The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-02
1orHE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

Worm on Salt and Rusty Lnnds.
IOTHE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
The annual recurrence of the cotton worm il
by no means foregone conclusion.
All results depend on exciting causes, ano
this is manfestly so with the insect creation
In one season we are annoyed by swarms Q:
flies, gnats and mosquitoes, whilst in another
We arc almost exempt from them. In one our
orchards and gar lens are made almost value
less by the presence Of aphides and other in
sects. In another we enjoy an entire respite.
Sometimes these swarms OF insects are repeat
ed for several consecutive seasons, and then
suddenly they are gone, apparently without
cause, yet undoubtedly from some controlling
influence. 1t is thus with the caterpillar as
with all others. We may as well count on the
continuous recurrence OF extraordinary mala-
rial seasons as expect the constant recurrence
of the cotton worm. Now, it is known that
caterpillars of all kinds, at the North as well
as with as, were unusually prevalent during
the past season. In 1867, the cassina (iter
casstna) was stripped of its leaves entirely
early in the summer by its own peculiar cater
pillar. This had not been known to occur be-
fore in many years. observation Of tho plant,
which, on account Of its use as hedge plant,
was in position to be closely watched. Sea-
son after season the plant escaped, but in 1867
it was attacked and overcome by Its own pccu-
liar destroyer. And this summer the ranlle
plant was attacked and stripped OF leaves by u
worm peculiar to it, and OF very singular ap-
pearance.
About the period Of the Revolutionary war,
the wheat fields were infested by the Hessian
fly, and such were the rayages committed that
the raising Of wheat was almost despaircd 81,
h%lx4 a.,Qa E,,-
rope. So, too, occurred the disease OF the
grape, which so materially reduced the vim
fages of several years. SO, too, the well-known
potato rot, which had its housands ofvlctims,
recurring the expectation OF cargoes Of grain
frsm Amer1ca 10 Ireland.
The cotton worm is t.tie insect peculiar to the
cotton plant, ana will feed, as far as known, on
nothing else. It is easily distinguished from
other worms by the experienced eye. Thls
worm is subject to be developed or not, accord
ing 10 the character or the seasons and other
circumstances, as it's hal ing indicates. 1t is
itself, however, subject to be preyed on by
some other insects, as well as birds. My expe.
rience teaches me, however, that it is not
readily devoured by our wild birds, and IN this
think the most observant planters will agree
with me- When crushed in the fingers, or
even whilst eating in n field, it emits disa-
ereeable and nauseous odor. The insect which
is suppo ed to be the most destructive to the
cotton worm is the ichneumon fly. This ay Is
q very active insect, aud can be seen dartlng
about in search Of Its prey. 1t praetures tho
living worm without apparent injury, and de-
pesite iis own egg IN the worm. The worm, at
it's appointed time, goes into the chrysalls
state, from which chrysales Is hatohed the
cotton moth, which in time deposits its
eggs on or under the leaves OF the
plant. These minute eggs are hatched
into yery small worms, at first scarcely percep-
tible, the egg itself not being larger than the
ordinary period mark (.) OF penman. These
little insects, q thousand of which may be pro-
duced by one moth, rapidly grows, so that in
very few days they may be even heard eating
in the fields. Now, when the ichneumon fly
pierces a. worm that worm goes into the
chrysalis state, and instead Of hatching cot
ton moth an iohneumon fy is hatehed, the em-
tryo fly having fed upon and eaton up the
worm within it's cage. The presence of this fly
or its absence possibly has much to do with
the prevalence of the cotton worm. Unfortu-
nately tor us, very wet seasons, keeplng the
wings of our frieudl' fly clogged with mois-
ture, destroy much Of its activity, wbilst the
sams weather adds greatly to the growth of
the minute cotton worms, which live at first
almost like aphides on the moist and sue
eulent cotton leaf.
When the worm is produced from, exciting
causes, whether of moisture, warm and murky
weather, or some other hidden climatic condi-
ton, not known to us, we have simply tho be-
ginning of the evil but like young chickens
or birds just hatched, the surrounding circum-
stances musl be favorable to their develop
ment, or the most If not all OF them perish. II
the season is too hot and dry, or the plant too
mature, the ichneumon fly abounds; or il the
season is too cold the little insect perishes.
I am convinced that we have the worm or
chrysalis with US always, subject to be proda-
L \,
BILE chrysals turned rom the fresh plough fur
rough last spring; took 1t in my hand, examin-
ed it carefully. observed its peculiar motion,
and WAS entirely satisfied as tc as being the
chrysahs Of the genuine moth. Another gen.
tleman in my community observed an unmls-
taxable worm as carry as April or the first uf
May. He had stake driven at the place, and
at that very spot tue caterpil.-s first made
their appearance when they came .u numbers
/ have been credlbly informed by az Jther seu-
tlemen that the moth has been seen and one
taken about the 7th Of the present month. 1t
seemed very feeble aud, though carefully
handled and and kept, 1t soon perisled. There
gentleman who took the moth was perfectly
familiar Herewith and could not have been
mistaken. This being tue case, there IS
ground to hope that our unusually cold winter
will destroy, 10 great deg ee, the cotton In
sects.
Let me also state that the prevalence OF
these insects III one season seems to have No.,
thing to do with their prevalence in another
They made their appearance earlier in 1S4t
than ever before or since, and the crops wer.
utterly eaten, and weeks earlier than they were
in the season just past. But tue crop OF 1S4e
was much earlier i'll its growth than those O.
1867 or 1868, aud the season by NO means sc
wet. The crop was, therefore, .ar better than
the crops OF 1867 and 1868.
noticed last fail, before frost, tho .weathe,
being very warm at the time. myriads OF the
cotton worms, many of them full grown, perish
ing in the cotton alleys. We had ut the tlmt
an intermission Of the rainy weather, and The
surface OF the earth was dry and very hot.
took many of them in my hand and found then
entirely dead.
II may thus happen, from ono cause Oh
another, that when they come early aud strip
the plant of ITS foliage aud destroy the
supply OF food, as we'll as shelter. these worms
die out in great numbers, both from want Oh
food and on account of the scorching rays oi
the SUE. In 1916 the same thing occurred.
The worms then filled up the wheel ruts iu the