The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-08-03
For the Creole.
A 8..


On The Hawk-nnoth, or Cotton Ely, in connection
witht The cultivation of The crop, as a preuentiOe
for Me. boU-catep'Aa,.
AS several of my friends in this (Madison)
county have expressed a wish to See a disserta-
ton on the cotton fly. and as it may be accep-
table to other readers of the Creole, (for l need
hardly add, on this question of cui bono? we are.
all more or less concerned / shall attempt to
furnish briefly, the most important information
which ! possess respecting these interesting
subjects. And for the contribution | now offer
| ask the favor OF a place in The Creole.
The disastrous ravages Of this insect, for a
series Of years, throughout the entire cotton
region Of the Southwest, and the false notions
entertained, and circulated over the country, Of
the habits of this fly, giving currency to the
most futile remedies-remedies that have origi-
mated in error, from an entire ignorance Of the
habits of this insect, land for several years
published, and yet publishing, to the planting
community in the Southern Culiuator. and also
many others to the same efect,) I am led to
offer n few remarks upon this, the most impor-
tant question that is, or perhaps ever has been,
before the agricultural community Of the cot
ton Regional preventive for the ravages of the
boil caterpillar.
Amids! these conflicting opinions, it will be
impossible for me to pursue the even tenor Of
myeway,' and If 1 turn either to the right or the
left, my only object will be to detect error, to
ascertain facts, and plain truths deduced from
them, through the knowledge of which these
false notions may gradually appear, and soon
be removed from among us.
This insect belongs to the order, Lepidop-
tero, and to the genus (%sphinx) hawkmoth ;
and in common with all the Tepidoptera order,
passes through four stages Of existencce: i, the
ova, or egg; 2, the larva, caterpillar, or feeding
state; 3, pupa, or dormant state. All modern
writer's on natural history use the terms, chryss
ais, nymph, senhi.nympb, and cased nymph,
as pointing out the particular sort of pdpa
meant; as in Botany, the common term peni-
carp to all seed vessels, the several kinds being
designated by the names Of capsule, %silicle;
&C., &C.,, image, asst lie now a true repre-
sentative or image Of its species.
Before I proceed, perhaps it would be we'll
for me to notice late writer in the Southern
CuliUatOr, who remarks, elbow or in what
manner the worm comes, or is produced, is all
conjecture" Is it not strange that the wiiter
should have SO far diverged from the beaten
track Of common observation2 Strange as it
may appear however, many others have done
50 before him. Some of them have gone still
farther, and contehded that the worm is ethel
generated in the growing cotton plant, or BY
some peculiar state Of the atmosphere. Ever
philosophers, allnred by a love Of the marvel
lous, have not only rejected the Mosaic accounI
Of this earth and all things Upon il, but the,
have actually supposed that motion was, SO ir
regular at one time in Asia, as to form out Of
two vegetables man and woman. They grew
up with their faces towards each other, like
two plants, and when they were fully developed
some favorable zephyrs waited them into each
others arms. OF course they mutually EN-
braced, aud love began his blissful reign. 81
transit gloria philosophical. These writers re
mind me very much Of an anecdote | heard {
few evenings since, and as it falls in SO exactl,
with the subject | am discussing, | cannot re
slst the temptation 10 give it here. Mr.. M. wa
4 from Germany, very fond Of talking, and ha,
10 use his own language. : Seen as much Of d
world as most MEMS" When asked, " did yo,
ever see the man who butted the bull off tn
I bridget" he replied, "No, ! never didted Sc
dat man what butted the bull off de bridge
nor don't believe dat man ever did live VIVA
did butt de bull off de brldle; but | have see
! dat bridge what the devil butted tDo holes through
9 'oid mine O'On eyes," Comment is unneCessar,
Nothing 50 fantastic as the yapaties Of imauin