The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-07-19
COTTON FIELDS
ARE ATTACKED
RED SPIDER PEST MAKES AP'
PEARANCE IN LEXINGTON.
Agent OF Agricultural Department
Tells Best Way of Combating the
Small Bugs.


Tells Best Way of Combating the
Small Bugs.
The State.
Lexington, July 14-The red spill
er has broken out on the farm OF X. n.
Caughman, near Lexington, and
threatens to be very destructive to the
cotton crop should the present wet
season be followed by continued hot
and dry spell. 1t appears from tEe
statement of those interested in this
cotton pest that a great many sections
of the State are infested and it is be-
lieved that unless it's spread is check
ed. it will become shortly as destruc-
tive as the boil weevil. The cotton
affected Wits as if it were scalded and
finally dies. No practical remedy has
as yet been found, though there are
preventive remedies which appear
successful
The department of agriculture has
established a laboratory at Batesburg
for thorough study of the red spider,
and H. F. Wilson in charge of the
work visited Lexington and made an
examination of the Caughman field.
He is positive, in his opinion, that the
trouble is the red spider and, OF
course, he realizes the danger of it's
further spread.
In speaking about this matter, Mr..
Wilson makes these interesting obser-
yations; and desires that they shall
receive the attention of farmers
throughout the State:
Live on Yiolets.
Vioiets and poke weeds appear to
be the plants from which the spiders
spread to the cotton I have observed
4 a number of fields where violets in
d yards were badly infested with the
"A spider before it passed to the cotton.
The original infection began close to
the violets and spread out first in a
fan shaped form and then gradually
the whole field became infested. The
same thing is observed in connection
with poke weeds. Jerusalem oak,
burdock, morning glories and gardens
beans are food plants for the spider
and should be kept away from cotton
fields. The spider seems to be pretty
we'll scattered about the State and is
doing considerable damage, and
threatens to do great deal more I'M
less some means can be found for
checking it.
'I have hardly gone far enough with
the work tc be able to suggest a de-
sirable remedy. However, poke weeds
and violets near cotton fields should
all be destroyed, and if the spider is
only found on few plants, these
should be pulled and burned. The
spider seems to be able to winter in
violets and the danger lies in infesta-
tion from these sources.
Killing Mixture.
where the infestation is bad I
have found the following mixture to
be effective in killing the most of
them: One pound of sulphur to three
gallons of water. The sulphur to be
placed in a bucket or pan and enough
water added to form a paste with the
sulphur, then the remainder of the
water can be added. This mixture can
be applied with spray pump or with
an ordinary sprinkler. Care should
be taken that the mixture is gotten on
to the under side Of the leaf. The spid-
er propagates itself very rapidly and
the failure to make a thorough spray
leaves room for danger in the future
''The most practical method in the
way of prevention seems to be that
II Of crop rotation and I hope that by
II the end of the season a satisfactory
4 system of rotation NAV be worked OUT.
The farmers themselves can do 4
great deal towards preventing the
spread of this pest if they vii! be
careful about plowing around infes+-
ed stalks. The spider catches on the
harness and may be carried q long
ways into the field and new colon
planted. This IS very serious prob
lem and to some extent a. new one
The department is doing the best it
can and is greatly interested in the
A work"
INJUNCTIONS ISSUED.