Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-09-04
MISCELLANEOUS.

THE COTTON CROP.-We have from The
West (says the Charleston News,) the most dis
courasins accounts OF the Cotton Crop. Inc
weather in some places unreasonable, has retard-
ed the growth, or injured The condition oil the
Mani. and in others what the seasons had spared,
had iallen a victim 10 the caterpillar OF army
worm.
The Tallahassee Sentinel OF the 18th August,
SAYS that the caterpillar is beginning 10 be mis-
chieyous.
The Montgomery, Alabama, Journal complains
OF deluge OF rain, and apprchends that so much
we, weather will greatly inIure the Cotton through
the prairie region OF Alabama.
The n O.. Picayune quotes from its Rodney
correspondent, under date oi The 18th Aug, as fol-
lows
''Oar planters, whose prospects have been very
brish: for making splendid crops OF Cotton, have
had them blasted within The last few days; many
will not make much more than half crop. The
army worm has made lis appearance on many
plantations, and destroys as it goes. The bore
worm, or boil worm, has made great havoc
MANY planters say that il these worms are gene
rally through the country, not more than hall
crop will be made. have just heard from The
plantations on the Louisiana side, and am inform
ed the army worm has commenced there, and has
nearly destroyed one CROP SO, from these causes
will not be as large as il was last year-al least,
from this section Of the United States"
The Red River Republican says, During the
last few days the caterpillars have commenced
operations, and in a few days more there will
not be leaf of Cotton in the parish"
The Baton Rouge Gazette says, that the sea-
SON has been very untavorabe 10 The cotton
planter, the crops presenting gloomy appear
ance, while whole fields are totally destroyed BY
the caterpillar.
The Bayou Sara Ledger states that several
planters have declared that, judging from pre-
sent appearances, il will be impossible 10 make
halt crop.
The Marion (Ala.) Review says-"The weed
of the cotton looks fine, but he worm, we IN
derstand, is making So. havoc with il on the
black land. II their rayassS continue the crop
must be seriously injured"
The officers of the steamer Paul Jones brought
the intelligence 10 NalcheZ that at all the plan
,ations a, which they had stopped on their trip
up, from miles below Nachez 10 25 miles above
Vicksburg, distance OF l40 miles, the presence
of the caterpillar was reported 10 them.
From these, and other similar items, we have
every reason 10 apprehend material falling OH
in the cotton crop of The present year.
The Savannah Republican says:
awe were yesterday shown stock oil cotton,
taken from the plantation Of Mr.. Gibbons, some
seven miles ABOVE the CITY, On lnC Sa
river. Il was taken from the field on Monday
last, Just one week after The first appearance Of
The caterpillar on that plantation More Than
half the leaves upon the stock were perforated
and many OF them entirely destroyed. Our in
formant stated that when il was taken from the
field, there were from one 10 three oil the worms
upon each leaf He says that The caterpillars
feed upon the cotton few days, assume crysa
lis form, from which they pass into butterflies ant
deposite millions OF eggs, which in short time
produce nearly as many more worms. On lht
above plantation the second hatch has alread,
been produced, and The third will soon follow
and complete the work of destruction by devour
ing all the young bols while in The milky or i'm
mature state. The stock exhibited 10 us wa
pronounced but fair sample OF the whole crop
which is regarded as utterly lost. Nor is tn
crop Of Mr.. Gibbons an exception 10 the genera
rule. The backwardness ofthe Sea Island crop
generally, and the early appearance ofthe worm
render certain the almost entire destruction OF TN
crop.
1--WE learn also of the appearance OF The cater
pillar among The Upland crops in Lee county
Georgia, also at Vicksburg. Na,chez, on tn
Red River, and in almost every section OF Missls
sippi, Louisiana and Western Alabama. FoHu
naely, The middle and upper sections OF Georgia
and Eastern Alabama, are, as lar as we cal
learn, comparatively exempt from the scourge
and the prospect IS pretty fair"