Southern shield., 1852-10-02
C R 0 ? s !.

..s, says that the army worm has made its
 naarance on several plantations in Jasper "rPtd the adjoining counties, and has already aacted serious damage to the cotton crop. The Columbus, Ga., Sentinel of the 9th ...+ says the boil worm is still continuing ..'T .., ravages on the cotton crop. The late I ra;os have had no tendency to stop them
 n'hey T,e have now been engaged ih their work
 f,r four weeks, and will probably continue 'otl frost. The damage to the cotton crop is very great, but it is Impossible to estimate it accurately.
 The Eufaua, Ala, Spirit of the South, of the l4th inst, says the late freshet and hea- w rains have effected the cotton crop disas- trously and adds: "The accounts from the cotton crop in this county are unfavorable in the extreme. The boil worm has been stea- diIy working upon it for more than six weeks, and on many of the finest planta- lions of the country have swept away all but the earliest bols. We are assured by anumber of the most reliable planters, that they cannot possibly make more than half crop. The hammock and oak and hicko- " land, it appears, have fared much worse than the pine lands.
 The following we copy from the Mobile Advertiser of the 18th: "We hear much complaint of the ravages of the worm in our recent flying excursion to the country.- Planters speak very discouragng of their prospects for cotton, and many would glad ly compromise upon half crop Some whose prospects a month since were ex- ceedingly promising, think now they will make about an average crop. The damage seems 10 be severest on the cane brake and post-oak p plantations. The crop is at least two weeks behind last year, notWithstand ing which, picking is rapidly progressing; and the roads 10 the principal river landings are filled with teams laden with the staple"
 The Caddo (La) Gazette says that late heavy and frequent rains have very serious ly injured the river planters, causing the cotton to rot at an alarming rate.
 The Mansfield Advertiser ofthe l1th inst. says "We have information from respec- table source that the boil worn has com menced its ravages in some parts of De Soto parish, doing considerable damage to the cotton fields; but we believe, generally, no serious injury is apprehended."
 The Alexandria (Rapides) Democrat of the llth inst. says: "The weather, for the last few days, has been cool and bracing.- Cotton is opening beautifully. and our plan ters picking to a tune perfectly satisfacto- rv"
 The Jackson Mirror of the 10th says the army worms are feasting upon tEe top crop of cotton pretty much throughout the parish of West Feiciana.
 The Natchez Courier informs that hard ly an hour in the day passes without ac- counts from the planters in Adams and the adjoining counties of Mississippi as to the rot. One good picking has been obtained, but there the crop appears to have ended. A planter from Jefferson could hardly find one boil in hundred that was not ruined He estimates the injury on his plantation, and on the fields of his neighbors, at nearly if not quite, the expected crop. From all quarters the reports are that in fields, where ten or twelve days ago not sign of disease was manifest, hardly healthy boil can be found Plants from the Mexican gray seed have not escaped. Bols from all such plants, fair on the outside, except a small scorched spot, on examination, are found 10 be routed entirely through. A planter of long experience informs the Courier that in his bovhood the same disease prevailed almost universally, and was only got rid of by an entire change of seed. The Courier concludes it's article with this assurance: "Our New Orleans friends may depend upon these things as no cotton ''roorback." The crop yet may be no small one, because great deal was picked before the disease appeared but that it can reach in this re- gion anything like what was expected three weeks since, none antici pate"
 The Jackson Mississippian of the l7th ult., says it continues to hear of the ravages of the bcll-worm in all that part of Missis- SipD
 The Brandon Miss. Republican of the 18th ult hears the same complaint in Ran kin and the adjoining counties. In Rankin ifs estimated the injury to the crop will not be less than 30 per cent.
 The Pine Bluff Ark. Republican of the Huh ult., says the corn and cotton crops never were better in that county.
 The Mobile Herald has letters from Mon- roe county stating that the boil worm was at work there also, and extensively injuring the cotton crop. The writers are planters and one of them whose crop in August was remarkably promising, says he has lost one- half, if not one-third Of the bolls that were on his cotton then. There have not been fifty blooms a day to the acre since, and those which came were immediately de-