The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-27

prepare for the development in force
OF the pest, and can make deliberate
arrangements for its destruction when
1t appears.
Much thought and experimentation
nave neen devoted to the invention of
suitable apparatus and convenient
methods for the application of paris
green to the cotton plant, and some
elaborate machinery has been devised
all however, more or less costly and
therefore practically beyond the reach
OF the small farmer. The ordinary
forms OF power sprayers for wet appli-
cations have been tested and all
FOUND for one reason or another, I'M
suitable.
Use Dry POisOns.
Dry applications of the poison are
much more satisfactory, and dry poi
son distributors have consequently
been patented in quantity all
capable of applying satisfactorily not
only the arsenites but fungicides as
we'll. But the general public
wants a still more inexpensive form of
apparatus, and in the present emer-
gency, one that may be rugged up in
few hours.
This want is not by the pole and
sack duster, simple homemade device.
years in all parts of the South, and
probably originated in Mississippi 1t
consists of a piece of tough oak scant-
ling dressed to 2 inches wide by IL
inches thick. it's length corresponding
with the width of the cotton rows. Two
sacks are made of ounce osnaburg,
each cut IL by 20 inches, and doubled
to form the sack, stitched on the sides
with the mouth left open. The sacks
Tins h0fOro Cd 70
II inches long and 10 inches deep. On
completion they are about 10 inches
long and deep. Two cleats of pine are
then sawed, each 10 inches long and
exact width and thickness of the pole
that is. by " inches. To the narrow
edge of these strips the sacks are tack
ed all around, thus closing their
mouths, and the cleats are then adjust
ed to the underside of the pole and
there firmly nailed II preferred, each
cleat may be further secured by two
polts "a by 315 inches. 1t only remains
TO bore with an inch bit a hole inches
from either end of the pole through
pole and cleat-thus making an opening
into the sack, to be stopped with CORK.
through this the sacks are charged by
pouring in the pure paris green, I'M
mixed with lime or flour, through a
small funnel-afterwards recorking
The apparatus is held by the oper-
ator across the pommel of his saddle.
A sack is thus suspended over each
cotton row, on right and left, as he
rides along between them carrying
two rows at time, striking a light,
sharp blow at regular intervals on
the pole, to right and left, alternately,
with a short club-such as an old bug
| gy spoke. The texture of the eight,
| ounce osnaburg is such as to permit
the proper amount of the pure paris
green to sift through at each percus-
sion. In this way from twelve to
| eighteen acres per day may be pois-
| oned by a man and a horse. Even the
simple continuance of a small sack at
the end of a short stick in the hand
of man on foot has done good serv-
ice in the past.
The cost of paris green averages 25
| cents per pound retail, 20 cents whole
sale, and about Is cents in 100-pound
lots. AS it requires three pounds to
sprinkle an acre, the cost is thus from
81 to rs cents. Two pounds per acre
are said to suffice while the cotton is
| small, but it is well even then to put
it on thick, as every caterpillar de-
| stroyed in the first two broods repre-
sents a million or more later.
Many hesitate to poison because of
the fear that birds devouring the dead
caterpillars will be themselves de-
stroyed but this seldom happens. So
small a quantity of arsenic is taken
by such caterpillars before succumb-
ing to it's effects that a bird would
have to eat an enormous quantity of
them to be hurt, as arsenic in small
quantity is an excellent tonic and only
/ dangerous in large amounts.
1.-The question frequently is asked:
| why is the caterpillar periodical in his
visits? Why, if the moths hibernate in
quantity in the wiregrass, are they not
| a yearly infliction? The only answer
is that climatic conditions and factors,
| so far undetermined, intervene to pre-
vent their development in force every
year. 1t may be the result of sundry
warm spells in late winter, causing
premature emergence of the hibernat-
| ing moths and their subsequent de-
struction, before ovipositing, by a re-
turning cold snap-or else their eggs,
| if laid, may be prematurely Matched
and the tender caterpillars caught by
frost. A number of factors that could
readily account for their failure to put
themselves annually in evidence might
| be suggested, though as yet little that
| is definite has been ascertained.
1T is well to expect their visitation
| every year, and to make close inspec-
| ton, periodically, through the season,
| for the appearance of the young cater
| pillars-scrutinizing closely the rankeT
! plants, or rows, especially in new
ground, along the margin Of 'slashes,'
| or moist spots and on red land rather
| than gray, as the moth instinctively
| knows where her progeny will find the
most succulent leaf development, ana
| oviposits accordingly. Once discover
| ed, the buster should be brought into
| immediate action and there will be no
| very disastrous invasion later on"