Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-08-14
Fighting the W0rm.'
Millettville, Aug. I, 1878.

The Tallahassee Floridian contains The
details of some experiments recently
made in that vicinity with mixture o.
Paris Green and -four to destroy the cot
ton caterpillar, and which proved entirely
successful. The compound was one lb
of Paris Green to twenty-four pounds oi
-four, and result is stated as follows:
At the time Of the experiment, the
entire cut had caterpillar in all stages.
The application was made on the centre
rows, by busting the poison over the TOP
of the plant with a common sitter. In
twenty.four hours not live caterpillar
was to be seen. We ex.minsd the cut
carefully: the top leaves were crisped
the stock and remaining leaves looking
as fresh and vigorous Is if the prcpara.
tion had not been applied. On a portion
of the caves we found quite nu Der Of
dead worms, hut none living, although
the bottom leaves showed nc nj gus OF
poisoning. Two feet from the stalk, and
where the poison had not been applied,
we found stalk containing about fifteen
catcrpillars, green and black, busy eating
| the cotton so numerous were they that
we counted five worms on one leaf. We
were told by the manager that where the
POI son had been adplicd a number Of the
worms had died, falling to the ground,
and were eaten by the chickens, yet the
chickens still live on. We examined the
cut where the poison had been applied
and could find no worms, which demon
strates to our satisfaction that even if
they do not eat the poison, the prepara-
ton being distateful, the worms deserts
the plant and seek more healthy quar-
tcrS.
A preparation of one pound of Paris
green and twenty-four pounds Of -four
was made and busted in our presence
over the cotton containing the worms.
In fifteen seconds one caterpillar leaped
from the stock and was eaten by the
chickens, others crawled to the main body
Of the plant, working their way to
the ground, while others remained in a
sluggish condition, sample Of which We
brought to Our Office and in a short time
this pest was dead as Hector. We have
since been told by parties who visited this
cotton in the afternoon that no sign OF
caterpillar could be seen, Yet the applica-
ton had only been made that morning.
We visited this cut the next afternoon in
company with DR.. A. B. Hawkins, w.
r. Wilson, Geo. Lewis, Chas. G. Pearce
Mr.. Winthrop, Mr.. Page and colored
man from Mr.. Pearces place, and exam
ined the cut, and after a dilligent search
not a worm could be found. Mr.. Pearce
noticed live wolms on stalk that had
not received the application and dead
ones on the next row where it had been
applied. All OF the parties left fully con-
vinced that it was complete success.
Wednesday the first application was
made, and on Friday night this cut was
visited with very heavy rain, and still
the poison remained on the plant, the
-four making a paste which is difficult to
wash off. Mr.. Pope, one of Mr.. +. r.
Cotten's managers, who has been expert
menting. reports that after the poison
had been applied the worms in the next
twcnty-four hours deserted this cut, and
none could be found. Mr.. Isler, his
other manager, visited this cotton, and
reports about as Mr.. Pope. He also
stated that this cotton had put on a new
growth, showing the poison did lot effect
the plant. Mr.. Rufus Tucker, pratical
planter, also tried the poison, and says
it is a complete success. He had worms
in a cut, made the application, aud next
day could find no live worms, dead ones
appearing on the ground and stalk.