Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-12-10
IErox the Matches Courier.
The Rot In Cotfon-Its Cause. ~

ton, and his observations are, that account, emil
tied TO great respect Many theories have been
broached and speculatohs advanced the present
Fall upon this subject but few OF them, now
ever, have been based on anything more than mere
opinion or perhaps cursory look at cotton neid-
Such appears not TO be the case with the following
Mr.. Ford has obligingly favored US with drawings OF
five species of the " Bug varying IN form and col
OF. The drawings colored, and appear to be ex@
ceedingy natural We shall be glad TO show them to
any friends interested in the inquiry. @s"
SPRING COTTAGE, Miss. Oct 12, 1862
Mr.. G. M HILLYER: Sir-Havfpg noticed many
supposed causes assigned by your and other cores
pondents, OF the rot in cotton. and finding, upon a
strict examination to the cause. that all at fault.
will for information TO the planting community give
you description of the bugs that pierce the cotton
bols and produce the fomeniing rot. +ssz So
1t is varied species Of and very SIMILAR TO- IN all
leading particulars, the bug COMMONLY known as the
China Bug Hereunto appended, you have rougH
and hastily drawn sketch and painting of five species,
differing only in form and color All are alike armed
with proboscs in length in proportion TO the size OF
the insect. which they carry unemployed on the hreats
(as assassin does his dagger) When turned down
to the body, it is almost imperceptbe. When enga-
ged at their mischief, they throw The bill forward at
will, and at right angles with the body and commence
feeling round on bos, as though to find soft place
mosquito, then drive it down 10 the core of the
boil, and draw it partially up and suck for time
then drive II down again and suck draw it from the
boil and wipe it over, and move round the boil and
pierce it again. or fly TO another. They appear to be
very wild when approached, they shy over crablike
to the opposite side of the boil leaf-and 10 be
found at their work of destruction only late of
evening or early in the morning Through the day.
they secreied in the blooms under the covering of
the boil or forms. in clusters of leaves.
10 establish the fact beyond reasonable doubt,
have marked bolls that sound and healthy that
saw those bugs pierce, and examined them from day
TO day until oten. In fair, open weather, the little
rusty brown spot apparent in three to four days uron
the boil pierced; and in about the space of time
thereafter. the bolls marked rotten In rainy
cloudy weather. the first perceptible evidence is
white, moudy spot upon the boil.
BY observation, have discovered that the infection
impaired by those Bugs progresses much more slowly
IN fair, open weather. than in rainy and cloudy wealth
er. And | am OF opinion from late observations con-
nected with my recolections of the in cotton from
1918 to 1924, that, when the weather favors the opera
tIons OF those insects, the rot spreads epis
demlc. Having observed many other insects, than
those described heretofore sucking the fomenng hollis
and flying from boil 10 boil, by which apprehend the
contagon may spread epidemic, and as have
observed during rainy spells many diseased bos, up
on which could find evidence of their having
been pierced by the Bugs first described, conclude
others may carry the infection.
If any shall doubt that the Bugs described, cause
the most disastrous rot in cotton, let such but make
the examination as have done, and they will doubt
-
andote in e impofaon Of cfatnfEeA 81 BE sstd ct en-
seed, or change OF seed, gives more abundant yield,
doubtless. But it may well be doubted whether those
insects will pay any fespect TO seed, if they shall ap-
pear again next season. Ape.s
On examination of different crops or Yields, where
| could find no rot, could find no Bugs those de-
scribed-and where found the rot I found the Bugs
also. have noticed further that where cotton has
been planted several years in succession the rot
apparent have also marked some difference in the
result as between old and new lands.
Having discovered the origin of the rot fender in
formation 10 the public, with the hope that Providence
may remove the cause or that some one may discover
the remedy.
Very respectfully, your obi serv't.
EBEN'R FoRD.
a letter from gentleman of New England of great
intelligence, on the manufacture of paper from rice
straw, deserves attention. .--..
Paper mills es ablished in this state. bat
we have not heard that any OF them make use of
the rIce-sraw in the manufacture. The paper made
from the ricestraw is of excellent quality, and the
material is abundant with u.s. that the growing
states should have the monopoly of the business of pa
per making. The following is the extract:
And from the various experiments made, we are
forced to the cusion, that if paper manufactory
could be established in rice country, where the va
ue OF the straw is considered nothing and labor the
same as here, hare would be saving OF So0 on each
and every ton of stock consumed. There is usedhere
about 10000 tons of such stock every year. and the
paper manufactured in New England last year exceed.
ed one and half millions of dollars.
South Carolina and Georgia could produce ma
teral for paper 10 supply the world and there is no
reason why it cannot be manufactured there as we'll
and as cheaply anywhere else. These states re.
mind me OF ST. Paus's expression, " though poor, vet
making many rich as having nothing. and yet pos
sessng all things" a s
was fortunate enough 10 get the Geological Sur
vey OF South Carolina and Georgia, and DR.. Havs
from careful examinations express the opinion that
they are the richest states in the Union and have
no doubt they will prove when their resources are
deveoped."--[ Charleston Mercury.
bGS~It is too much the habit both with our neople
at home and abroad odepreciate the productveness
of our lands and the system of agriculture pursued
undeserved Mr.. Sofon Robinson, the itinerant
amateur farmer of New England, who visited in
person nearly every farm of any note from Maine to
Florida, informed US few years since that the
wheat plantations on James River excelled in cul-
ture and production any that he had seen in all his
Journeyings through the country, and that the inn
mense corn fields on the Roanoke and Lake Semi
Pernong IN North Carolina, surpassed any thing he
| had imagined in the cultivation of that STAPLE
AS an evidence of the fertility Of our soil and the
thrifty mana cement of its propretors at the recent
ialr IN Princes Anne county, Mr.. Thomas M BaleY-
tine, OF Norfolk county, was awarded premium for
crop of corn of 1000 barrels, the product Of the
labor OF five hands. This is an extraordinary Weld
which will net him probably $3,0oo--fye hundred
dollars to the hand. So T-s"--S' =
+ A prize was likewise awarded to David III. Walke
r for the greatest produce of corn to the acretho
quantity raised being Il bush, and several other
farmers came within bushel or two OF the mount
| ---- Norfolk Argust.
RECEIPTS AND COINAGE AT THE M1nf The month.