Af^rr^^^.^ ^AaA'A, rs'r\r\A.r\. IAAaA/IAaa^a */^7^A A('*^A ^^AAriA/**^i*^A/^ ^^r^r^Jf^A ' f^r\f\F\m^nf^^' nr\r^f\r y" J\ Gass ! - 1 . _ <^ Book C ifiL 7 ® 1CoO^.0.0aaa. AaAa ''AA^Ar\ yd/^fsf!s^^^f^^^(^^ ffiaW ^mmmmSS& mr\nr\n^r\22QQ0nOC^' ^/ynnnr \f\>sAri iA^^A ^Aaa .AAAAAaAaa^^aa ^i^,A,^.«.AAA ^ ^Tm^Rsflfm^MA mmm. ^m&m^s&m ^f^^fmf^m!. AAAaAi •'AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE." PRACTICAL THOUGHTS (More Especially in the Interest of Agriculture) M MOST DESTRUCTIVE TO VEGETATION, &c., &C., IIA.TS, MICE, MOLES, COTTON WORMS, POTATO BUGS AND INSECT LIFE GENERALLY, TOGETHER WITH ADVICE FOR THEIR Prevention and Extermination. By robt. t. creamer ANALYTICAL CHEMIST AND ENTOMOLOGIST, (late of loulsiana.) delivered before the FARMERS' CLUB, AMERICAN INSTITUTE, AT COOPER INSTITUTE, NEW YORK, JUNE 21 AND JULY 1, 1879. John Polhemus, Printer, *2 Nassau Street, New York. A NEW DISCOVERY! Oti - n ii' \ convinces all who try it that the serious damage and great lyance caused to almost every farm and household by RATS, MICE, MOLES, CROWS, &c., &c., can be prevented by the use of PROFESSOR MITCHELL'S POISONED WHEAT, NATURE'S OWN REMEDY For the Extermination of Those Destructive and Loathsome Pests. 1^" This article is the natural Wheat (in the whole grain), so chemically prepared as to be wonderfully destructive to all PESTI- LENT VERMIN. fi^" Remember that it is not claimed to kill off all your R*ATS, for that usually causes a great annoyance from steneh. Its great merit is predicated upon its certainty to drive the pests away from your premises. (// is tvcll knoimt that the cunning and instinct of J^ats for self-presej-- "coiion is mh-vcllotis, hence they ivill invariably abandon any locality 7. /r?r any inimical movement, which they are quick to detect, is being in- augurated against them. ) £^"^ MICE, MOLES, &c., are almost instantly destroyed by it, dying on the very spot where the Wheat is placed ; hence the Mice can be easily thrown where the stench is not offensive. TRY IT AND BE CONVINCED. Two Sizes. Price 25 and 50 Cts. per Package. A Sample Package sent postpaid on receipt of the price. Sold by all Drugg/sls and Dealers in General Merchandise. '^M" Full directions accompany each package. Prepared under the superintendence of Dr. R. T. CREAMER, Analytical Cin^MisT and Entomologist, No. 956 Eighth Ave- nue, New Yore, io whom all applications for Sample Package must be made. Messrs. DAVID M. STIGER & CO., WHOLESALE DRUGGISTS, No. 58 BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK, WHOLESALE AGENTS. Bf transfer rrotx I^Bt. Office Lib, ^ o^<^ ■' PREFACE. npHIS pamphlet is published at the solicitation of numerous plant- ers and farmers with whom I have corresponded for a series of ^ years on the subject-matter to which it relates. jv~- My thirteen years' residence in the South, during which time I -; gave much attention and research to these matters, has given me unusual facilities for practical knowledge, especially in regard to those two greatest of all destructive pests to agriculture, viz. : ^}\Q dottoi\ Wo/ir\ ki\d Potkto 8ug (of Beetle). While pursuing that branch, however, I haj&r^npti 4pieen. iinraifrdful of many other noxious and loathsome pest/^otli to /T/ ■^', n FIELD AND FIRESI-i>E/ ^^'^ ..^ and have endeavored, under the heading of "tfeg2iajg^i,£L£»*^^tive kinds of Vermin, to give such information as will prove of incalcu- lable value to the public generally. I launch this Book amidst a sea of " Patent Nostrums" {ivhich I believe have all 7?iore or less failed in their mission), in the hope to se- cure for the remedies I propose a fair share of public favor, and thus CONVINCE all who need assistance in such matters that entire freedom and immunity can be secured against all forms of VER- MIN AND INSECT LIFE. Very truly, &c., ROBT. T. CREAMER, CHEMIST AND ENTOMOLOGIST, No. 956 Eighth Avenue, New York. Messrs. DAVID M. STIGER & CO., Wholesale Druggists and Manufacturing Cheviists, No. 58 BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK, Wholesale Agents, FIRST PART. Rats, Mice, Moles, Crows, &;c-3 «Scc-3 Sec. A Paper on Destructive YEiiMiisr, Bugs, Worms and Insects, read by Dr. Robt. T. Creamer (late of Louisiana) before The Farmers' Club, Amer- ican Institute, at Cooper Institute, New York, June 21st, 1879. J/r. President and Members of the Olub : At occasional intervals during the present cen- tury, and frequently during the last decade, stren- uous efforts have been made by all the Commission- ers OF Agriculture for the several States, Agri- cultural Societies generally, and many others, to attract more general public attention to the con- tinual enormous increase of destructive Vermin, Worms and Insects, and the consequent very serious loss, especially of cereal products, caused thereby, with the view that the attention of chem- ists and naturalists might be more immediately di- rected to devise some cheap and practicable rem- edy which would tend to at least mitigate the serious damage and great annoyance which nearly every Agriculturist and Housekeeper, and, in fact, all classes of our people, almost daily and nightly experience from the inroads of some of the varied forms of Yermin and Insect Life. {The United States Entomological Commission, of which Prof. C. iV. Biley, Entomologist of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, is chief, are noio, by authority of law and under a large appropriation made by Congress, tramling through the Cotton States, with a view to especially investigate the cotton worm. They have already promulgated, through Prof. Riley, Chairman of the Commission, that the annual loss from that caterpillar ahne is upwards of $20,000,000.) Urgent demands have gone up from every branch of our industrial pursuits, from the rich as well as the poor, for some remedy which would check the enormous pecuniary loss from that source alone, which at the present time (including that of cereal products lost to growth by crows, grasshoppers, &c.) can be safely estimated as aggregating in the United States alone to fully $100,000,000 DOLLARS ANNUALLY ; but still the evil goes on gathering strength and vol- ume, and attracting but little of general public attention, and mostly then in the interest of some specific which was guaranteed at one fell swoop to destroy all the rats, mice, &c., in our dwellings, barns, ships, &c. ; another all the cotton worms and potato bugs in our fields ; another, all insects gen- erally in our kitchens and household ; and the result shows conclusively that there are at this pre- sent time more rats, mice, &c., and in their season, more cotton worms, potato bugs and insects than ever before. The remedies have all more or less failed, simply because they were predicated up- on causing instant death to the long list of noxious pests, rather than on the MEAlSrS OF THEIR PREVENTION AND RiDDANCE AS WELL AS THEIR DESTRUCTION. Any remedy, to be of noticeable value, at least so far as the extermination of rats is concerned, must also cover this ground, or it will be a failure, for there are myriads of those vermin, and it is simply an impossibility to destroy enough of them to ac- complish any marked favorable result. It is infinitely preferable to secure rid- dance OF Rats, rather than to poison a FEW AND THUS CREATE A HORRIBLE STENCH. ''The REMEDY IN SUCH CASES IS WORSE THAN THE DISEASE," AND BESIDES, THE KILLING OF EVEN A SCORE OR MORE SECURES NO FREEDOM FROMjTHE PESTS. ThERE ARE PLENTY LEFT. RATS. As I propose to treat seriatim of the pests which are the source of our greatest damage and annoyance, I must speak of the Rat first. Of all the lower order of destructive animals tliey head the list, for they are ravagers at almost every FARM and fireside every- where. They more or less invade every building, and not a single vessel which traverses ocean, river, or canal is entirely free from them. Time will fail me to go into any elaborate descrip- tion of his natural history, their origin, character and habits, wondrous instinct and cunning, especially for self-preservation, the remarkable fecundity of the female, &c., &c. ; the main points are well known to you, and to the public generally, and so I will come at once to the more impoitant question. What can he done to cJieck the enormous increase of the species and the serious damage which he causes f 6 It is estimated that there are in the City of New York alone, not less than 100,000,- 000 RATS. If this be so. and I HAVE NO REA- SON TO DOUBT IT, IT MAY WELL BE STARTLING. For a number of years my attention has been especially directed to a study of tlie habits and character of the Rat, Avith a view to devise a means which would tend to secure better protection and immunity from their ravages than anything hitherto devised. If, as has been fairly estimated, there are billions of rats, it is idle to indulge the hope that they can be decimated to any great extent by any specific which bases its claims for public favor upon its kill- ing capacity. A box of "Phosphorus Paste," which is the Rat Exterminator in general use, will produce no riddance or relief from the pests. Even if it has killed a few, the annoyance still remains, only to be intensified in a great degree, arising from the horrid stench which their dead carcasses create. A trap affords but little relief, for it is rarely of any use except^at its first setting. Any remedy to be worthy of public favor must take broader ground, for that above named has clearly proved inadequate. It must accomplish such results as to make the Rat shun the place where the specific is used. to drive him away from the prem- ises, and also possess such qualities as will tend to impair the great powers of fecun- dity in the female. {Five or six times a year, and frequently a hakefs dozen at a litter.) The result of a series of experiments for a num- ber of years, and the very large number of proofs tliat I now have in support of the theory, has convinced me that Wheat, the natural food of the Rat, can be so prepared as to be the best specific that has yet been devised. It is the natural wheat in the whole grain chemically prepared so as 'to be powerfully obnoxious to the rodent tribe after they have partaken a few grains of it, which they are sure to do, and will lead to their general abandonment to other quarters, and there, weak and puny, their vital powers im- paired, they soon fall a prey to death, if not sooner killed by the stronger of their species, which is very apt to be the case. {It is a well-known fact that an ailing rat is quickly killed by its com- rades. Like the buffalo, they suffer no sick one tofolloic the herd.) To such general approval has this chemically PREPARED Wheat attained, that I have been in- duced to put it on the market for general sale under the name of PROFESSOR MITCHELL'S POISONED WHEAT. I CLAIM AND ASSERT FOR IT, NOT THAT IT WILL IN- VARIABLY DESTROY ALL RaTS WHO PARTAKE OF ANY PORTION OF IT, BUT THAT, BASED UPON THEIR MARVELLOUS INSTINCT FOR SELF-PRESER- VATION, IT WILL SECURE TO THE LOCALITY WHERE IT IS USED THEIR ENTIRE ABANDONMENT. The result of numerous experiments with it has convinced me and others that Rats will leave any place where any inimical movement {which they are quick to detect) is being inaugurated against them. Some of them will greedily eat only a few grains of it, and finding that it has been tampered with, and the result, sickness, etc., that information will be quickly imparted to the others, and will inevitably lead to a general migration to other quarters. You, who are mostly practical farmers, well know that a string stretched around a corn field with a few pieces of bright tin attached, is about as good a scARE-CROw as Can be devised. If you will admit that crows regard that as a trap to ensnare them, and hence will avoid the field, with how much more probability must it be conceded that the same gen- eral idea can be carried out with Rats, for their cun- ning is infinitely greater than that of crows. {''It passes all understanding.''') Poisoned Wheat is predicated upon the same general idea, and my firm belief is that Rats, after they have eaten a few grains of it, regard it as a snare to destroy them, and will, as soon as a few or even one of their number, have partaken of it, will FORSAKE the: PREMISES WHERE IT HAS BEEN SPRINKLED AND TAKE ALL THE OTHERS WITH THEM. I also claim and assert for Poisoned Wheat, that it possesses such properties as to seriously impair the enormous iDrocreative functions of the female rat, and that its general use will tend to materially aid in their ultimate decimation, and that if it were in universal use it would eventually accomplish such a decrease of the species as to prevent any great pecuniary loss or damage from those that re- main The great damage that now occurs from their ravages is owing to their excessively immense numbers, and the consequent difficulty of procuring food for all, and large as it is, it is estimated by those who have given the subject attention and research, that if it were not for the feline race, they would double their numbers every decade. I am of the opinion that if it were not for that wise provision of nature to prevent an undue increase of the spe cies, we should be literally ovenun with them, and we could hardly keep our cereal products long enough to reach the mill. Now that it has hecome quite the custom to destroy the greater part of poor GrimalMm' slitter^ it stands us all in hand to de- vise something which will counterbalance thai molation of nature^ s laio. In this connection it is well als(> to know that since through the benign efforts of that prince of philanthropists, Mr. Henry Bergh, President of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani- mals, RAT-BAITING has been stopped, which hereto- fore created a large demand for live rats, and has , hence checked the incentive to catch them for sale, and thus also prevent the practice which Mr. 'Ser- rier needs to become skillful in his profession, that also has added not a little to the apparent in- crease of rats in this city, and that it would be a wise and beneficial provision if he would now issue from his facile pen an urgent appeal to our citizens to stop the general wholesale destruction of the cats' litters, which now so generally prevails, and thereby aid in allowing the feline race to fulfill their rightful mission, which is a relentless and unceasing war upon those destructive and loathsoime pests. If it shall seem to some of you {as doubtless it may)^ that it is hardly possible that Wheat can be so prepared as to seriously impair the procreative capacity of Rats, I beg to remind you that Ergot of Rye, which is simply a fungus of rye, is well known to the medical faculty for its efficiency in a similar direction. Poisoned Wheat is somewhat analogous to spurred rye, as it is commonly called, and will act upon the rodent race in a similar manner. {Mr. Charles Oressler, a distinguished chemist and scientist, reforted to the American Journal oj Commerce, in July, 1861, that a fungus of Indian Corn, which hi called Ergot of Maize, had been known to pro- duce abortion in a Cow, and that a small quantity of it had 2)foduced a like effect on two pregnant hitches.) 10 MICE. Unlike the rat, mice have not the slightest instinct for self preservation, and are quickly and easily destroyed by the most minute poison. The ordinary House Mice, which are continually nibbling at everything eatable about our dwellings, and also making havoc with Books, Papers, Cloth- ing, Bedding, Gloves, &c., &c., render them a source of great annoyance. They are almost instantly killed by Poisoned Wheat, and find death on the very spot where the Wheat is placed, hence they can be easily thrown where the stench will not be offensive. Field Mice often abound in our grain helds in great numbers, in some seasons, in some locali- ties, and do much mischief in the Spring and Fall after the seed is sown. {Some few years ago they proved a terrible pest to farmers through- out Continental Europe^ so much so as to very materially enhance the price of Strychnia^ vjliich was universally used in large quantities for their extermination.) They can be easily destroyed in the same manner as the House Mice. Ground Mice are very destructive to tender roots and plants, and often do great damage in hot-houses during the Winter ; they seldom touch anything on the surface of the ground, so the Poisoned Wheat, to insure their destruction, must be placed in the ground as hereafter described under the heading of Moles. MOLES. It is a mooted question as to whether Moles are useful or not. They certainly are useful in their search for grubs and earth worms, which they con- 11 sume in large numbers, but in doing this, they are very apt to go right through a hill of corn, or the roots of any vegetable. In their "runs," come the ground mice which eat the vegetation, thus adding to the mischief. If tiiev are numerous, they CERTAINLY DO GREAT DAMAGE IN LAWNS AND GAR- DENS. I positively know that they will eat grain, not- withstanding it is claimed by some naturalists to the contrary. I have killed tb 3usands of them with the Poisoned Wheat. To do this, pierce the ground with a smooth stick, until the end of the stick reaches the hole through which the mole runs, then with- draw it gently to prevent the dirt from filling up the hole again, and through this drop a few grains of the wheat ; repeat this operation in several places of the track, or wherever new tracks appear. {See Extract from New York Independent, June 26, 1879, on the subject of Moles ^ on page 14.) CROWS, PIGEONS, SQUIRRELS. Hardly any one but the practical farmer can fully realize the very serious loss and annoyance occa- sioned by Crows, especially in some localities where they greatly abound. The Commissioners of Agri- culture for several of the Western States always allude to this subject in their annual reports, and have placed the amount of Corn, Wheat, &c., lost to growth by their maraudings, as approximating into many millions of bushels. Like the rat. Crows also are wondrously cunning, and seem to know they are trespassing on forbidden ground, when they are watching a chance to alight on the recently planted corn field. 12 ( I knew a farmer \n lio once placed an old open cotton umbrella in the center of his prospective com field, believing it would prove an inimitable scare-crow. Soon after a violent shower came up, and large numbers of the crows huddled under it until tlie rain was over.) PiGEois^s —Do more damage than many intelligent farmers are aware of ; especially, in their injuiy to KOOFS. In this respect they are a nuisance. I wish I could persuade farmers to get rid of them. Squirrels. — In some of the Far Western States and Territories, and especiall}^ in California, squir- rels are very destructive to agriculture, and means are extensively used for their extermination. For Crows, Pigeons and Squirrels— Nothing has ever been devised that presents so easy and perfect a method forgetting rid of them as Professor Mitchell's Poisoned Wheat. 1^" Simply sprinkle a small quantity of it on "a flat stone or old board in various parts of the field, or where the pests "most do congregate," and the work is accomplished, and your crop is safe. All you hat^e to do is to he careful to keep it out of the reach of your chicTiens. Bogs and cats loiU not touch it. Sparrows — Also, aie quickly destroyed by the Wheat, and I recommend its use in case you desire to get rid of a surplus supply. it was my intention in this paper to treat also at some length upon the COTTON WORM, POTATO BUG AND OTHER INSECTS, but as 1 iiave -detained you too long already, I shal have to defer tliat part of my subject until the next meeting. I shall then dwell especially upon the 13 COTTON WORM AND POTATO BUG. And speak also of a remedy, PROFESSOR MITCHELL'S COLEOTHANATINE, wliicli can be nsed like Paris Green, either dry or in a liquid state, the cost of which is insignificant, a remedy which I positively know is equal, if not superior, in its destructive effects, to Paris Green and which possesses that great desideratum, NOT so POISONOUS TO HUMAN LIFE. I thank you for the kind attention you have given to my bumble endeavors to discuss this very important subject, and trust it may serve to induce others to " come to the front" for a general awak- ening in this matter, wliich is largely in the interest of that basis of all our national wealth and welfare, Agriculture ! Agriculture ! Agriculture ! 14 IFrom the New York Atlas, July 1st, 1879.] SOMETHING WORTH TRYING. At a recent meeting of the Farmers' Club, Dr. Heath introduced a gentleman whose remarks were listened to with great interest, and greeted with frequent rounds of applause. This gentleman was Mr. R. T. Creamer, of 956 Eighth avenue, New York, and his paper on "Rats, Mice and other Pests," was certainly an able production, and one containing many facs of value to farmers and housekeepers. It is unquestionable that the amount of property annually destroyed by the different kinds of pests, including crows, potato bugs, &c. , is represented by many millions of dollars, and any remedy for this wholesale destruction is well worth a trial. Mr. Creamer's remedy for rats, mice, crows, moles, &c., is his " Poisoned Wheat," a prep- aration which, if sprinkled where the vermin congregate, will either kill or frighten them away from the premises. With rats it has been found extremely efficacious, as their strong instinct for self-preserva- tion leads them to abandon any place where they have found it mixed with their daily food. Mr. Creamer certainly claims great things for his exterminator, and he expresses himself willing and anxious to substantiate every- thing he says. D. M. Stiger & Co., of 58 Barclay street, are his prin- cipal agents. — Ed. \From the Neio York Independent, June 26, 1879.] ARE MOLES USEFUL? Whatever may be said in favor of moles on general principles, we know by experience that they are a great nuisance, as well as dam- age, in either the lawn or garden. After being troubled and maddened with them for several years, we have lately found an ef- fectual means of destroying them by using poisoned wheat, which is put up by Prof Mitchell, and may be purchased at any drug store. The moles eat the wheat readily and it is sure death to them. The w^ay we have used the article has been to take a piece of stick about the size of one's little finger, made square on the end, and punch through the surface of the ground until the end of the stick reaches the hole through which the mole runs. Carefully withdrawing the stick, to prevent the dirt filling up the hole ai^ain, several kernels of the wheat are dropped into the hole. The operation is repeated in several places of the same track, and whenever new tracks are seen the dose is applied in the same manner. — Ed. 15 A FEW TESTIMONIALS AMONG THE MANY. Office of Chief of Police, ) New Orleans, La., Aug. 16, 1878. ) Messrs. R. T, Creamer & Co. : Oentlemen—\ used several packages of your MITCHELL'S POISONED WHEAT, not only at my residence, but also at some of our metropolitan precincts. We did not find any d%ad rats, but it seemingly proved a complete success in ridding us of rats, for we saw none for a long time after using it. Before that, they congre- gated in my back yard in scores, and I have seen dozens of them, even in the day time, from my back parlor windows. They caused us much damage, &c., so many thanks to you for their riddance. Very respectfully, &c., W. F. Loan, Chief of Police. Office of the New York Roofing Co., ) No. 437 East 23d St., New York, Jan. 6, 1879. ) Messrs. R. T. Creamer & Co. : Gentlemen— 1 am not able to make a very favorable report of the number of dead rats found on our premises after the use of MITCHELL'S POISONED WHEAT. This much I will say to you, that before we commenced using it we were literally overrun with rats at our various roofing depots, which caused us serious damage and annoyance, but we are now quite entirely cleared of them. I can only attribute their departure to the use of MITCH- ELL'S POISONED WHEAT, which, to my mind, possesses better properties for driving them away than it does for destroying them; perhaps it maizes them sick, or something of that sort, and so they seek out other quarters for their maraudings. If so, so much the better. Very truly, &c., John C. Moses, Vice-President. Office of Moore & Warren, ) No. 57 John St., [ New York, Jan. 17, 1879. ) Mr. R. T. Creamer. New York : We have used MITCHELL'S POISONED WHEAT, and find it does all you assert. We did not find any dead rats, but we are certain of one thing — they have left our preniisef^! Very respectfully, Moore & Warren. Clipper Srip Three Brothers, ) Pier No. 19 East River, V New York, April 30, 1879. ) Mr. R. T. Creamer : Send me three dozen more packages of Mitchell's Poisoned Wheat. It has accomplished wonders in ridding this ship of Rats, and I want to keep a stock on hand as part of our regular supplies in case the pests invade us again. It is the best thing 1 have ever tried. GtEorge Cummin g, Capt. 16 CHARGE OF THE RAT BRIGADE. Half a rod — half a rod — half a rod onward, Right through the holes they made Stole the six hundred. Too shrewd for trap or cat, Boldly they came and sat, Eating "The Wheat" Rat Ex — term — inator ! Now for fresh air they run, And as they writhe and burn Each afeks his mate in turn, Is this the E— qua — tor ? Then falling sick and flat. Men cry, apjjroving, "That Was Professor Mitchell's Rat Ex — term — inator " ! When will its triumphs wane ? Not while rats, mice, and moles remain, Not while it proves their bane Ex — term — ination. Sound, then, its j)raise so high. Nations abroad may cry. We, too, entreat to buy and try "Professor Mitchell's Wheat Ex — term — inator" ! 17 SECOisrr) pai^t. Cotton Worm, Potato Bug AND INSECT LIFE GENERALLY. A Paper on Destructive Yermin, Bugs, Worms and Insects, read by Dr. Robt. T. Creamer (late of Louisiana), before the Farmers' Club, American Institute, at Cooper Institute, New York, July 1st, 1879. Mr. President and Members of the Club : You, who were present at the last meeting of the Club, will at once recognize this paper as being a continuation of the same subject upon which I had the honor to speak at that time. The fear of mak- ing my paper too long then impelled me after speak- ing at some length upon Rats, Mece, Moles, Crows, ETC., to defer that part of the subject which related more especially to "Insect Life" until another time. I am here to-day to resume that part of the sub- ject, and have called it the second part. You will remember that the burden of my theme then was more especially upon the enormous loss caused to the agriculturist by the vermin of which I then spoke, and it will be the same in this as ap- plied to the 18 COTTON WOEM AIN^D POTATO BUG (OR BEETLE). It is a source of general congratulation that the attention of Naturalists and Entomologists is now being actively called, not only under the patronage of the National Grovernment, but also of several of our State Governments, to the continual enormous depredations of the destructive pesfcs just named, as applied to our agricultural products. {The United States Entomological Commission, of loMch Prof. C N. Riley, Entomologist of the Department of Agriculture at Washing- ton, is chief, are now, hy authority of law and under a large appropria- tion made by Congress, traveling through the Cotton States, with a view to esptcially investigate the Cotton Worm. They have already promulgated through Professor Riley, Chairman of the Commission, that the annual loss from that caterpillar alone is upwards of $20,000,000.) The investigation of this subject is a necessity of the case and must in the end be productive of bene- ficial results, especially under the direction of Pro- fessoi- Riley, who stands at the head of his profes- sion, but it is greatly to be regretted that the com- mission was not inaugurated some years ago, before the evil became so evidently largely on the in- crease. In this connection, I trust I may be pardoned for saying that I am of the opinion that many of our professional entomologists have signally failed in providing a remedy which would check the evil, and that they liave seemingly been too much occu- pied with elaborate scientific dissertations upon the subject, which, while it is very useful and instructive to the student of natural history and to the science of entomology, possesses but little of interest or profit to the practical agriculturist. I regret that want of time precludes my going into as lengthy a treatise of the subject of insect 19 LIFE as the importance of the case demands. There are fully 5,000, perhaps more, varieties of vermin, bugs, worms, insects and parasites, each of which, in their sphere, are more or less destructive to vege- tation, and it is evident at a glance that the subject is so vast that any strictly scientific discussion of it is impracticable at this time, and even if it were, it is not, I take it, what is most desired before the Farm- ers' Club. I shall, therefore, endeavor to confine myself to a plain, practical talk about those two greatest of all destructive pests to vegetable life, which have in some instances destroyed an entire crop and rendered not a few planters and farmers farmless, viz. : The Cotton Worm and Potato Bug (or Beetle), and shall afterwards briefly touch upon such destructive bugs and insects as are our greatest household annoyance. Professor Riley, in connection with the work which the U. S. Entomological Commission is now making on the subject of the Cotton Worm, has foreshadowed some of the results of their labors, by promulgating the announcement "that it has been discovered that the Cotton Worm Moth hibernates and lays its eggs much earlier than was heretofore supposed, and that this fact alone will be of great value to the cotton planter, as they can now be on the lookout for the worms at ieast six weeks earlier than before." This is surely a point gained, but it evidences that but little was practically known upon the subject heretofore. He has also added thai the average annual loss from that worm alone is $20,000,000. The loss through the Potato Bug will doubtless aggregate to quite as much, and even more, for not al6ne does that bug often entirely 20 blight the potato field, but is equally as destructive to such tender vines as Melois", Squash, Cucumbee, Etc., Etc. THE POTATO BUG. It is a remarkable fact that this bug, or beetle, which is its more rightful cognomen, is quite a new- comer among us, and is a Far Westeris^ product. It first became known as a destroyer, west of tlie Mississippi, only about twenty years ago, and for several years was only known to the States and Ter- ritories lying west of that river. In 1865 it crossed the Mississippi, did great barm in 1866 and '67, in Missouri and other States lying on the border of the river, and has since steadily pressed its way to the Atlantic States and is now feared and dreaded in al- most every State of our Union. How comparatively easy a few years back to have destroyed this race of beetles, but how difficult now. It is not too late to successfull}^ inaugurate and con- tinue the x)rocess of extermination and the preven- tion of serious damage by them, at least so far as our agricultural products are concerned. As I have said before, it is not my intention to treat of this bug, and also of the cotton worm, by the use of any scientific nomenclature ; in fact, I shall ignore it entirelv, for that to the practical agri- culturist is but little cared for; he has quite enough of that already, perhaps too much, so I will confine myself to a plain, unvarnished talk, which shall be intelligible, even to the uneducated farmer, if such there be, and abo^^e all, to the means to best in- sure THEIR FINAL EXTERMINATION. The Potato Bug hibernates, or goes into Winter quarters, beneath the surface of the ground, to various 21 depths, according to the latitude, in out of the wa.v places, under decaying vegetable matter, rubbish, rotten wood, &c., and issue from them as perfected beetles, during the first warm days of Spring. The females, which in comparison with the males, are almost wingless, deposit their eggs in large numbers, a thousand or so, upon the young potato plants, or on any tender vines, on the underside of the leaves. In about ten or twelve days these eggs become lar- vae or grubs, after which they enter the ground, first turn to pupa and then to beetle, which last state is assumed in about one month from the time of hatching. There are usually three broods in the course of the Summer, and they may be found in any of those months in different stages. The num- ber produced by each female averages nearly a thousand. The whole cycle of transformation re- quires only a month and the last batch of beetles is- sue from the ground in early Fall, and these are probably the progenitors of the species, and as we have just stated enter it again to pass the Winter. It is apparent from this, that if the first brood of Spring can be checked, they cannot multiply into such immense numbers. The early Spring is there- fore the best time to be on the watch for them to de- stroy them, Of the remedy to be used to destroy them, I shall speak at length after I have spoken of 4he cotton worm, for it is the same in both cases. THE COTTON WORM. Unlike the potato bug, the history of the Cotto:n' W OEM is ancient. We have accoun ts of it long before the war of the Revolution, and as early as the year 1793 it is reported to have destroyed the entire 22 crop of Georgia. Early in the present century its great injuries were officially reported by several State authorities to the Patent Office at Washington, long before the Bureau of Agriculture was estab- lished, and the multiplicity of such cases doubtless primarily led to the establishment of that Bureau. It has ever since continued to do more or less dam- age to almost every cotton crop planted. The Cotton Worm proceeds from its parent moth, the female of which deposits its eggs in large num- bers, from six to eight hundred, on the underside of the leaves of the plant, and are so small in size as to be difficult of detection. According to some au- thorities they hatch within three days. The worms at first feed upon the tender part of the plant, but in a few days more w ill devour any part. When the worms have completed their growth, which is in about four weeks, they fold over the edge of a leaf which they line with a silken fibre, and soon change to chrysalids ; after remaining in this state for from 14 to 20 days, according to the weather, the moth emerges, in which state they are harmless to vege- tation except through their egg producing capacity, and from thence out their existence is very short. The female probably dies as soon as the eggs are laid. As in the potato bug, it is the last brood that causes the damage in the following season, for it is the chrysalids of the late Fall that only remain in a torpid state during the Winter and emerge in early Spring. The Cotton Caterpillar feeds twice a day and only for about four weeks. They seldom commence be- fore 9 o'clock in the morning and then eat continu- ously until noon, when they retire back to their nests, often guided back thereto by an almost im- 23 perceptible strand of web, which they extend as far as they go. In the afternoon they again re- sume their ravages until sundown, when they again retire to their nests as before. My knowledge of this is practical, and not theoretical, or from books. I have in several instances, in the County of Yazoo in the State of Mississippi, and in the parishes of Rapides, Pointe-Coupee and others in the State of Louisiana, been fairly awakened at a late morning hour by the united munching of myriads of those horrible pests in a contiguous cotton field where all Avas serene and quiet only the day before, and I have been a helpless looker-on and seen in less than three days every thing green eaten up, and all hopes of any crop utterly blasted. But now for the remedy. Had those planters of whom I have Just spoken taken the proper precau- tion to have gone through their fields the Fall be- fore, and carefully picked and burned the numerous turned down leaves which they would have found containing the chrysalids, a very large share of ihe crop might have been saved ; but this being ne- glected, and no available remedies at hand, or in time to be procured, the work of devastation was fully estabhshed. First of all I recommend that treatment, but even then it is often requisite to bring into requisition some artificial remedies ; of these Paris green is more extensively used than any other, and there is no denying the fact that it is an efl:ective agent for their destruction. If it were not for its terribly poisonous properties to human life, I would not be here to-day in the advocacy of any other remedy, but I am constrained to the belief, from the numer- ous I>EATHS THAT HAVE OCCURRED FROM ITS USE, 24 FROM THE HUNDREDS OF CASES OF S1a.KNESS THAT IT HAS OCCASIONED, FROM THE MANY ULCEROUS AND MALIGNANT SORES THAT IT HAS CAUSED, THAT SOME OTHER REMEDY MUST SUPERSEDE IT. (ONLY ONE INSTANCE AMONG HUNDREDS. From the New York Times, July 13, 1879. POISONED IN A STRANGE WAY. A correspondent of the JSewburg Journal, writing from Highland Falls, says that Charles Smith, on the other side of the river, while shak- ing from a duster dry Paris Oreen on his potatoes a few days ago, in- haled some of the poison, and died on Wednesday last in great agony. He was aged 32, was the son of Samuel Synith, and leaves a large family. It is said the loind was Uoicing hard at the time, and this caused the poison to fly about so that Mr. Smith inhaled it.) In this interest, I have experimented for a series of years with a view to provide a remedy that was not so DEADLY POISONOUS. I have at last succeeded, with the assistance of other chemists, in perfecting a safe, sure and easily used destructive agent to all forms of insect life, one which is not so POISONOUS TO THE HUMAN FAMILY. PROFESSOR MITCHELL'S COLEOTHANATINE is a substitute for paris green in the extermina- tion of the COTTON v^oRM and potato bug, and will positively convince all who try it that all forms of household insects, such as cockroaches, croton BUGS, BED BUGS, MOTHS, ANTS, ETC, cau be quickly and easily exterminated by its use. It can be used either dry or made liquid by the addition of water, and in the opinion of all who have used it stands 25 u2<:equalled and unrivalled as the safest, surest, cheapest, easiest applied, and MOST EFFECTIVE INSECTICIDE ever placed on the market for general sale. All oilier caterpillars, those that infest grape vines and all other tender leaves and plants, lice on rose hushes, &c., cfec, can he at once extermi- nated with Coleothanatine. Time fails me to go into any description of cock- roaches, bed bugs, moths, ants, &c., &c., as I at first intended, (I have written it, but am obliged to i)as3 over it). I claim and assert that all those loathsome pests are almost instantly destroyed by Professor Mitchell's Coleothanatine. I cordially invite correspondence upon the sub- ject of VERMIN AND INSECT LIFE, addressed to me at my residence, No. 956 Eighth Avenue, New York, assuring all who write me that I will cheer- fully hold myself in readiness to impart a fair share of the practical knowledge I have gained, especially in regard to the Cotton Worm, during my thirteen years residence in the States of Louisiana and Mis- sissippi. Again thanking you, as before, for the kind atten- tion you have accorded me, I beg to assure the Far- mers' Club, and all other agriculturists, that I will do all I can to aid in assisting the golden char- iot of agriculture to ride triumphantly onward until the last impediment to perfected fruition is fully overthrown, and a reasonable assurance of a full crop shall inure, the elements excepted, to him who plants and labors to that end. Important Notice. FOREIGN INSECT POWDER. The fact that Cockroaches, Croton Bugs, Ants, etc, etc., still continue to infest almost every Kitchen and Pantry, not- withstanding the general and universal use of tW above-named article, is conclusive evidence that the Imported. Insect Powder is not as efficient an agent for their destruction and extermination as it is claimed to be, and that some more potent remedy is required. PROFESSOR MITCHELL'S COLEOTHANATINE WILL POSITIVELY SECURE TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD Entire Freedom from all forms of loathsome INSECT LIFE. Try it and be Convinced. It can be used dry with any ordinary "Insect Powder Gun," or made into solution in the proportion of a tablespoonf ul of Coleo- THANATiNE to ouc Quart of rain water or boiled water. Two Sizes : Price 50c. and $1.00 per Pkge. (large packages.) A package sent paid, or C. O. D., by addressing Dr. R. T. Creamer {Analytical Chemut and Entomologist), No. 956 Eighth Ave., New York, to whom all applications for sample packages must be made. Messrs. DAVID M. S TIGER & CO., Wholesale Druggists, No. 8 Barclay St., New York, Wholesale Agents. n ANEW DISCOVERY! Equal, if not superior, to PARIS GREEN as a Destroyer of the POTATO BUG AND COTTON WORM, And not so Poisonous to. Human Life. In alluding- to Paris Green Dr, Creamer says: "i'Vw;/ the numci-otis deaths that have occurred throitgh its use, from tJic /lundirds of cases of sickness it has occasioned, frojit tlic )/mny maligna nl aiui ulcerous sores it has caused, I am cojistrained to the belief that some other remedy must supercede it.'' Before Farmeis^ Club, at Cooper Institute, Ne^v York, July I, 1879. PROFESSOR MITCHELL'S COLEOTHANATINE, The Great Insecticide of the 1 9//^ Century I E^* Invaluable to the Agriculturist for the complete and thorough extermination of the POTATO BUG AND COTTON WORM, And all WORMS AND INSECTS destructive to VEGETABLE LIFE. 31^" Indispensable to Housekeepers, &c., for the destruction of COCKROACHES, CROTON BUGS, BEDBUGS,. MOTHS, ANTS, &c.,&c. SireMaECfitoallflmsoflKtLife. COLEOTHANATINE, although comparatively a new discovery, has rapidl}'- made its way to public favor, and in the opinion of all who have used it, stands UNEOUALED AND UNRIVALED as the SAFEST, SUREST, CHEAPEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE IN- SECTICIDE now before the public. Two Sizes. Price 5 or. and %\. 00 per Package {Large Pkgs) A Sample Package sent postpaid on receipt of the price, with lo cents added for postage. Sold by all Druggists and dealers in General Merchandise. JTW^ Full directions, &c. , accompany each box. Prepared under the superintendence of Dr. ROBT T. CREAMER, Analytical Chemist and Entomologist, No. 956 Eicirni Ave- nue, New York, to whom all applications for a Sample Pk'ge must be made. Messrs. DAVID M. STIGER & CO., Wholesale Druggists, No. 58 BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK, WHOLESALK AGENTS. Important to Every Family. HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD Contagio^cs Diseases and Epidemics, ASK YOUR DRUGGIST OR MERCHANT FOR PAMPHLET WITH OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT OF JAME:S MEYER., Jr.'s GIRONDIN. INODOROUS, COLORLESS. It is the most Effective, Powerful and Cheapest Disinfectant and Deodorizer. Destroys and Neutralizes the most Offensive Odors and Poisonous CTases, arising from any Source of Infection. ARRESTS AND PREVENTS CONTAGION. SIX YEJ^RS SJE^KREST TESTS. SOLD B V ALL DRUGGISTS AND FAMILY GROCERS In Quart Bottles. In Ten Gallon Kegs, Half Barrels and Barrels. Special Contracts with Governments, Municipalities and Corporations. PASSAIC CHEMICAL CO., NEW YORK, General Agents for the U. S. and Canada. 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