The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-07-23

have seen the cotton worm, and some OF
them have sent in specimens to make
sure that they are not mistaken IN their
identification of the insect. And not
few papers are commenting on the early
appearance Of the SWORN, " and predict
ing in consequence, a most destructive
cotton-worm year.
In truth there is nothing remarkabem
the fact that planters have seen the worm
SO early in the season, says the Mobile
Register. 1t argues nothing beyond
this Planters have better learned how
to look for it. 1t is simply an indication
of progress in scientific agriculture. We
have seen the cotton worm III April, and
we are satisfied that no April has yet
passed in which it did not have an exist
ence, and was not working upon the
plants. But in point OF numbers L ilg-
ured so insignifcantly that planters hd
not happer to notice it. There must be
from three to four generations OF the
cotton worm in any season before It has
increased sufficiently to be seriously de-
structiye
The only means OF combating the cot
ton worm vet known, is TO poison it by
placing poison upon the foliage Of the
plants, and the arScncal poi>onS are now
understood to be the only poisons vet
known that are etlectuaI and entirely
practicable OF these Paris green Was
the first to come into general use. The
first recommendations ct the Use ct Paris
green on the southern plantation WAS
made in ISL \ correspondent wrote
that crawiish were coming up ON his farm
and cutting down his young cotton
plants, and he wanted rs to recommend
some means by which he might combat
them. Paris green was then being used
against the Colorado potato beetle at the
north, and it occurred to Us that TINS
might be good thing with which to
fight the crawtish so we recommended
sprinkling the plants with Paris green.
This was undoubtedly the first recon-
mendation OF the use of Paris green on
the southern plantation. In 1872, the
late Capt. Isaac Donovan of Kushla,
Mobile county, told It's that cotton worms
had appeared on his cotton, and asked
for remedy Thinking again Of what
they were doing for the potato beetle at
the north, we recommended trying Paris
green, and gave direction for the appli-
cation. The captain put the thing to
test and met with entire success-that
test was undoubtedly the first ever made
with Paris green on cotton.
The most approved plan, now in vogue,
OF poisoning the cotton worm with PARIS
green, Is to put one pound Of the poison
Tor paint into forty gallons OF water,
and while keeping it well shaken (tor it
does not diSsovc) sprinkle it over Que
acre OF cotton where the worms are work
ing. 1t seems to destroy them effect
ually.
London purple is now more extern
sivcly used than Paris green, on account
of being less expensive. 1t is handled in
precisely the same way and in tie same
proportion.
From year to year we have been pub
fishing our arsenic remedy for The cotton
worm, discovered by tests made ten year,
ago, in Texas, under the au>pce, OF the
United States government We still con-
slider it the best means of combating the
cotton worm yet known, all things consd-
cred.
The arsenic used by Us in orr expert
ments was the common white arsenic
(-4cidta~ "rsenioS1>n) costing by the
barrel, landed in Te%a~, from 3 to 4 cents
per pound. We suppose 1t would cost
about the same. 1T the present time, in
either Mobile, New Orleans or Savannah,
by the wholesale. \ permanent solution
was made by adding to five gallons OF
water five pounds Of arsenic and one
pound Of sal soda, and then boiling OYER
fire. in common iron pot, until all the
arsenic was di~oivcd This makes a So
luton Of arsenic that viii keep for any
length Of time without the slightest pre-
cipitation.
OF this solution one quart was put into
forty gallons OF water, which was then
sprinkled over field of worm-infcsted
cotton III the usual way. 1t destroyed
the worms, which were in strong force
when the application was made, leaving
the plants unlnjured to any extent worth
naming. Several similar tests were made,
all with uniform success. Forty gallons
were found amply sufficient to 90 over al
acre OF cotton of ordinary growth.
Here we have a remedy with which we
can save our crops from the cotton worm
at a cost OF / cents per acre, rating the
price OF arsenic at 4 cents per pound and
that of sal soda at ) cents, which would
be very high for the latter. This, it
seems to us is whiting the matter of
cost down to point decidedly fine. OF
course there must be added in the final
footing up Of all OUTLAWS, the further cost
of preparation and application, but II