The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-30
NO WORM HAS APPEARED
In the Cabbage i'm Chatham County,
Say Truck Growers.

Chatham county truck farmers are
not inclined to place much belief in
the statements that the discovery of
a poisonous worm in the heads Of the
| cabbages of North Georgia is cutting
down the sale of Georgia cabbage.
There have been no such worms found
in the cabbages of this section thus
far, and truck farmers are hopeful of
even more than the usual profits from
this article of food
The first announcement of the pres
ence of the worm was made in dis
patch sent out from Gainesville, which
described the worm as about two
inches long and closely resembling a
snake. 1t was found in the heads of
the cabbage and was claimed to be
deadly poison, zone worm having suf-
ficient poison in itself to kill fifteen
persons" A later report stated that
the state chemist had confirmed this
opinion.
AS a result papers in Northern Geor-
gia, and some in other sections of the
state, claim that there has been
decided falling off in the sales of Geor-
gia cabbage. The only dishes con-
tanning cabbage now used are said to
be made from vegetables imported
from Virginia North Carolina and New
York. Later" said one dispatch, i'm
portations will be made from Denmark
and Canada"
Mr. M. L. Exley, one of the most
prominent truck gardeners in the coun-
ty, and who for a number of years
was engaged in the grocery business,
is inclined to doubt the seriousness of
the reported deadly pest. In speaking
of the matter he said, among other
things:
mo such worm has appeared in our
cabbage in this section. Furthermore,
the report of the state entomologist,
as l read it, appeared to make light
of the matter and treat it rather as
joke. In this section we have found
no pests except the usual cabbage
worm, which eats the leaves of the
cabbage only, and does not work it's
way into the heads. This worm has
been known for years and does no
great harm if controlled. Even uncon-
trolled, it can do nothing but destroy
the cabbage.
1T is possible that some variety of
worm may have worked it's way up
from the ground in which the cabbage
is planted and imbedded itself In the
head. If this is so. even, 1t is confined
TO North Georgia and is not found in
this section of the state.
1T is necessary to plant cabbage In
very rich soil, the richer the better.
Such soils are good breeding grounds
for worms of all varieties and 1t is pos
sible that some new variety may have
appeared in the sections mentioned and
eaten it's way into the heads of the cab
bage. All the worms that / have seen
in this section coming from the rich
soil were apparently harmless as l fed
them to my chickens and they did no
harm. | cannot believe that the worm
which has been discovered is as deadly
as some parties are trying to make out
1t may be that it is simply a rumor
started to increase the business of cab
bage dealers who have contracts with
81 overs outside the state"
Other truck growers who were con-
suited regarding the story took the
same position as Mr.. Exley. Grocers
who were asked. also confirmed his
statement that the demand for cabbage
at this season of the year had to be
supplied with the vegetable that was
brought here from the markets in the
more northern states.
Few were inclined to believe that the
worm whose discovery has been report
ed was as dangerous as made out and
the general opinion seemed to be that
the story was started with a business
object in view. All truck growers con-
suited were unanimous that no such
worm appeared in their cabbage thus
far,