Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-21

nifcent appearance many miles distant
as you approach it from either up or
down the river Like u rough and rug.
ged mountain, however, distance lends
enchantment, for, upon going ashore,
the oceans Of dust one has to wade
through, often more than ankle deep, is
particularly unpleasant and annoying.
Nicholson pavements and street rail
roads are as yet unknown here.
Business is very dull, and has been
declining gradually for sometime past
and is now almost stagnant. The i'm
mense receipts of meat, corn and meal
brought by every southwark bound
steamer is rapidly falling off, and in a
few weeks more will entirely cease.
There are but few rugnlsr packets run
ming; but q single one in the Yazoo.
Several are engaged in the New Orleans
trade, 1t will be month or six weeks
before the new crop of cotton begins TO
come in. Business will then revive and
money commence circulating again.
1t is said that disaster often comes as
a blessing in disguise" and it seems to
be literally true with regard to this city.
Like Phoenix from its ashes it has risen
with wonderful rapidity in the few short
months that have passed since the heart
of the town was swept away. The build
ings already finished and in course of
erection are Substantial and generally
larger than those of the olden time
Economy has been exercised and, though
all complain of their stringent financial
condition, they somehow manage to put
up much better looking houses than they
had before.
Very few indications of the terrible
siege of 1923 are to be seen A stran'
ger would not recognize any, unless some
one familiar with the scene were to point
them out The lines OF earthworks in
the rear Of the city are rapidly going to
decay. In few years more they will be
forgotten.
The news from all directions regarding
the cotton crop is decidedly unfavorablc,
The destructive army worm is at work,
ravaging almost every plantation From
along the river above discouraging ac-
counts reach us. In the vicinity of Lake
Providence, Pennsylvania, Ingomar, and
other points within hundred miles, the
second generation has appeared in in
creased numbers, and are busily engaged
in stripping almost every leaf from the
cotton plant. They first come in the
form of 1y In seven days the wings
drop OF and the worm is formed Up to
this period they do not feed, but now
begins their ravages. For seven days
more they pass with wonderful rapidly
over immense fields, stripping everything
in the shape of green leaf On the
fourteenth day they have attained their
fullest size, about that of q common
pencil, and some two inches loug. They
then form cocoons for a new and in
creased generation, after which their race
is run and they die. In few days their
cocoons hatch, and a new crop comes on
to finish the work Of destruction. 1t takes
but three generations to clean and de-
stroy everything, and ruin planters
prospects for the year. They are known
to cross roads, fences and bitches in
myriads, going from one field to another.
Various experiments have been and are
being tried to kill and destroy this arch
enemy to the cotton plant, At this time
carbonic acid is the antdote. The modas
operGndi is TO sprinkle itover the cotton
wherever the worm appears, with the
ordinary tin watering pots. Orders are
received here daily for supplies OF acid,
etc. Two barrels of acid, with fifteen or
twenty sprinklers, are generally sent to
ell each requsitioH. The results are yet
unknown.
Hot weather and scorchiug sun is
the planters best friend, and will do
more good than any artificial applica'
tion. They cannot endure the heat Of
old Soils bright rays, and at midday they
hunt the shade under the leaves and
elods They feed in the night, at early
morning and during the day in wet or
cloudy weather. They have so far done
little harm along the Yazoo. South Of
here they have been particularly destruc-
tive. As far north as Bolivar county, in
this State, aud Gaines Landing, in Ar
kansas, their advent is known. Cotton
is opening hereabouts quite fast and the
picking season viii commence about the
first Of next month.
The health Of the people along the
rivers and in the lowlands is unfavorable.
Chills and swamp fevers are prevalent
among whites, and cholera carries of
the darkies very suddenly. The altered
condition Of our people has obliged
many Of them to remain at home. that, in
former times passed their summers