The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-06-14
BRING ON THE ANTS.
An Old Resident of Charleston Says
They Will Live in This
Climate.
News and Courier.

=
Il have seen in the papers 4 good
deal about the ant that is said to be
an enemy OF the boil weevil. and much
speculation as 10 .whethcr or not he
can be brought to this section. and
il so whether he will become acclina-
ted and thrive" said an old resident
OF Charleston TO the News and Cour
ier few days ago. We'll. | can an
swer a portion OF the inquiry. ior I
have seen the ants here-and they
appeared to be doing well. 1t was
fully three years ago that | saw the
big brown ants. that I understand are
the kind supposed to thrive and wax
fat on the boil weevil. The ants are
making their headquarters in the de-
cayed trunk OF large fig tree. out
on King street extension. in a door
yard They seemed vigorous and
hearty. and were simply swarming
over the fig tree and searching for
anything in the way of fresh meat
that might be about. The colony
was there for year. expect. or at
any rate for some time. and then it
seems TO have disappeared-moved
to another section or left the coun-
try. But while the ants were there
| had ample opportunity for observ-
ing them. and from this I feel sure
that they would not take unkindly
to our climate. OF course. I am not
saying that the importation of these
insects for the purpose of fighting the
boil weevil would be the best thing
to do. I have not made the subject
study and it might turn out to be a
cure that was worse than the COM
plant. But that something must be
done am certain.
No" said the citizen in reply to
question as to whether or not, he
raised cotton. Il have farmed in the
south for fifty years, but at present.
in my seventy-seventh year. I am ac-
lively engaged in truck farming on
Charleston Neck. But I take an IN
terest in all of the various kinds OF
farming and planting, and have
watched with apprehension the pro-
gress made BY the 5oll weevil and the
course that he seems to be pursuing.
1t is distressing and causes me much
anxiety.
And vet l do not know that even
ii the boil weevil reaches this section
that it is OF necessity a permanent
trouble. Other pests have come. had
their day and gone. The potato bug,
for instance was a perfect blight upon
the industry for a time and there
were many who went out OF the
trucking business permanently On &C.
count of the ravages made by the
little striped hardshells. But they
have practically gone ont of sight.
We hear little or nothing about them
and if they do not visit us again with
in few years we will forget them en-
tirely perhaps. Then the: was the
Lincoln bug. bad fellow lnat ate all
kinds of vegetation and was so ugly
and disagreeable looking that the
birds would not touch him. But he
disappeared also. after having a few
days of his own. and if not entirely
out OF sight he is nevertheless suffi-
ciently retired not to worry the far
mers TO any considerable extent
Along in the tomato patches and
fields at one time we would have trou
Bile with the tomato worm, also an
ugly. fat and particularly ravenous
lpest. | can remember when we had
the colored boys passing through the
rowS every day armed with scissors.
upon which they found Mr.. Worm
and the execution act was done with
out trial-his presence on forbidden
territory being sufficient for his con-
viction Now we scarcely ever see
one Of the green fellows. The English
sparrows have taken this pest in
hand and saved us lots Of trouble
and expense They appear to find the
tomato worm better than we could
and DESTROY them as fast as they ap-