Huntsville gazette., 1882-09-23
SOUTHERN GLEANINGS.


OF August in Virginia. North Carolina. Ten.
nessee, Arkansas and Texas, and some de.
terioration in South Carolina, Georgia and
states OF the Gulf coast to Louisiana, inclu-
sNe. General average of August, 81; Sep
temDer, ~, same as September of $780, and
is-hsher than any other season for ten years
Last year the average dropped from So in
August to 70 in September. The States
average: Virginia, 80; North Carolina, IS;
South Carolina, 95; Georgia, 80; Florida, SO;
Alabama. 80; Mississippi, SS; Louisiana, 80;
Texas, 1O1; Arkansas, 100; Tennessee, SO.
These figures, indicate, as they stand, a
large crop, but from every quarter comes
lntlmation OF too much rain for heavy fruit
ing; too much "weed,' some shedding OF
bolls, tendency to rust and later devel-
opment Of bolls than usual. Under these
conditions an early frost would be especially
injurious. The caterpillar has made its ap-
pearance in many counties of the Gulf-coa
States. In some places the second genera
tion is ''webbing up,' while the damage is
unappreciable as yet. In most cases fears
are expressed that the third brood may do
great injury. Boll-worm is reported at many
points In Denton County, Tex. The de-
struction is estimated at 100000.
The board of district officers at Mem
phis, Tenn, divided the contingent fund Of
1850, 900 between the different sections on
which the Mississippi River Commission
proposes to build levees by giving $40, 900
additional to that section to be repaired
which lies on the east bank Of the river, be-
tween Memphis and Vicksburg, making a
lt an
on the west bank, between the Arkansas
River and Red River, was allotted $3.50, 900
additional, which, with the original appro
priation Of 5000, 900, makes a total Of $780, 900
to be expended In that section. The re-
naming S60, 900 was allotted to the section
Of country below the mouth of the Red Riv-
eT, which With the previous appropriation
of 100000 aggregates $120,000. This con-
sumes the entire amount Of the appropria-
| tion-S1 300, 900.
Living near Atlanta, Ga, is colored
man named Harry Luckey, aged 80 years,
| who probably has more descendants than
| any living man. He is hale, hearty, indus
trious, and well-to-do, and the other day
took unto himself third wife, Susan Phil
lips, aged 81. He already has fifty children,
and several have died. The other day he
Isnained over more than three hundred of his
grandchildren, and said there were others
whom he could not then remember. One Of
his sons has thirty living children. Several
Of his sons count more than a dozen chill
dren each. The old man is proud Of his
record, and talks freely about ii whenever
questioned. He says he doesn't think his
work is finished yet, and has no idea OF sus-
pending business soon.
Henry Skipwith appeared before a
police jury in Baton Rouge, La, the other
day, and made the following statement:
"On the ceding of Louisiana by France to
the United States the grant did not include
the Florida parishes, said parishes at THAT
time being Spanish territory, and were taken
possession of by Gen. Philomen Thomas,
and that the United States Illegally disposed
of these lands" Skipwith contends that
the people Of the parishes are legal owners
by right of conquest the United States nev
er having acquired national right to pos
session. He advises the prosecution OF their
claims before Congress.
There is kind of dwarf kangaroo in
the staked plains of Northern Texas. Its
body is about eight inches long; its fore
legs are not more than an inch and half or
two inches in length, while its hind legs
are all of six inches. 1t has tail about
eight inches long, completely bare except a
tuft of long hair at the end, and ridge of
short hair on its upper part. 1t Is also a
marsupial, the pouch being well developed.
1t is of soft blue color. Its only mode of
| looap1otinn ia nv iIIfnninO nrppicalv liEa
the kangaroo. 1t can jump eight or ten
| feet.
The increase in the number of cotton
spindles in the Southern States during the
year 1881 80 has been as follows: Georgia,
106, 600; Alabama, "a 900; Tennessee, 24000;
Mississippi. $4,000; Louisiana. $1,000; North
Carolina, 5000; South Carolina, 96, 900;
total new spindles, 361 900. Estimating the
cost at $27 per spindle, the investment rep
resents 50, 763, 200, which, with % per cent.
additional sum to operate with, indicates
about $12, 214, 900 placed in the industry in
the South.
While Isabella jackson was testifying
a few days ago in Justices court, in Shelby
| County. Tennessee, the magistrate said to
her: "Don't you know you are lying?" She
answered "Yes, sir,'' and made no replies
to further questioning. An officer ap.
preached to remove her from the witness
stand, when she fell to the floor paralyzed.
It was found on examination that she had
been struck dumb. The woman died on the
following day.
| Besides the usual damage to small
houses, fences, ETC., reports from all parts
of South Carolina represent the injury to
the corn and cotton crops by the recent storm
as immense. The freshets contributed greatly
to the damage.
Quite a number of colored children
have died recently in the vicinity of London,
KY, of whooping cough.
A fruit-raiser at Quitman, Ca, has
peach trees whose leaves are perfectly black.
The fruit, also, is black at first, but turns
white when ripening. The trees were car
ried from North Carolina many years ago,
and are distinct species of which the fruit
men seem to know nothing.
1t is proposed to make seaside re-
sort of stretch of Florida beach near jack
sonyille.
There are eighty-fve blossoms on a