The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-08-25
SORGHUM RUINED
BY a Strange Bug that Was First
seen in Columbia.
The Nature of tho Ne w Parasite 10 as
Yet Some what Unknown to tho
Denartmnnt OF AnrinnItu.o

Department. OF Agriculture.
The State says there is strang
bug on the farm of the State Hospl
tai for the Insane, and even the bu
reau OF entomology of the department
OF agriculture Is unable to ascertain
for Time, the ancestry OF this insect
Not long ago, 1t will be remembered
the attention Of Mr.. J. w. Bunch, su
perintendant of the State hospital
was called to the fact that sorghum
which was used to feed the cattle Wa
dying rapidly. Investigation showe
that small pest was preylng on tn
sorghum and an expert was asked 70
from the government.
MIR. e. G. S. Titus, entomoloRist
came to the city and Inspected th
damage done by the pest, but coul
not tell what 1t was. He left for Wash
ington with some Of the animals" II
his valise and microscoplcal examlna
lions have been going on. Yesterda
MIR. Bunch received the following let
ter:
Mr.. j. w. Bunch, State Hospital 70
the lnsane, Columbia, S. @.
Dear Mr.. Bunch: L am very muc(
indebted to you for your Kindness t,
mr. Titus on his recent visit. Since
i1ls return he has been very enthusi
astic regarding courtesies shown him
l nave TO thank you for the arrange
ment TO send us material at periods Of
ten days, In order to better enable IL.
TO study the habits OF the little pes,
Which seems to be working so mucl
destruction in your sorghum. Unti
we can get an adult moth we shall tt
wholly IN the dark as to the idcntit
II the dcpreia AS soon as we &c
cure a moth and find out what IL is
lc VIII throw great deal Of light upol
the problem.
From the fact that 1T appsrs tt
oreod freely In crab grass, l am led
20 believe that it has attacked corn a.
yell as sorghum, without having beel
detected by you Whether it's presen,
severity Is duo to your system Of farm
ing, made necessary, as l understand
oy the rules OF your institution, OF
9hethor 1t is periodical outbreak
Such as we nave witnessed Ia the cast
1f other insects, l am absolutely un
tble to tell.
| would judge If the crab grass was
pioughed under this fall it would great
y reduce the pest another year, but.
of course, crab grass grows on othcl
premises besides your own, and unless
1t is known to occur in other PREMISE
tbout you, should be very much in
clined to urge rotation for single
year with some crop that would nee.
.ssitate the destruction Of this grass.
Some crop that would require constant
cultivation until late ia the season
would seem to be preferable.
l would like to ask If ordinarily
here Is much OF this crab grass witt
'our oats. II not, then you shoul:
nave to look elsewhere for relief. an
n hopes to be able to visit you during
4he next month, and probably send az
assistant your way later In the season
md he will endeavor to, If possible.
ina out some measure OF relief.
Thanking you again for your cour
tesy, l am, yours truly,
r. M. WEBSTER
In Charge Of Field Crop Insect Inves
cations.
1t is said that the pest is making
itself known In other vicinities, notab
ly on the farm Of MIR. B. u. Taylor. |,
is seldom that there is an insect SO
strange TO the bureau Of entomology