The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-17
SEA ISLAND CoTToN-THE WORM

we quoted from South Carolina papers, the
melancholy condition Of the Cotton Planters. and
the almost total destruction Of their crops by the
worm or caterpillar. so much SO, indeed. ,ba, i,
was thought that 20 lbs. would no, be gathered
from the acre. 1t appears tina, there have been
unbelievers Of this sad tale, but the folowing
letter from Edisto Island to the Charleston Mer-
curry dated Sept, 7. confirms with too much Ger
tainty the unfortunate fact. Take the accom-,
altogether, the plague is almost equal to one of
those that desolaied Egypt in the days Of Me
Z" have recently been informed, tina, the re-
presentations of the letter writers from this place
in relation to the probable product of the Cotton
CROP have, IN several quarters, been considered as
Inconsistent with the ruthfulness of the planters
character. Our neighbors, il would seem. an
parenty safe from the depredatons of the cater
pillar, or having suffered but slightly from their
Invasion, received the gloomy accounts from Eds
to not only with incredibly. but with feelings of
merrIment at the affrghtened condition of their
fellow aborers Do they still continue to be un
believers Is there no evidence that our melan
choly situation may soon be ihers2 Let me now
assure you. Sir. that however wild and ex,rava
CANT some of The statements were at one period
held to be, occcular proof is before u.s. that
the shortest crop ever produced on The Island. will
he that which we are engaged in harvesting.
am unwilling to risk an opinion as TO the quantity
per acre that may be realized, but feel no hesiia
tion In saying, that there never was as little
gathered as at this season, and never before was
the hope of the grower so early blasted. Our
heds are already in effect in their winters parb:
not ieaf or part of one, liz any where TO be seen
Had we been visited with boar frost. the result
In reference to Cotton could not have been more
disastrous than that which small worm has ac
complished. Having denuded the shrub of it's
foliage the enemy is now employed in devourng
the frult-al of which, save the petty portion
hardened by age, he will inevitably destroy. For
about ten days we have beheld the earth seeming
ly IN motion, seen every thing around and about
us covered with loathsome creeping things.
oreathed an atmosphere polluted with their bodies
awe and dead and unable to move on foot with
90. crushing many of the foe. to avert whose
ruinous blow at our interests the strongest efforts
perseverlngy made have been unavailing."
Following up the small caterpillar, which is
now desolatng Edsto Island, and which has
visited Johns Island, is the creature described
below in the Charleston Mercury of the 18th
instant:
:" We hadsyesterday upon our desk. duly bot
lied In spirits, specimen of the caterpillar kind,
mat " beats all nnter." If it were the only one,
II would be bad enough to have such vile beast
in the world-but it is a species. and counts lie
millions. This specimen was brought from a
plantation on Johns Island, where il has succeed
ed the common caterpillar and is finishing what
The latter has spared, of the Cotton crops. 1t ia
seuen inches long, and to the eye appears II in
ches circumference, in the largest part Its sting
Is highly poisontus,-in this respect. as well as in
us horrible ugness, resembling the tarantula-
we nave never set eyes upon a more racalIy look
ing beast. As far we know, it is new
nd 10 ,b,
this is absolutely its first appearance We hope
that the Naturaists of city will take it into
consideration and settle the point, which has now
become one of practical importance