The Colorado Potato Beetle
Sir,-- I own in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a small farm of about 34 acres. The mansion-house, to which seven acres are attached, I used as a residence during the Summer months, the remainder was rented to a neighbouring farmer. Last Spring he planted his potatoes in a field adjoining my vegetable garden, two acres of which were also planted in potatoes. In the month of August the farmer’s potatoes were attacked by the beetle. Lime in powder was sprinkled over the plants, but to no purpose. The tubers were injured to that extent that it did not repay the trouble of taking them out of the ground. My plants escaped until September, when I perceived a few beetles on the vines, which soon became a host, and the plants above ground were quickly destroyed. The tubers were but slightly affected, as they had almost attained their growth before the vines were attacked. Alongside the potato patch a row of purple egg plants were under cultivation; these were attacked, and both fruit and leaves were totally destroyed. The beetles were umberless, and could be taken up by handfuls. After this, they came up into the house, and were found creeping over the verandah and into the sitting-rooms and chambers. It is not astonishing that the Mayor of St. Louis should have replied as he did to his correspondent. Prior to my experience in August last, I might have written as he has done.
It is certainly a pest greatly to be dreaded, and although I perceive that some of your correspondents think that the climate of Great Britain will not agree with them, I hope that the experiment may not be tried.
R.E.P.
(The Times, London, April 7, 1875)
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Makes me think of Rams, except the neighbors are unrelated, and they’re growing veggies, not sheep.