The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-11-06
THE BOIL WORM.
Chester Lantern.

Yhe raVageS or the Doll worm IN CNe
cotton crop this year have been more
general than ever known before in
this state, and singular fact is that
the boil worm is not always discovered
until the damage has been done.
Farmers have said in answer to inquir-
les that the WORDS were at woEk in
their neighbor's cotton, but they had
not discovered any in their own crops,
when closer examination has reveal
ed the presence of the insidious enemy
Of the crop. The cotton bolis are per-
forated so accurately that the nane of
sharpshooter" has been given to the
insect in some sections, and it is more
than probable that his deadly work
can be found in almost any COM
munity. It is very desirable that a
remedy be found to prevent these
ravages and destroy the worm itself,
which has been so injurious to the cot
ton crop in many sections, and as it
increases like the potato bug, where
ever it obtains a footing. the remedy
must come in the way of a preventive
rather than to undertake its destruc-
tion after it has commenced on the
crop.
It is too late to combat the boil
worm when his work begins on the
boil itself, and like all other insects
that are injurious to growing crops the
surest method Of dealing with them is
to adopt preventive measures. The
fact is observed that Information takes
place in the pupal condition in the in
tested fields, and it follows that fall
blowing is the most valuable of all
preventives Treatment of the soil in
this way serves to break up the cells in
which the embroy worm is resting for
the winter, and is almost certain to
destroy the insects in their incipient
stage. Fall plowing is beneficial in
so many respects that the boil worm
is not without its compensation if
farmers are compelled by this means
to protect themselves from its devas-
tating presence.
The Anderson Daily Mail applied to
President Hartzog, of Clemson Col
lege, for information as to the 'boll
worm," and the letter was referred to
Mr.. Chas. E. Chambliss, the very eff
eient entomoloeist of the college, who
has sent reply that will be of value.
He says the boil worm" cannot be
successfully combatted after it has
commenced its work, but it can be
stamped out by deep blowing during
the fail and winter. His letter is as
follows:
Clemson College, Oct. u.
Dear Sir: Your letter of the 9Th
inst, to Dr.. II. S. Hartzog relative
to the .' boil worm has been referred
to me. The boil worm is the larva
or caterpillar of the moth, heliotbis
armiger. In October the caterpillars
leave whatever they may be feeding
upon and enter the ground, where they
change to pupae. It is in this mac
tive stage that they pass the winter
If the ground in which they are is IN
disturbed the moths emerge early in
the spring and begin to lay eggs upon
such plants as they can find, especially
tomatoes and peas and finally corn.
- It would not be practicable to fight
the larva so late in the season as most
of the damage has been done, but their
pupation in the ground, extending
from October to early spring, offers a
good opportunity for controlling the
pest. It has been found by practical
experience that blowing in the late
fall breaks the earthen cells in which
the pupae rest, thus exposing them to
the weather resulting in almost every
instance in their death.
Systematic fall blowing and diversi-
fed agriculture will tend to reduce the
number of this insect and consequent
ly minimize the injury to cotton and
corn.
eve shall be very glad at any time
to assist you in giving the information
needed by farmers.
Yours very truly,
Cboe q Cbor,bI;cc