The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-14
The Cotton Caterpillar Effectual1y Flanked.

The Tallahassee Floridian contains the
details of some experiments recently made
in that vicinity with mixture of Paris green
and -four to destroy the cotton caterpillar,
one which proved entirely successful The
information is contained in q letter from
Messrs. Earle & Perkins, of that city, who,
one day lastaweek, visited the Lake plantation
of Mr.. Henry Winthrop, of Leon County, and
witnessed the application of the mixture to a
cut of five acres. The compound was one
pound of Paris green to twenty -four pounds of
-four and the result is stated as follows:
AT the time of the experiment, the entire
cut had caterpillar in all stages. The applica-
ton 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 q
live caterpillar was to be seen. We examined
the cut carefully; the toptleaves were crisped /;
the stock and remaining leaves looking as
fresh and vigorous as if the preparation had
not been applied. On portion of the leaves
we found quite number of dead worms, but
none living, although the bottom leaves showed
no signs of poison. Two feet from the stalk,
and where the poison had not been applied,
we found stalk containing about fifteen cat
erpiIlars green and black, busy eating the cot
ton so numerous were they that we counted
five worms on one leaf. We were told by the
manager that where the poison had been ap-.
piled a number of the worms had died, falling
to the ground, and we're eaten by the chickens,
vet the chickeps still live on. We examined
the cut where the poison had been applied and
could find 80 worms, which demonstrates to
our satisfaction that even if they do not eat
the poison, the preparation being distasteful,
the worms desert the plant and seek more
healthyquarters.
A preparation OF one pound of Paris. green
and twenty-four pounds Of -four was made and
busted in our presence over the cotton contain
ing the worms. In fifteen seconds one cater
pillar 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 sluggish condition,
a sample of which we brought to our Office
and in a short time this pest was dead as Hec-
tor. We have since been told by parties who
visited this cotton in the afternoon that no
sign of caterpillar could be seen, yet the ap-
plication had only been made that morning
We visited this cut the next afternoon in COM
pany with DR.. A. B. Hawkins, w. R. Wilson,
Geo. Lewis, Chas. c.. Pearce, Mr.. Winthrop,
Mr.. Page and colored man from Mr.. Pearce's
place and examined the cut, and after dill
gent search not worm could be found. Mr..
Pearce noticed live worms on q stalk that had
not received he.application and dead ones on
the next row where it had been applied. All
of the parties left fully convinced that it was
complete success. Wednesday the first appli-
cation was made, and on Friday night this cut
was visited with heavy rain, and still the
poison remained on the plant, the flour making
a paste which is difficult to wash off. Nh.
Pope, one of Mr.. F. r. Cotton's managers, who
has been experimenting, reports that after the
poison had been applied the worms in the next
twenty -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
effect the plant Mr. Rufus Tucker, practical
planter, also tried the poison, and says it is
complete success. He had worms in a cut,
made the application, and next day could find
no live worms, dead ones appearing on the
ground and stalk.