charging the functions which for some unknown purpose they were created to carry out in the programme of processes, hidden in their uses, but beyond question possessing @ value of thelr own. By attention to the plants affected, shaking and dustivg them with Paris green mixed with four, but mainly, it is , thought, owing to cold weatner setting in soon after- ward, the ravages of the novel visitors were kept in check, In the summer of 1874 they were again recognized, though in lesser numbers, and those who had suffered in the pre- vious son, having planted less potatoes than usual, from an idea that the crop might be at- tacked, the quantity injurea was comparatively swall and ineppreciable in the effect produced on the supply in market, The opinion generally prevalent among those best able to judge of the matter is, that until the plant is well matured and the leaves full grown the presence of the insect cannot wel! bo ex- pected, At present, owing to the extreme dry- mess and very unusual coldness of the season, vegetation 18 fully four weeks later in ita progress than is generally to be looked for at the summer solstice, now close at hand, The potato plants in this neignborhood are not, on an average, jour mehes over grouud, and so late has the setting been generally that instances are not wanting in which the crop has not yet been planted. WHAT PARMERS OF THR MOHAWK VALLEY THINE, Intelligent farmers with whomInave spoken have no faith in the possipility of checking the ravages of such winged destroyers as these bugs, or the locusts, if they, too, shouldcome. The area of ground affected by their presence, and the countless numbers of plants to be daily examined and dressed by poisons or other chemical agencies, would in themselves require an army of men and boys, procurable beyond doubt—for em- ployment Was never sO scant a8 at preseat about here—but costly and uncertain in the operations they would perform. This view seems certainly to be based on something more than surmise, for in a Visitation of blight on this apparently easily damaged esculent, in 1846 or 1847,in Ireland, every chemical and mechanical means, aldea by the first professional ski, failed to check the progress of destruction once it fairly commenced, The insect in that instance was @ much smaller creature— the Aphis vastator—vut it was there and could Not be prevented from destroying the leaves and tubers, or at least so far damaging them as to interfere with their discharge of the suactions for Walch these superterranean parts of te plant are fitted. Some of these farmers are close observers Of nature, and they say that it 18 mot at ail likely that the Insect is transierred in any form but that of the winged travellers, which rise in a gale of wind and are wafted unconsciously to ‘iresh fields and pastures new,” where their presence and that of their numerous progeny are alike un- sought for and unwelcome. With the keen north- west wing aud harsh dry atmosphere producea by it, as also the cold, which was at times Jor the past few nights ¢0 low as to freeze water, no appr hension need exist of their coming soon, but as the temperature rises and vegetation progres- sively advances ‘‘the tender leaves of hope” may Woo them hither, Quien sabe? NEW JERSEY. EXPERIENCES OF SHE NEW JERSEY FARMERS AS TO THE POTATO BUG—THE INSECTS AL- MOST FIREPROOF—EFFECT OF PARIS GREEN. BUBLINGTON Otry, June 20, 1875, The insect known as the Oolorado potato bug has visited nearly every agricultural district in New Jersey and has caused terrible havoc. The counties of Mercer, Burlington, Warren and Hunt- erdon suffer the most destruction, The farmers are sorely vuzzled as to what they shall do to ex- terminate the pest, and various plans and reme- dies are resorted 10. BURLINGTON CITY. About the best posted individual whom 8 Hsn- ALD reporter encountered was Mr. Amorose FP. stark, ling mes? Barlingion City. Mr. stark Burlington County Patrons of Husbandry, and also a member of the Execative Committee of the Inter- State Grange, representing the granges of Mary- land, Pennsyivania, Delaware and New Jersey. He holds intimate relations with the purchasing agency for the New Jersey Grange, and by this ans is placed im intimate relations with tne | whole of New Jersey, from New Srunswick to Cape Ma) Mr. Stark informed the reporter that within three weeks more than TWO TONS OF PARIS GREEN have been purchased for the jarmers of South Jer- sey. Robert Engel, of Mount Laurel Grange, now summering at Beach Hav Atlantic county, says that millions of the beetle have been washed | ashore by the waves near Beach Haven, thus showing that their Might 18 @ short one. Early this season Mr, Stark, through the local papers, | warned the tarmers of South Jersey to attack | these pests on their Grstappearance. This attack took two directions. Most important of all is it . Weetnally. According to Sullivan county farmers, with whom | talked today, the potato crop in | ‘that county will be at least one-third less than the Jieid last fa)!, There are thousands of bushels of Jast year’s potatoes still on band in this section, Which farmers sre carting ten and twelve miles | and selling ‘or thirty cents @ basnel, bat | which, they say, if it were possibie to | keep them a few weeks longer, would bring them more than threo times « 80 positive are they | that this year’s crop will be short. They hold that the damage by the bug has not commenced yet, | @nd that unless all otner work is entirely neg- Bected, or extra help kept on hand for weeks, that the ravages o/ the vug where it Las appeared can. | Mot be stayed. One old larmer satd that be didn’t | see the difference between wiring men to watch | the potatoes and thus eating ap ail the prospec- Sive profits and allowing the potuto bug to destroy them. The quautity oi potato bugs that are feed- Wg on the felis IN SULLIVAN COUNTY may be inferred by the foliowing incident. George | Crooke, a farmer living m Mongaup, was first ap- | prised of the appearance of the bag oa lus place | by @ littie daughter. She told him thet they were | so plenty that she coulacasily pick a quart of them. He laughingiy told her that if she woula | pick a quart be woul give her $1, She wentina | Heid and in less than balfa day picked a peck of ‘the insects, and that in a comparatively smail | space. Mr. Crooks relates this incident, and saya he does not think his eight acres of potatoes wili pay the expense of cultivation uniess the price in | ee fall should be unprecedentedly high. The poisonous character of the Coloravo potato bug is settled to the satisfaction of this commanity vy tw or three local cases. A farmer named Moses | ‘Tyler, of Damascus, Wayne county, Pa. while Picking bogs and larv@ from his vines one day this ‘week, took achew of tobacco, using the fingers witn which he had been handling the bugs. Shortly afterward he was taken deathly sick and Bad to be assisted to his house. A physician was | called, ana he pronounced bis Niness caused by Poison from the potato bug taken into his system ‘With the tobacco. He was quite ili tor a day or | two. Another farmer, named Winans, in Sullt- | | ‘Van county, Was prostrated by the fumes arising froma number of bugs vpon which he poured Dotling water to try its effect upon them. He was seized with violent vomiting and spasms in the stomach, which lasted for tome timo, A few days will more fully determine what the effect of the visit of the \inseet to this section will be on ihe growing crops Meantime the Jeeling among the farmers is one* decidedly gloomy, ALONG THE MOMAWE VALLEY. AV@ANY, Jane 19, 1875, From minute inquiries made in this section | Shere is no immediate ground ior apprehensions for a visit of that pest of the Western farmer— doryphora decemlineata, or the potato bug of | Polorado, The agricniturists in thie county in the fall of 1873 noticed in mang instances their potato | fields decimated (for avout every tentiy plant*was | _AMep tod by samme UarcoUNabie ageney’ Oa } Aig sojourn, Bome Wo spare ago shove puwecie | Moris 9 Berks couny ‘he (armors have psed Rags . the arma, Aveniempn ab Rmcrsburg WriWas— , Wh be as Jarge if wot IAIKey WAR meual ws | aneamy | weeks In which the insect passes through the | that the eggs be destroyed. The perfect beetle itseif does not feed apon the potato plant toany extent, Tue injury is all done during the toree | larve state. To destroy the eggs is, of course, to destroy ali that follows. To destroy the beetle is to prevent any further deposit of eggs. By those farmers who were sensible enough to heed nis in- junctions countless quantities of eggs were | destroy: To pot @ qutetus to the full grown beetio requires more thao a bare bodkin. Mr. Stark says that they stand fire like s salamander, Mr. Edward Davies, a farmer living on the Bor- dentown road, gathered abeut a peck of these on Saturday last, put them on a large bundie of | straw, set fire to it, and, a8 a resuit, not one fourth were killed. Those not killed crawied | siowly fort, looking like parched grains of coffee, | and walked leisurely off to complete their summer contracts. Joseph R, Flanagan, formerly editor of the Gefunct Philadelphia Daily News, now living near | Burlington, telis the toughest story yet reported, Driven almost to madness by his nearly ineffectual attempts to destroy the rull grown beetie, he threw about a batfull of them by way of experi. | ment into @ red hot range; the larger portion was killed, but many of them dropped down through the grate, crawled over the het ashes and | out upon the kitchen floor in no apparent need of | Medical assistance, Mr. Stark thinks that the early crop will be up to the average of the late. A halfcrop is a large and liberal estimate, although it 18 to ve consid. | ered that am imereased acreage, say twenty-five per cent, has been planted for the use of the bug. In answer to the question regarding the sasety of | the use of Paris green Mr. Stark stated that this danger is infinitessimal, from the tact that Paris | green is just a8 insoluble im water as is siiex or common fint, and plant food of whatever kind, it is well known, @ust first be made soluble before It can be appropriated, of | course if the quantity put on were excessive, some Injury of a mechanical kind mignt follow. Toe bug does Hot coafne its injuries to the potato plant. That most wholesome of anti- | bilious vegetables, the tomato, is regarded by hus | bngalip as even agreater luxury than ¢} The egg plant alse comes in for a share of his attention, They first made their appearance on Mr, Stark’s tomato plants la: while bis potatoes wore leit almost untouched his tomato fAelds suffered severely. ' PENNSYLVANIA. FULL ADVICES FROM EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE—MILLIONS OF BUGS ON THE PoTa- TOS. PHILADELPHIA, June 19, 1875, The Colorade potato beetle (Doryphora decem lineata or ten-lined spearman) has now a foot- hold in the Eastern States, It has graduaily jour- neyed from the West and has ‘come to stay,” for, as entomologists sell us, we can never expect to | | be wholty rid of him, although he will be likely to | do the most damage during the frat few years of | were first seen in Pennsylvania. La season they injared the tubers very muob, huvins matters all their own way, the tarmers being unacquainted with their babite and ignorant of any remedy to use against them. ‘The mil grown beetles hide im the earth ali the winter and appear again in the spring, and, as they are known to increase with incrediple rapid- ity—one scientist estimates that irom a single palr the increase in one season will equal the astound- ing number of 60,000,000 !—it becomes @ matter of importance to know how great this multiplication has been since last year, to what extent the bug has injured the potato plant im tneir State, and how the supply of the vegetable will ve affected in the markets of the country. In fact, the question of the success of the crop all over the country 1s becoming a very serious one, and too careful con- sideration cannot be given to the necessity of finding, if possible, some satisfactory means of exterannating this voracious little creature, Nor igitthe potato alone that suffers, The reports show that they destroy the tomato with equal voracity, The information given below will be seen, unfortnnately, to verlfy the predictions of naturalists. The present condition of nearly every county in Pennsyivania, as far as tne potate crop 18 coucerned, Will be found, in a condensed form, over 600 «iespatches havimg been received irom every agricultural district of the State, Jt is ratner too early in the season to make any positive predic- tion ag to what the fate of the crops may eventu- ally be, The season is unusually backward all through the State on account of late frosts and drouti, and the “second crop” of bugs (and tne most destructive by far) has not yet putin its ap. pearance In many places, so that, although the re- ports which we publish show, unfortunately, that there bas already been much destruction of tho Lender vines, later advices will show 3 still worse condition it is feared. The lemule insect reaches its full growth in avout a fortnight and begins to deposit its eggs by the thousana, These batcb outin afew days, and the young tmmedi- ately begin feeding on the tender ieaves of the vine, Severa) generations hatch out in a season, and constant efforts at extermination are neces- sary to keep them down. There has been avery strong prejudice against using Paris green on the vines by many farmers, and it seems to be an open question whether this objection is mot. well founded, Some autiorities state that this preparation of arsenic is the best to kill the bugs, and that no harm to the vines canresuit. On the other band, it 1s asserted that there is no danger in using tuls poison. Pro- fessor Wiliam Paine, of this city, asserts that iv is @ dangerous remedy, and that potatoes grown from vines wiich have been sprinkled with this poison are likely to be harmial, The bugs do not eat the Paris green, be says. They eat only the leaves of the vine after its juice has been poisoned by the arsenic of the Paris green. As the rootis fed trom the sap of the leaves, and as there is pol- gon enongh in the leaves to kill these parasites, he does not see why the tuver should not also be- come infected, The Professor is now experiment- ing in the matter, aud not quite prepared to give @ final opinion; but he strongiy inclined to think that the prejudice against Paris green 18 one that should be respected. He based his supposition on ihe belief that the bugs do not die irom eating the poison itsel!, but from tne Juices of the leaves after they have absorbed the arsenic, In this your correspondent can corrobo- rate the Professor, for im some experiments with tne bugs in their fully developed condition he jound that they mignt be leit in the strongest preparation of Paris green or corrosive sublimate for a day without any diminution of their vitality. It will be seen by the advices below that very many farmers find that picking by hand is the only sure way of ridding their potato patches of the beetle, ‘iis isthe method whicn is generaily used on small places, Another means of extermina- tion is to use benziue, bit this destroys the vine as weil, even when carefully used. Professor Paine recommends as a certain cure, and one cheap enouga to be always available, a prepara- ton of water, lime and sulphur, ta the proportions of a pound each of lime and sulphur and four gal- jons of water, The bugs drink greedily of this, and die very soon afterward, Another important suggestion to farmers is to acquaint themselves with and encourage all in- sects (like the lebfa caccinilla) which prey upon and destroy tne eggs of the beetle, To let the chickens into the patch if practicable 1s an excel- lent assistance to the market gardener, as they Will eat the insects greedily, ‘The pocato crop this year will undoubtedly fall far short of last ye be higher. ADAMS. The prospects are good for an average crop. Early potatoes have mot been much injured as yet.. The bugs have not been as voracious nor as numerous as last year. Farmers bave taken warning by last year’s avtecks and have killed the egas im time, aud the bugs have been thereby kept down, Late potatoes will be piauted as usual. The prospect of a good late yield, how, ever, depends much upon the weather. If it should be dry the bugs will increase. There is a pre- judice against the use of Paris green, ALLEGHENY. ‘The beetle is not so numerous as last year, and late potatoes wii! not be planted in some por- tions, The prospects for a good yield are favora- bie. season, and Paris green is used to destroy the nits, Potatoes, like everytoing else, will ve late. ARMSTRONG. In some portions the bugs are scarce and the yield will only be kept oack by the late season; butin others @ coustant wariare is necessary to prevent the bugs from spreading. Hand-picking 1s found to be the surest method of extermimation. On the whole the crop will be as good as last year’s if the farmers continue watching it as | vigorously as at present. A despatch from Free. port says:i—“The prospect of & good crop of its early varieties is better than last year at pres ent. The bags have increased to such an extent that there will be absolutely no potatoes where | the bugs are not destroyed. The tarmers are doing battle to some purpose, however, The pugs are now depositing their eggs on the leaves of the vine, blades of grass, &c., and planters must go over pient by plant. The bugs are breeding fast aud are moving north by west. We will plant late potatoes, because last year the late crop was the best. Farmers are clined to try both this year. If not battled with the insects would destroy the entire crop. It attacks every- thing im the garden, and is as bad on the tomato as the potato.” BEAVER. More potatoes planted than for a number of years, and the yield will be good. In consequence + of constant care the bugs are not so pientifui as last year, and are generally decreasing, much replanting for a late crop. Not Recent rains | make the sigus very favoravie. BEDFORD. The parasite Is on the decrease, ant the plants have not been injured mu More planting has been done, and more care and effort made sor the | extermination of the bays than heretofore, and tf this is persisted in the crop will be better than last season’s, Late potatoes will not be planted as extensively as usual. From some portions the answer comes that there never has been better prospects for potatoes, Paris green and hand- | picking are found effective, BRRES. ‘The Secretary of the Berka County Agricultural | Society reports as follows :—‘'It ts too early in the season to speak reliably as to the crop, potato bugs are numerous in every portion of the couaty, but are being exterminatea by in- cessant warfare urged against them. There is a possibility of a fair average crop, The potato bugs have done no great injary as yet, nor have they | made any considerable increase. Our farmers be- Neve in early planting and hence will plant few late potatoes. Our County Agricultural Society has beca doing good service by holaing irequeat Meetings and adopting plans for concerted action for killing the bugs and saving the crops.” The farmers are burning the bugs by the tuousands Ana in some sections It is feared that the yield will suffer, Picking by hana is found to keepaown the pesis, and some ‘2 rs hove discovered that the poultry pick them off the vines, In the lower and prices will consequently | More potatoes have been planted than last | The | green dtinted with water and applied by means of watering pots with excellent effect, and report ‘that the bugs have not injured their crop*, which RoW promise to equalif not surpass last year’s. BLAIR, Not much injury has been done yet. Systematic efforts are made to keep them down, and farmers are awake to tho necessity for action, All the formers plant late potatoes, and the second crop Wil be the best, it is predicted, in some quarters. | BRADFORD, | The crop will be late, and it 1s early to predict the resuit, ‘he bugs are not in force enoush to do much damage yet, and the injury they have done will not prevent the crop being as large as usual, The season is later than usual and farmers will plant for a late crop, One Jarmer writes 1 nave found but one bug tn my patch.” A despatch irom Sylvana says:—“It is toe early im the season to give an accurate estimate of the yield, From ali { can learn the bugs hereabouts are not creasing. The tendency among farmers 1s to plant early, because the bugs are more troublesome late in the summer. On some farms where bugs were very plentiul last year none | have put in an appearance yet,” In the neigh- borhoud oi Nysox the bugs are beginning to be very destructive, BUTLER. Very few bugs have been seen as yet—not 80 many as last year—and there nas not been much alarm among farmers, The season is so backward, however, that it is feared what the bugs are not at their worst. BUCKS. The accounts from this county vary so greatly that it is impossible to predicts what the crop will | amount to, All reports agree that the bug bas Made its appearance in 1ull force and that the furmers are taxed to the utmost to preserve their crops from its ravages. Ali the remedies prac- ticed in other localities are made use of here, bat with varying success. The season bas been so backward that farmers are not able to pronounce their opinions, but the general impression is that ine average crop of the county will closely ap- proximate that of last year, CAMERON, A despatch from Driftwood says:—‘‘The potato bug is here in large nnmbers, Potatoes and all crops are Jate this season, Do not believe there willbe any late planting. Last year the tubers were excellent where saved from the ravages of te bug. The crop is not all above ground. Very dificuit to say how the crop wil turn out at this early day, Our farmers will use more Paris green this year vhan last. Last season they were afraid of it,?? CARBON. Farmers realize that persistent applications of Paris green when the insects are small, or pick- ing by hand if they have been allowed to grow, are the only available remedies. The supply of | potatoes from this county will be jarger than usual, probably, even shoula tne yield be smaller, because many more acres have been planted than usual, and whe miners’ strike will make prices | cheaper. Picking the bugs by hand seems the only available remedy. CAMBRIA, | The bugs are not very plentifal as yet, and no serious injury to tbe plants has been reported. On the whole the crop is looked forward to as being larger than in 1874. A great many late po- tatoes have been planted. CENTRE, At Boolsburg and vicinity the vines are ina prosperous condition ana look better than at the same time last year. ‘Te bugs are increasing on some farms and decreasing on otners. There are more potatoes planted here than usual and the farmers are putting in for alate crop. Paris green is very freely used, In other parts of the county there is a@ large imérease of insect, and some patches bave been en- tirely destroyed, the tender plants, how- img been eaten off as soon as they appearod above ground, In these thickly infested sections no satisfactory remedy has been found, At Wood- | ward the people are determined to fight it out on the potato vines if it takes all summer, At Bellefonte there 1s also much increase in the pests, the | CHESTER. In this rich section, waich largely supplies the | markets of Philadelphia, the bugs have been | found this year to have increased over last in the proportion of @ thousand to one, As yet, bow. ever, they bave not easen the plants much in some sections, while in others they have most destroyed the young vines. A coter- minea effort is being made to kill the bugs by hand picking and Paris green diluted in water and sprinkled over the vines, Altogether the crop will be about equal to last year, which was then considered @ smallone. Many are planting sweet potatoes instead of white, which the bugs do not attack. Not many late potatoes will be plante A despatch from Unionville says:— The prospec's for a good potato crop are Natter- ing. Pernaps not quite so many planted as last | year. ‘The potuto bug has not injured the piants | Very much up to this date, the eggs are not yet aatened, anu there 18 motuing but the mature | beetle (wrich lay in the ground all winter) prey- | Ing on the vines, The bugs gp hg compared | | to inst, are a thousand to one. The increase of | | the bug has been so rapid that the iarmers have | nearly all abandoned the idea of picking the bug by hand, ana are generally resorting to Paris | green, appited in the proportions of one part of the green to filteen or twenty parts of four. | A despaten from Pheemixville reports that along | tbe Pickering Valley the bugs, while as numerous | as last year, are not so destructive, Upon their appearance thty were gathered and burned by the farmers, The prospecis of a full crop are very favoravie. | Adespatch from Kennet Square says that It is rather early to give @ correct opinion as to yield, | but that the crop planted will oo; reach more | than palf of last year’s acreag Notwithstend- Ing an extensive use of Paris green, the ba decidedly on the increase, There will be very few late petatoes planted, As the buys do not dis | turd sweet potatoes farmers are planting iargely “The prospects for a large crop were never better ij in my recollection.” Late potatoes are being planted very extensively. : CLEARFIBLD. Mnoh care has been taken to destroy the bug, aud thg early crop in some portions 13 considered safe from their ravages. It is feared, however, | that they may destroy the second planting, as they did last year, There is every probavility that this wil be the case, as in some sections they are already very thick, At Clearfield the bugs | are very busy; but, as much care is taken to | destroy them, itis probable they are not increas- ing. A farmer writes:—''We think the sa‘est way to destroy them is to go over the patches about evory third day, capture them ima pup and then scald or burn them. Experience teaches this to | be the surest way.” It is too early to predict the yleid, | CLINTON, The crop here will undoubtedly de larger than last year. More have heen put in than usual and the bugs have not increased much y Late Potatoes will be planted, A gentleman at Young: | womanstown writes :— 1 have been engaged In raising potatoes In | large quantities, Since the appearance of the bug | lastyear | have experimented muca, and have | found that a sure exterminator is Paris green, put on in aliquid state. in the proportion of ounce to & gallon of water, sprinkied lightly every | fourw or filth day. COLUMBIA. ‘The favorite remedy o/ iarmers in this county ts | to let the chickens Ito the patches, Were this Is practicable—on small tarms—the bugs are de- stroyed, as the chickens devour them greedliy. In Some sections, however, the bugs are increasing, | but it 18 noped that in general the yield will equal | that of 1874, | CRAWFORD. Late potatoes are nos planted very extensively, and the bugs which attacked the early plantings | seem to be on the decrease, On accountof the | swarms of bugs whict infested this district last | year many wore acres have been planted, lo make | @full crop. The destraction of the vines will be very great, as the farmers do not appear to be using any means to prevent the spread of tne | pest, A despatch from Mspyville states:—“Fsrm- ers about here are not planting very many pota- | toes, Those that have been planted and are above ground are covered with the beetles, which appear to be full grown and to have win- tered here in the earth. I should think our supply here would be very scarce, because farmers do not take the trouble to kill the bugs,” In other sections the bugs are picked by hand, and the | far very much, | business of raising potatoes in this market. they taxe better care of their potatoes and plant more of them thun they would if the Dugs were not as plenty. They are not going to plant amy late potatoes, The bugs are far more plenty this year thao last. Many farmers de not use any thing like Paris green to destroy them, but knock them of and buro them. In other sections & mixture of Paris green aud plaster or wood ashes is used with some effect upon the bugs. JUNIATAL Prospects for @ yield are much better than las® year, The bugs haye not iniused the plant 50 Tuey are plentiful, but are not iucreasing any more now. Farmers, as a geueral thing, all plant late potatoes, Tue larmers in this) county have iedrned how to kill the bugs, and for that reason they wili not do half the injury this season that they did last. LANCASTER, This 1s another great market gardening county, nd the condition of the potato cvop here ts & mute ter of great importence. The fuilaay.ces we bave received make it certaia that only nalfa crop will be raised in some sections on account of the bugs, which abound to 4 verv great extent, So plentl- ful are they that many farmers reiuse to plan® lace potatoes, fearing that they will all be de stroyed. The full grown bugs are being killed, but their eggs remain, and the second brood will do the most damage, At Marietta a gentlemam stated :— Fully one-third less have been planted thi seasol than last, This, Witu drought and want of eare in the use of remedies for the b duce the yield to One-nel! an average ¢ real ipjury Has been done yet, but the young brood 1s appearing, Tue déetles are ten u US a8 in any previous year. This is tl fourth season for tae bugs here. Late potatoes are beiny planted only ta a small way, witn tae chances against harvesting any from them, The only hope for the saiety Of the crop 1s (he thorough application of Paris green. Ii this is neglected, as. we fear tt Will in many Cases, the crop will b& Much under our estimate. In many sections the dry weather ts said to b@ doing more harm than the bugs. In the vicinity of Aqamstown the prospects of the potato yield are about haifa crop. The bug are very numerous and likely to iojure the crop to vbatextent. Very few farmers will plant lata potatoes, LAWRENCE. The omens are good, comparing favorably wit jast year. ‘The beetles have not injured the planta to any great extent The bugs are decreasing since the recent rains, Peopie do not make # 18 a home market sor all they produce, number seems to be recucin At Hartstown a gentleman reports:—‘‘Ihe crops are not much in- jured as yet, but from the number of eggs on tne | leaves we look for @ general slaughter of our po- | tatoes andour hopes, Tho bugs are evidently in- | creasing. Farmers are not generally planting | late potatoes.” CUMBERLAND, At White House the prospects at this time are very discouragipg and there may be no potatoes atall, Those who pick off the bugs by hand think they can raisé small crops, but nothing in compar- | | good and will compare Javorably with last year's LEBANON, Only half acrop can be expected from Lebanon. The bngs are not increasing very rapidly, but have already done much damage. Not wany late potas toes haye been planted. LRWIGH, The prospects of the potato crop in general ara crop, judgiug {com present indications. The potato bugs are very numerous, but bave not inured the plant any thus far, and are ratner de- creasing than increasing. There is no need of tgon to last year, If half a crop ta raised it willbe | planting a later crop, Tne exceeding ary weather more than can be expected. Many Jarmers have | im this neighborhood will have more effect on tha not planted at all. The bug, if left alone, cats off | potatoes than the bug; however, they have not all the leaves, leaving the 6) “The bugs hi appeared much sooner and in greater numbers than heretofore,” one gentleman | writes, “and they arestill increasing. Some farm- ers plant late potatoes, but many do not; some gather off the bugs, others let the ravager alone, Farmers have planted more sweet potatoes this year than ever before.’? witness the followin: From present appearances the crop will be much greatextent. Growers are using every effort to @xierminate the bugs and will probably reance them, The bugs have done very iittie toyury as yet and from ooservyation as well as irom many sources of tnlormation we believe them to be on the decrease. Tuere will probably be less late po- tatoes planted in our section than formeriy, wuen taere were no fears to be entertained of such pests as we have bad \o coutend with tue last two years. appearance, and should the season be favorable, ‘with plenty of rain, we almost certain of aa ‘unusually large crop of early and late potatoes. DAUPHIN. The bugs are in the crop and are increasing fa some places, but as more decided measures are taken than last year their ravages are not likely to beso great, From some towns come the re port that the Dugsare nutseen in any great nom- ber, while from stili others come despatches like the folowing :— Wrcontsco, June 15, 1875. bugs have dove muca injury and they are very plentifal. have come up regularly, and the recent rains nave given them a good, healthy start. Tne bug beetles are here in greater numbers than at this time last year, and are depositing their eggs, which will hatch in a few days, when tue ravages of the grub will commence. Very few of the iate varieties, such a3 peachdiow and peerless, will be planted, and not balf the quantity of early and late rose as compared with last year, DELAWARE. The bugs appeared early and very nomerously. A favorite remedy is for four or five farmers to combine together to hire one or more persons to keep their patches Clear, and they hope to save their crops in this way. Tkey have no faith tp any other method than picking by band, At Swarthmore and vicinity the prospect of the potato crop thas far is favorable, but it is too early to say how tt will compare with iast yoar's crop. The potato bug has injured the plant but littie, but ig increasing, The late crop of potatoes has been planted, The injury secms to be great throngh this whole county, which 1s avery important source of s ply to the markets of Philadelphia, waich it Joins, de | London the bug has not done much damage as yet, although they are quite numerous, | The farmers are using Paris green very generally, | > At West Chester the fear of the bugs has caused | much less ground to be planted with potatoes | than usaal, The bugs are very numerous; but it | nas damaged the crop to some extent. Tre frost, | is almost too carly to form an opinion as to the | extent of the crop. Yhe bag 18 reported at Gum Tree to be as numerous a8 Jast year. The farméra expect to | have an average crop of early potatoes, but sears | are expressed that the late crop will be, in a great | measure, destroyed :— A cespaten from Penningtonville says :— ‘The prospect tn this section will compare favor- . ably with last year, althoagn the dry, cold season | has jad # tendency to injure growta, The potato bug 1s Aoout to an alarming extent, bur it does not seem to be So destructive as Was anticipstea, | and nothing to compare with last year. There another bug that foliows the potato bug and o stroys thelr eggs to agreat extent. Tue farme: are not planting, «: general thing, so largely | they aid last year. More sweet potatoes have been | planted oy far than jas: year. / 4 West Wuiteland the yleld will about equal that of 1874 The bugs are very numerous, in- creasing rapidly and doing great damage, } | Afeport trom Coatesville states that the pros- pect Is not good; the yield will possibly be about | the same as last year, The bugs have destroyed | the tops of more than half the plants, aud tho | | product of the eggs deposited by them will proba- | bly do the most damage. Late potatoes will not be planted. | AtJennersville the bugs are nomerous and on the increase, but aro restricted in their ravages | by the ase of atomizers, They have also attacked } the tomatoes and egg plants. The prospect is not | good for an average crop, Farmers are generally | | Planting late potatoes im the hope of keeping abead of the bugs. ‘The potato crop im the vicinity of Spread Eagle | seems very promising, and will compare ‘avora- | bly with last year’s. No serious damage has yet beon done by the potato bug, and they are on the | decrease, Not many late potatoes will be plantea. | At Embreviile the prospect compares favorably With last year, although tne bugs are very nu- | merous, CLARION. | I some sections: “e prospects for a large crop | are good—mucn better than Jast year. The bugs | are decreasing, althongh little has been done by | | and mereasing. The acreage of potatoes is, perhaps, te per cent less than last year. Bogs very numerous Farmers are planting late, It ts thought the season for bugs will have passed before potatoes planted now will be very bauly injured by them. Avery heavy frost on the 14th five drought, bugs and reducea acreage will, fro provent appearances, make the yield Afty per cont less than last year, PATETTR. ik to wither and die. | From Newburg the news 1s. more cheering, as | larger than last year, sitbough we entertain some | | fears that the bogs will mjure the crop to a very The early potatoes present a remarkably One | This neighborhood expects only haifa crop, ihe | At Estnerton the prospects ate good, the plants _ done no injury as yet to the plant, but the | as yet suffered materially from even that. | LUZERNE, | Notsolargescrop bas been planted this year | es iast. From the late spring, planting was late, but with @ favorable season an average crop could be produced, The bugs have within a week | made their appearance, as yet only in isolated | Places, only here and there a field beiug tmiested by them, | 4m the eastern portion the area planted thie year is {ity per cent more than last year. The bugs are very numerous, They do not cat the stalks but deposit thelr eggs on the auder side of | the leat. | LYCOMING, | The bug put in an early appearance, and has done considerable damage, but the young insects, just hatcing out, will probaoly ao more. One firth jess land Was in potatoes this year than last, and the crop will be proportionately shorter, MERCER. From Mereer county a better repor! has beem received than almost any other, Unless the bug | appears ister in the Scasoa tuere will be les@ | damage Here ‘ban im tue vbher sections of te | State. MIPPLIN. | The potato prospect in Mifflin has s better onte | look than Was expeciod, and uniess the bags be- come Worse the yield will be better than last years ‘The bugs Mave But yet done muca imjury, thougm numerous. the danger will now be irom t | larva, Few late potatoes will be pianted, The yiela | in tus county may be hall & crop, the plant being | less toan usual. MONROR. | The prospects for potatoes are very poor. There | will not, at present inaicalions, be half a crop. The bugs are numerous and greatly increasing. | They have not vet mucn Injured’ the potato, a8 16 | isearly, Toe potatoes are all planted tuat will be this season. ‘he plauts are full of bags and egas., MUNTGOMEBY. | vhronghont this county the bugs are vers, | nonrerous and greatly increasing. ia most sec- Hous the crop will not ve as large a9 it Was last year, although the farmers have used evory exer- tion ‘to rid themselves of the dectle. Paris greem has deen nsed lu large quantities, as have also tie Otuer poisons thal buve pro emicacious um other sections; bur the tinetnod, and the | one upon which comple 18 alone piaced,. | 18 picking the bugs uit d consiguing them bo tie scalding trou ames, Nort | It ts impossible ar tals early date to tet! what the crop Will be; Dut Lhe po Millions and are ou Lue ier suder very mi IUMBERELAND, ‘The bags are walk mere Lamerons than last year, but have not woue asf image yet ae they will do later im (he uiter the’ larvay has batched owt. Lae ace planting late. | Pau The bugs are “as p Many tarmers we riy as the tee in Egypt couraged ‘ast year that s wae others @ yield will iv pi be about the sax What with the df | crop will ‘ati ve vetagplauted, | The potate yield will here this year than lust. a mune and are decreas lieved, Wil not ve affeo | _ The condition o: to tase yea the bugs hav 73 are planting late potatoe 8 The plants are not plenty Paris green is t | $0 destroy the vugs free by pieking th many iarge 1018 W royed by tie bigs last About Uniontown the yield will be larger than | s¢asou for ,004 saris green, aud i§ last year, but 1m nearly all sections the bugs vegan | Wil be the samo tus sonson. avery vigorous attack om the potatoes earlier | Less inj ere from te bag thas. tu: west than usual (toisis the tnird year), but farmers | Obaers tnt » The crop it 4 uite succes: th « to its stande M present are fighting them quite essfally with “Paris is Very backward, green.” The prospect now, since late rains, is TIOGA. for an average crop, at least of the eariy piant. | _ As yet ren ver. ing—early rose, gonerally now near the blossom. bs 8 ing. I dry, later planting sud tater kinas wij) make the crop light. PRANKLIN. Prospects of a good yield; better than year. The bugs are not neariy so bad as year. Late potatoes will be planted. The ry we have had in the Cumveriand Vailey has been of great advantage to cropa 0 every kind, FOREST. | The crop prospects are very poor, The bugs are about as nUMCTOUS as last year aad the crop wit | be abont as small, HUNTINGDON, LASt year potatoes failed in this section, except in narrow valleys, on account of the ravages or the bugs. The prospects are much better this year, because the natare of the insect being vetter na. derstood it is taken in time, and just now seems in @ measure under control, Late potatoes will | be planted extenstvely; because late ones Jid best | last year. The yreld will be a full half crop. } INDIANA. | The potato bug is very plenty tn this section, but there will be enotigh potatoes saved jor home | consumption. They are never raised here for | shipment; ail finda home market, There is great | complaint of the ravages of the bug, but they are kept down by picking and Paris green, Every | family has & patch, and the children are kept busy going over the patch. The prospect as to yield | is good; better than last year. There will be no more planting. last, JEFFERSON. The farmers here seem to think that the crop pe sare muking Vi efforts wt provsction of tae crops by picking om. UNto™ voracious and destrnctives ces tie coming potate i(—tus over Mall au average The dugs are vel From preset app 4 @ very il ighborboe in tBb VENANGO. The prospect is {nir; equal to last year’s, bag naa iujured the plans but little and does nus appear vo ve increasing, Tae farmers are plants ing their crops as Usual, DOCK early aud sate. 1 Js Almost too early In tue season Lo determine tik extent Of the ravages o1 tie bug. WARREN. A heavy crop was viaated, and from present indications there Will be &@ large yiel. Povato, bugs have appeared, but the planters are tius far masters Of tue situation, Tuere will ve a much arget acr if potabocg Planted than in former years and cy HON is anlicipased, ee TO The prospect. ees crop Of potatoes wag never better. TH Bugs have not injured the plants yet and ‘MOL as pleniifal this year by & large percentage. The farmers will bot plant again, 4s there was been a large crop pui m. WYOMING. There are a few potato bu hey are domg 4 y evidently on the decrease at present. There i little black bug destroying the egus. The droug: ig very severe, and will probably diminisa the crop one half. But few late potatoes ure planteds Frost has tajared the early ones and wiil make them much later. All things considered @& lighs crop 1s anticipated. YORK. In York the pliant was avout the same as last year, but the crop is backward, The bugs ar@ eating op nearly everything and Are mucn wor: than last year, Not many jate potatoes wilt Planted, The season bas been dry ai| uaavors avle to rapid growth, thereoy Musing \uc Vineg RIGS 10 kke OUR” OO hl ae