The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-07-19 00:00:00

. . ,
Frig Ne'm Ynrit Popiqs of the ails °lleac
THE CATERPILLAR. " •
This pest, which has so suddenly but* into ex-
istence, is the subjeh which now absorbs the general
attention. Our accounts from the head waters of
the southern branches of Potomac, from the bor-
ders of lames River, Culpepper and Orange coun-
ties, in Virginia, and in the State of South Ca-
rolina, are truly alarming, In this vicinity they
seem to' attack only particular spots of earth,
and to confine their ravages principally to wheat
and giass. In a very beautiful wheat field, near
this town, they have stripped the leaves entirely
from the wheat, eaten the three or four lower
grains from the ear, and seem apparently to have
absorbed the milky substance from those more ex-
posed to the heat of the sun. Several gentle-
men, in Alexandria, are preparing to
,watch the
transformation of this animal, whose natural history
merits, and will, no doubt, receive attention. An
idea, however, prevails, which we cannot but deem
unfortunate, viz. That the wheat ultimately will
prove not to be injured by them. We shall not
enter into the physiology of plants, nor inquire into
the truth (which, however, is believed) of the asser-
tion, that leaves are necessary to the nourishment
of plants, but content ourselves with observing, that
studs an idea is produaive of ihdplence ; and where
it is believed that these caterpillars ate innoiilms, no,
attempt will be made to get rid of them. ~ (oppressed
with an opinion that they are destmaive. the gditor.
of this paper procured some powdered Plaister of
Paris; on some of them he let fall small quantities l-
of it, others he surrounded with it, and he placed-,
some of it immediately in the path of others ; the.
result of these experiments gives room to hope, that
this valuable substance may be usefully ernployeic
if not altogether to destroy perm, at least to pre-.
serve our fields from their ravages, as it appeared:
almost immediately to kill stone on whom it wps
j placed, and occasioned others to eject a quantity a
fr-,reenish matter ; those that were surrounded,
seemed to search every passage to escape, without
passing over it, and those, whose path it was
placed. took a different direction. Upon the whc4ep
it evidently appeared as if all disliked it; bptp,
the small scale on which these expeiimentis were,
made, will justify no positive assertion ; and 4 ii
therefore hoped, that some of our intelligent a%
culturalists, will give their attention to the t
stated.—(diescaseris Fxpoeitor.)
A gentleman informed us this morning, that the
same destrutlive species of the caterpillar, as that
which has committed such ravages to the south-
ward, has made its appearance in countless num-
bers, on Elk-Ridge, in a field of wheat belonging to
him. He is of opinion, that if they attack the stalk
or head of the wheat, with the same sapidity they
have the blade, that out of 600 bushels, with which
he was tantalised with the prospea, he will not be
able to cut a single bushel. It has also made its ap-
pearance in other neighbouring fields, but the ex-
teat of the actual or probable mischief, is not yet
ascertained.—(Bo/e. Fed. Geo.)
We saw and discoursed with two gentlemen last
evening, from the eastern shore, who gave us the
most distressing account of the ravages committed
upon the ynang wheat, coin. 4' and every other
green thing," common white clover excepted. by a
species of the caterpillar, whose numbers are num-
berless, and whose depredations are incalculable.
The industrious farmer beholds thelabours of tbe sea-
son rendered, in many instances, abortive, by the
events of a single night.
These Mutts are represented as being so nume-
rous, that, in many places, it is impossible to walk
without crushing thousands of them to death. TWe
ground is litei ally covered with them. When and
where the calamity will terminate, uo man knows.
--(Bell. Ewe. Pest.)
/4011,01.1 C, May 31.
In addition to what we published a few slays ago,
of the dem/naive masts of the caterpillar, in Prin.
cessAnne county, we have the following s—By two
gentlemen whe left Richmond on Monday last, we
are informed, that the caterpillar is making great
usages about Richmond ; that its appearance is not
general through the country ; but, wherever it
come.. tire whole vegetable kingdom is destroyed,
and the face of the earth. at a distance, has the ap-
pearance of being destroyed by fire ; the insea is,
perhaps, the same which to some parts is called the
canker worm ; and a gentleman, near Petersburg,
assured our informant, that, within a short time, lie
bad lost a field of wheat, which was estimated to
produce four thousand bushels, had not the cater-
pillar totally destroyed it.
1:10111 a short tick into the country, two days
since, we were led to think that the caterpillar,
among the wheat. had completely disappeared.
Our mistake arose from visiting the field at an
imptaser time of the day. These is little doubt.
however. but Jame ravages will be much less
fatal titan was at first supposed, and for two
obvious lessors:

I si. Ibe suit is toe het fur them, during a gmt
part of the day, when they retire Into the Clain. or
under any kind of tnekft tot course, their ravages
are not doetrys going on.
:Idly. Because, in no long time, they ate all
likely to nudely, the changes iacident to their
race ; that is, tb., cal. r chairs lOW a cloyoriss,
and she ibryiet. late A Ip. Many or• these are al-
ready endergmng their bust transformation.
A opmdemaa. yesterday, shelved as several is tbe
•lrtsalrr state. By leepoug them in earth. he will
discover how lung it wid b • betere they turn to a
Ay, and what loud of a ly it is that lays the eggs of
the cares pater.
It re sad, that this caterpillar is the same with
the creme catetpillar, winch so much injured
Georgia and South Carolina, two or three years
pest--( Ream/rad Lorimer )

Acceding to the laws of England. a hesterd is the
inn of Naha. t bat the mother alsrays cootrives to
fasts so heewlede.
hew is mete of a crimple. eminent in the cir-
cles di beim for veiny yews pow. hawing recently
en4esuidoml thensselee. in an eipecial meaner by
their attemisis to *violent, A punster wickedly
sinstimes. so thrs strange wansformation.that is lol-
lwadors ep the dews of aysiewer in his fields. some
aJeniasar may be shade. rens of teal rate.