The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-07
THE C4TERPILL-4R.
The Means of its Preservation and Pre-
vention.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS. =
Again we have been invaded by the enemy.
The caterpillars have spoiled us, and are ABOUT
going into winter quarters. And yet, no one
that know of has attempted to discover their
habits, their origin, or how they are preserved
for another campaign.
II NAV be presumptuous for one so entirely
unacouainted as myself with the science of en-
tomology, to attempt to write on the subject;
but can honestly say that / do it in order 10
stimulate and elicit the views Of others, who
have greater opportunities to investigate and
arrive at the facts by personal observation.
This investigation should commence no,o.
| have never believed that the moth is
preserved in crysalis in the earth. l think
that nature provides what common sense dlc-
tates-a dry exposure. 1 do not credit the
theory that they are Of more Southern origin;
the fact that they appear first in more souther-
ly ATTITUDES, may be accounted for by the cir
cumstance that the seasons there are earlier.
With great Difference to those who have given
their opinions, I ask that my theory may be
considered; although no great novelty is claim
ed for it. 1t is, that the caterpillars are pre-
served here. OF the myriads in the different
stages through which they pass, those in chry-
sails only are preserved, when temperature
Nnot congenial to life suddenly oVertakes them.
Only fraction of the myriads is preserved.
Birds of various kinds, particularly the mock
ing-bird and thrush, do make havoc with them
in early spring, to feed their young; but
think that some other reason than that they
were destroyed by the negroes must be found
to account for their scarcity, whichis an admit
ted fact. Cuffee would hardly open his ammu-
milton on such small game.
believe that the caterpillars appear earlier
than they are usually observed, and assume
that about the 18th June zone may appear in o
field of fue hundred acres. There are 1000
stalks to the acre, rather thick planting; but
with wider planting, the growth of plants will
be in proportion. Having assumed that only
one moth appears in that area about the middle
of June, assume that it deposits on one or
more plants one thousand eggs, say in the
space of square inch; that on or about the
9Th July that thousand is multiplied a thou
sand fold more, or one million; that on or
about the 2Sth July another brood is produced
and multiplied as the first; and it will require
no great skill in arithmetic to discover how
many of the last brood should share one stalk
of that five hundred acres 1t may be said all
will not procreate, and for that reason have
allowed a very large dlminution Of what is
said to be the actual increase. / have been
told by an observing planter that all did not
90 into chrysalis. / was ready to believe that
those were the males, and that impregnation
was made before they went into chrysalis.
Another old practical experienced cotton
planter told me that he had observed that the
first brood were more apt to settle on the
centre than the edges of the field; and that
may account for their not being seen sooner.
1 am quite willing to believe that the re-
markable disappearance Of the birds is one
great cause of having the caterpillar, but am
not prepared to assent to the cause Of their
absence-that the negroes kill them. That
hundreds, perhaps thousands, Of mocking
birds are carried North / know to be fact,
and, as was some months since communicated
in your useful NEWS by an observer, the de-
struction to insects and worms was immense
by one having nest of young. That bird
I believe to be more destructive than any
other. But how are we to keep them at home
when Yankee greenbacks are the inducement?
am quite willing that they should have
share, if, parrot-nke, the birls could be taught,
and the teacher, to wariAe in their ears,
'srobbers, murderers, are ye all;' but such
truths would not be acceptable to the guilty
conscience.
If any should agree with me in the theory,
| it may be said, well, what is the remedy
have one, but hesitate to offer it until the
wiseacre to whom l communicated it lately,
and by whom was ridiculed, fails to suggest
better.
I'VE hope that our correspondent will ac-
quaint the public, through our columns, with
the remedy of which he speaks. We cannot
have too much information from thinking men
upon this important subject.-ED. NEws.]
Il