The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-08-22
The Cut Worm.

The Cut Worm.
SANDY Run, LEXINGTON Co.,
August l3, 1879. !
Editor Qrange1urg Democrat
In your journal of the ySth instant
[ noticed a communication signed
Stilltoman, in which he lays before
the public an account Of the cut worm
as furnished by q young farmer of
Lexington County. Now, knowing
that the cut worm is looked upon rs u
great nuisance by farmers who have
been troubled with them, and believ.
ing that they will appreciate any in
formation concerning them, is why l
address you.
In the first place I must aclSnowl.
edge myself 10 be the young farmer
referred to, although Stiltoman OF
the editor made mistake in my
name, it being y. J. Rucker in.
stead of P. j. Recker.
have a field fenced in containing
thirty acres, part icing bottom OF
black soil, and the balance sandy
soil. This field last year was plant
ed as folloWsg iwo acres. in oats.and
Tour acres III wheat, the balance I'M
cotton. AS soon as the oats ard wheat
were gathered (Which H9s about the
middle of June) l went to work qpd
planted the land in corn, which ]
worked late, finishing it about first OF
September. The land mentioned as
being planted in oats and wheat was
composed of BOTH varieties of soil,
the oats being in the black Or bottom
land, and the wheat being on tae up.
per land or sandy soil. About the
lst of February of the present year
] broke the land which had been
planted in cotton by running from
three TO four furrows in each cotton
row. did not break the land which
had been planted in corn, as describ-
ed above, as it had been worked late
last fpll. ] did NOT break this land
on account Of the cnt worm, but as
intended to plant the field in cotton
l was satisfied that it would be q
good receptacle for trash and set
tling caused by the rain.
About the latter part of March
commenced tapping or throwing up
the land, running my rows through
the field, throYing up all the land
that which l had broken in January
end that which / had not. About
the middle of April l planted this
field in cotton with the following
result: A good stand of cotton. A
few days after getting stand I no.
ticed TINT the cotton planted on the
land which had been planted in late
corn and which ! had not broken up
in January was being destroyed.
! went to work to find out the cause,
and found that it was the cut worm
that was doing the damage. I took
four of my hands and tried to get
them out, and in one day I succeeded
in getting two quarts of cut worms.
Finding this did not pay I gave it
up, and afterwards, about the 15th of
May, planted it over. The cotton on
the land broken in january continu-
ed good stand with but very few cut
worms and these believe migrated
from the land that had not been bro.
ken. 1t is conclusive 20 my mind
that if farmers will only break their
lands in winter they need never fear
the Gu. worm. J do not believe that
wheat or oat stubble causes out worm,
and if not breaking the lands in win
ter is preventive. Z"
Being determined to find out how
cut worms germinated and also if
possible to find an antidote for them.
gathered twelve, placed them in a
box and kept them, losing somo oc.
casionally, until at present I have
two left; six were thrown away wher
hoy died, but four of !le dead ones