Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-08-20
The Bill Bug or Corn Borer is about five

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or nearly so each way. At the commence
ment of the head there runs out long
trunk or crucked bill, something larger at
the end of the bill than little way from their
end. 1t is of dark or yellowish color
more yellowish than dark. The bug cannot
fly, but when interrupted closes up its legs
and tumblcs to the ground and there lies ap
parently dead for some time; and when it
finds, that it has not been harmed, it rises
and moves off as though nothing had taken
place.
When the young plant (Corn) comes up
they attact it about three-eights OF an incf
above the grain, or just about where the
first brace roots come out. They force
their bill into the tender bud Of the young
corn and then continue to sap it until it is
dead. differ with Hon. Senator EVANS III
regard to the purpose of the insect making
the incision or boring the young plant. Ihe
Senator says it is for the purpose of deposit
ing the egg. But from my observations
during this summer the insect bores into
the young plant for the express purpose o'
food. Corn is about the first vegetation
that comes up in the spring, consequently
it is the only plant large enough that the
bug can feed upon, and being Of very juicy
nature affords very fine substance for the
Bill Bug to pierce his long bill into lie
sucks the very essence of life until the plant
must dwindlc and die. They continue their
ravages until about the first week i'll June
at which time they are all out of the ground,
and have concentrated their forces on the
rag weed for the balance Of the Summer.
observe whilst they are dcpositing their
e1ss i'll the tender stalk Of the rag weed,
you may find them frequently through the
day feeding on the leaves. which think is
sufficient lood ior them after they leave tile
corr.
| am Of all opinion that even the rag
weed, when they first come up in the spring,
arc not free from their ravagos; but the
root being OF very hard wood-like nature
they Cannot penetrate it sufficiently to dis
troy it.
Tile eggs hatch cat very shall white
worm. grub with blackish or yellowi*h
head, and it continues to ftel on the rithy
portion of the weed until it Gets the requat
size for transformation, it is covered over
with q yellow transparent coat; and in that
covering is formed the full developed corn
Bug. When fully maturej, it cuts through
this transparent covering, workes q hole
through the hard stem Of the weed and is
then ready to generate its spires for the
remainder of the season. have counted
from one to three hundred eggs and grubs in
a single rag weed stalk; and then to think
of the number of rag weeds that grow an
nually in our stuble fields, to say nothing
of the quantity that generally grows in our
cornfeld, cotton field, hedge rows, fence
corners and around trees and stumps, in
fact almost every where that the land is not
we'll cultivated
My plan for destroying the Bug, is to first
distroy the weed. We would not only
save great labor in replanting and great
deal of vexation at the uneariness of the
corn, but the stuble fields pasture would be
so much better than it is. Unless you plant
your lands in cotton for two or three years
before you seed it, you cannot expect any
thing from your pastures after the grain is
eaten by the stock. As soon as the grain
is taken off the rag weeds springs up, and
takes the place of every thing else. If the
planting interest (aad it is to them that
appeal) would take a deep interest in this
matter, and array itself in regular phalanx
against the enemy, before two years will
roll around the destroying hordes will be
driven into despair and wholly destroyed.
AS have remarked before my plan for
destroying the Bug is to destroy their place
of generating. I would advise all farmers,
as it is leisure season of the year, to fur.
nish themselves with plenty Of large tur.
ming plows, say for instance, a good Iron
plow would be famous for the like, and go
into their stuble fields and turn the rag
weeds upside down, and by so doing you
will prevent them from coming or making
seed for another crop. At the same time
let the hoe hands, trim round the hedge
rows fence corners, branches, bitches, and
every other place where they can find a
single weed standing; and in this way you
may eflectually, in the course of few
years, net only destroy this troublesome
weed, but will end in the destruction of the
corn borer.
Mr.. EDITOR, | have spun this communi-
cation out longer than expected when
commenced, but my dcep-felt interest in
the matter must be my excuse for its length.
| hope that l may enlist some Of your rea'
ders to take hold of this subject that are
better calculated to do more justice to it,
as it is matter Of vital interest to the
c, ,r,, incr nonnrn11nitn