The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-11-25
Crop Prospects.
The Cotton Worm.

cotton caterpillar has appeared all over
the Southern States. They are not as
yet in such numbers as to desolate the
fields, but it must be borne in mind that
the first crop is always in limited num-
bers, and that the damage is done by
their progeny. The rains have con-
tinued so long that it is bsyond doubt
this pest will destroy a considerable por-
ton of the crop. Should the weather be
favorable for their propagation, even
short time longer, there is great danger
we may not only see small patches here
and there stunted by the worms, but
whole fields and districts swept clean,
and but one quarter OF one-third of the
average yield obtained.
In this connection, the following letter
to a factor from a planter in Gothic, La,
will be of interest:
This crop of forerunners is now webbed
mp. The main army or body webbed
about the 18th of July, as very few have
been seen since that time. The next
generation Vii be out twenty-two days
August.
They will continue, as usual, in the
sth OF 9th of August; during this time me
they will, according to all precedents
heretofore lace the top of the cotton
viii see patches all over the Ell fieids he
tops of which VIII look as though COW
cred with spider webs; after this the
II
the. middle and lower limbs. but stop
from The sth Of August the third or
August; if the weather has been favor
able to their propagation, this army will
destroy the crop about the 5th of Sep
Now as to contingencies. You will
observe that there are regular intervals
of TWENTY-FIVE days between each crop.
The first crop does not make any i'm
preston upon the crop of cotton that
can be observed without careful atten-
ton and close scrutiny.
The work of the second crop is always
along the road.
green on the stalks, even to the cup IN
which the bowl rests.
During all this time there are stray
caterpinars in the crop, but their num-
beers are insignificant.
If the weather be propitious to their
development, they will multiply more
earlier # unfayorable, the crop wifi be
destroyed later; in either event. the va
ration from the time at which the third
of September, will be about two weeks
earlier or later, as the weather may be
favorable or unfavorable to their devel-
In 1868 the caterpillars appeared: or
were first discovered, on the 9th of May.
They appeared again IN June; again in
crop in September. We made an excel
lent len crop that year, as the cotton was
This year they ~, we're first discovered
June and now in July.
TEXAS.
Grayson county is prosperous and hap
py. Farmers are jubilant at the fine
crops present and prospective.
A correspondent of the Galveston
News, writing from Calvert, under date
of the 10th inst, says that the crops;
both corn and cotton, have not been bet
| ter for thirty years. and at present there
is no sign of the cotton worm.
1t is estimated that there has been
| about one-third more cotton planted in
acreage than last year, and should the
ship 10000 bales of cotton this year,
| against II 900 last year.
An old Galyestonian, now merchant
| OF Calvert, MIR. Sam. Smith, who has
travelled over nine counties adjacent to
Robertson county, report the crops as
| being excellent and universally good.
The general impression seems to be that
even should the worms make their APP
pearance now, a good average crop
would be gathered.
| Another correspondent of the same pa
per, writing from Wharton county,
says:
from a bale to a bale and a half to the
| acre, provided the worm does not visit
us this season. The weed is now from
plantations on Old Caney River. and is
perfectly free from the ravages of in
| sects.
| The corn crop is indeed better than it
| has been for many years, and the farmers
| expect to gather sixty bushels to the
| acre. Old corn is now selling at twenty
| five cents per bushel, and very slow sale
| at that; most of it exchanged for
| goods.
| The mast is very heavy, and hogs that
| scarcely ever saw a grain of corn are in
killing order, having fed entirely on the
mast.
This is indeed the finest cattle range in
| the State, and should this be considered
| an exaggeration, we invite all to come
| and see for themselves.
| We notice a great many fine planta-
| tions going to rack for the want of occu-
| owners have abandoned their fertile
fields to seek homes somewhere on the
| line of railroads.
The crops of corn and wheat in Co
| manche county are really excellent.
| The crop of wheat in Bosque county
| that part in the valley of the Bosque
| including Hog Greek and the Norwegian
| colony-will yield to the acre twenty
seven and half bushels of very fine
wheat and there are sown and harvest
ed 456Sle acres, making total of wheat
county, the sum of 146,620 bushels, at
81 35 per bushel, S197,937-to be divided
among about $50 to 500 souls, or about
S247 to each man, woman and child in
the valley. Besides this, they have thu
bes' kind of corn crop made beyond
the possibility of a reasonable doubt, be.
sides the proceeds of several thousand
beeves and q fair acreage of cotton look.
ing very well.
IN, H., hot