nearly set aside as futile. As, for instance: I had noticed that a stray hill of Shaker Russets that happened in the patch, had entirely escaped the ravages of these insects, and had thence concluded this was on account of the peculiar variety. In a day or two after this, that identical hill would be well covered by them, and the immediate adjoining hills entirely free. Then, again, on noticing that the insects were more abundant on some thrifty vines in a particular portion of the yard, the conclusion has been reached that this was on account of the greater luxuriance of the vines; the very next day, perhaps, has exhibited them by the dozen, upon some poor, half dried-up hills of the most uninviting appearance imaginable; and so on, in a great variety of instances. Verily, these potatoe-beetles are queer "bugs!"

July 20. Still clear and very dry. On lot 112, 112 beetles were destroyed, and on the acre lot, 225! These were the accumulations of two days. But one was seen on the wing. Several hills were found with a few slugs upon them-the first seen for some time. These insects are evidently getting the start of me, notwithstanding all my diligence in destroying them.

July 21. Destroyed 55 on lot 112, and 312 on the acre lot. Saw five on the wing. The beetles taken to-day were largely in pairs. Several hills were found infested by the small slugs. The beetles have fairly got the advantage of me. Their eggs are scattered all over the yard.

July 22. Still hot and dry; vegetation suffers severely. Caught 35 beetles on lot 112, and 213 on the acre lot; saw two on the wing.

July 23. Cloudy; wind south and very warm. Caught 25 beetles on lot 112, and 205 on the acre lot. The slugs are rapidly on the increase. The beetles are still largely in pairs. I tried strong brine, in my pan yesterday. It was not so deadly as the kerosene and water. In the afternoon of to-day, I hoed among the vines on the acre lot to ascertain whether there

were any beetles emerging from the ground, as it is quite a mystery where they all come from, as they appear from day to day. I found none emerging from the ground, but saw as many as twenty on the wing, coming in from other yards, and as many more flying from one part of the yard to some other part. During the time I continued my work this afternoon, I destroyed 136 beetles. My usual time of going through my yards for the destruction of these insects, is from 9 to 11 in the forenoon; and although I go through the vines row by row, and carefully examine every hill as I pass, it is certain that I miss many of the insects concealed under the leaves, or down among the vines. It is also certain that large numbers come into the yard daily from abroad, so that I have the whole neighborhood to contend against. Many yards within the village are already badly eaten over, and some, of early varieties, have been harvested. This makes emigration necessary, to obtain fresh food. They fly most between 10 A. M., and 5 P. M. A warm sunny day suits them best, with wind steady or still. In going over some neighboring yards, I find that beetles have commenced upon the vines of late planted potatoes.

July 27. I gathered 50 beetles on lot 112, and 210 on the acre lot. Two-thirds of these were in pairs. The slugs are still increasing.

July 28. Caught 40 on lot 112, and 100 on the acre lot. Slugs not so numerous as yesterday, which, being on Monday, comprised the growth and accumulations of two days. The growth of the slug, after leaving the egg, is astonishing. It attains to one-fourth its entire size in forty-eight hours. So that if you destroy every living specimen to-day, by day after to-morrow your vines will be literally covered with them.

July 29. A warm rain during the forenoon. In the afternoon the sun came out fine and warm. Gathered 126 beetles on lot 112 and 192 on the acre lot; largely in pairs. Saw many on the wing.

July 30. Warm and hazy. Caught 113 on lot 112, and 162 on the acre lot.

July 31. Warm and cloudy. Caught 80 beetles on lot 112 and 251 on the acre lot. The slugs still increasing in numbers. Mr. Phillips informed me to-day, that in Berrien township eight miles west of Dowagiac, the American Cantharis beetle is infesting his vines very much. Several other farmers have reported them as in their yards. I also hear from different parts of Berrien county that the striped, or "new potatoe bug," has been observed. They are also scattered in various directions through the western and northern townships of Cass county, and a few fields are badly injured. I found one of the Cantharis on my vines to-day, and having my curiosity somewhat excited, I commenced a more critical examination. I had been informed that the Cantharis would devour the Colorado beetle whenever they came in contact. During my search this morning, I found several of the Cantharis, hid among the leaves under the lower part of the vine, and on the ground, the wingcovers of two of the striped beetles. It may be that bug will eat bug, after all. Still I do not regard this as positive evidence, by any means.

Aug. 1. It rained hard during the night and the greater part of the forenoon. This may save the crop, if I can keep the "bugs" off. I caught 110 on lot 112, and 227 on the acre lot. More than two-thirds of these were found in pairs. Many slugs also were destroyed.

August 3. Destroyed 79 on lot 112, and 263 on the acre lot, with still an increased number of slugs.

August 4. Caught 45 beetles on lot 112, and 163 on the acre lot, mostly in pairs, and four times that number of slugs. I commenced to-day to test the question as to any preference these beetles may have, for one variety of potatoes over another. I went through the field where the Neshannocks and Peach-blow varieties adjoin, taking two rows of each variety. I found 12 beetles on the Neshannocks and 2 on the Peachblows.

August 5. Caught 43 beetles on lot 112, and 84 on the acre lot. On the trial rows, 4 were destroyed on the Neshannocks and none on the Peach-blows. There appears to be quite a decrease of beetles for the last two days, but a steady increase of slugs.

August 6. Cool nights and mornings. Caught 24 beetles on lot 112, and 80 on the acre lot. The experiment rows show, 6 on the Neshannocks and 3 on the Peach-blows. The decrease in the number of beetles may be owing to the coolness of the weather, and the uneveness of the winds, which prevent them from flying in from other yards.

August 8. Caught 37 on lot 112, and 77 on the acre lot, and over 1000 slugs. On the trial rows, seven were caught on the Neshannock and three on the others. The slugs on these rows are in about the same proportion.

August 11. Caught 31 beetles on lot 112, and 71 on the acre lot. On the test rows, three on the Neshannocks and one on the others.

August 12. Only 53 beetles were caught on the acre lot. The cool weather hinders them from immigrating from the neighboring yards.

August 15. Caught 16 beetles on lot 112, and 42 on the acre lot. The slugs still increasing.

August 18. Caught 107 beetles on lot 112, and 142 on the acre lot, and about a quart of slugs. On the test rows 19 beetles were caught on the Neshannocks, and four on the Peachblows. Slugs in the same proportion. These tests seem to establish a preference of the beetle for the Neshannock variety. Indeed, on that part of the acre lot (about one-sixth part), I gather more beetles and slugs day by day, than on all the rest of the lot.

August 19. Caught 66 beetles on lot 112, and 113 on the acre lot, and a quart of slugs.

August 21. Caught 102 beetles on lot 112, and 116 on the acre lot; and three pints of slugs. Spent 8 hours in going over the yards.

August 24. My man reports 500 full-grown beetles destroyed on both lots, and over two quarts of slugs. He spent all day at them, and charged $1.50 at night. In a walk yesterday, I discovered along the side of the railroad track, near the depot, a plant that was new to me, of the night-shade family, known in Virginia and Carolina as horse nettle (Solanum Carolinensis). This was well covered with the Colorado beetle and its slugs. So far as I have been able to discover, this is the only plant beside the potato, upon which the Colorado or New Potato bugs will voluntarily feed. In their wanderings in search of food, after having entirely devoured a potato-patch, there will, sometimes here and there one, be found upon the tomato or henbane, or upon the ground-cherry, but not to remain there as of voluntary choice.

Mr. Wilson, a neighbor of mine, who has been emulating my example in his endeavors to save his crop of potatoes from the devastation of the Colorado potato-beetle, gave up to-day whipt. He says it's of no use fighting potato bugs; that they increase faster than he can kill them; that on Friday he caught 250 beetles and as many slugs on his small patch; on Saturday 500, and this morning (Monday) they had multiplied into thousands, and he told them to "go it," and he would let them; that they couldn't do much hurt anyhow.

August 29. We caught 300 beetles on both lots, and a peck of slugs.

September 9. It has been rainy and cold, more or less, during the week past. The slugs have not increased much. The beetles begin to preponderate again. I perceive that these beetles prefer vines of not the most luxuriant growth. I perceived several beetles on the ground-cherry (Physalis viscosa) to-day. They take to it from necessity, not from choice. The weather has not been favorable for flight. They have been compelled to crawl from place to place in search of fresh food. Hundreds of them may be seen daily, on the sidewalks, in the public highways, and upon the fences, wandering in all directions, in search of food.