18 



Cut Worm — Manvjacture of Beet Sugar. 



Vol. II. 



rudiments of the winga strongly defined — ab- 

 domen tapering, abruptly terminating in a 

 short, bristle-like point — annuli or rings dis- 

 tinct, and quite movable — spiracles, or breath- 

 ing holes, on the sides of the rings, projecting 

 in form of short Hattened tubes. Duration of 

 the pupa state, about tliree weeks. 



Perfect State. — Color, variable shades 

 of blackish gray — length, three-fourths of an 

 inch — body, stout — movements, sudden and 

 rapid — habits, nocturnal. 



Antennce., long, setaceous or bristle-shaped ; 

 eyes, laterel, large, black ; palpi, projecting 

 forwards, hairy, last joint very small, scaly; 

 tongue, very long, horny, spirally rolled up 

 beneath the head ; thorax, tufted with long 

 hairs, marked anteriorly with a transverse, 

 wavy, black line ; wings, horizontal, incum- 

 bent, the superior ones overlapping, ciliate or 

 fringed behind, with long scaly hairs, and or- 

 namented above with faint lines, and spots of 

 different shades of gray, and brown ; inferior 

 ones lighter colored, the inner margins folded 

 and fringed with long whitish hairs ; thighs, 

 covered with long hairs; legs,ha\ry above, 

 spinosi, ciliate on the posterior edges, the 

 hind ones, with a pair of long spines near the 

 middle ; feet, with two similar spines at the 

 first joint ; spines, white, with a black ring 

 in the middle ; articulations of the feet, white. 



Supposed female — upper wings, silvery 

 grey, with the lines and spots similar, but 

 less distinct than in the male. 



Habits. — I am not aware that the manner 

 in which the cut worm, phalcena deposits its 

 eggs, has ever been observed. I can, there- 

 fore, only arrive at probable conclusions. As 

 very few phalajnse survive the winter season, 

 it is probable that the eggs are deposited in 

 autumn, among the grass, at or near to the 

 surface of the ground. The eggs appear not 

 to hatch until spring. 



The correctness of this view, is inferred 

 from the success of fall or very early spring 

 ploughing, in preventing the ravages of the 

 cut worm. It may be proper to inquire a 

 little, how v/inter ploughing produces this re- 

 sult. I apprehend that the eggs become 

 buried so deep in the earth, that the vivify- 

 ing influence of the sun and air does not reach 

 them, or if they do hatch at such a depth, 

 they must perish before reaching the surface, 

 where alone food is to be found to nourish 

 Ihem. In late spring ploughing, the same 

 thing would not so certainly happen ; vege- 

 tation having started, the proper food for the 

 worms would be buried along with them, and 

 the loose state of fresh ploughed land not only 

 admits the passage of vvarmth and air, but 

 would greatly facilitate the egress of thn 

 worm to the surface. Even should the moth 

 survive the winter, and not deposit its eggs 

 till spring, the foregoing explanation will ap' 



ply equally well; or if the moths should find 

 the ground already ploughed, they would pro- 

 bably seek some other field in which to de- 

 posit their eggs. It is generally admitted, 

 that fall or early spring plovghmg does, in 

 some way, prevent the cut worm from injur- 

 ing our corn crops. 



Some prefer having the sward imperfectly 

 turned down, so as to have a portion of grass 

 remaining on the surface for the worms to 

 feed on. But these should remember, that 

 this practice may preserve alive a number of 

 worms sufficient to do the corn crop a serious 

 injury. By turning all down, they might 

 destroy the worms, and render the precaution 

 of feeding them unnecessary. 



Another means of lessening the injury from 

 the cut worm, is to plant deep. The heart of 

 the plant remains longer in the ground, and 

 if the worm sliould cut it off above, the 

 growth is but little retarded. 



I hope others will investigate the subject, 

 and make known the results. 



Aevv Garden, 7ih mo. 25th, 1837. 



Manufacture of Beet Sugar. 



The following letter from an intelligent 

 French gentleman residing in Louisiana, to a 

 gentleman of this city, will be read with at- 

 tention by those who are interested in the 

 cultivation of the Beet Root, and its fabrica- 

 tion into Sugar. This "branch of industry" 

 promises to be of great advantage to the 

 country. We hope that those engaged at pre- 

 sent, will give it a fair trial — and persevere 

 until the most triumphant success shall 

 crown their efforts, 



St. James' Parish, Louisiana, June, 1837. 



Sir — I am indebted for introduction to your 

 acquaintance to Mr. Edward Harris, and beg 

 leave to Rsk your kind information concern- 

 ing the actual state of fabrication of Beet 

 Sugar in Pennsylvania, I was a manufac- 

 turer of said article in France, and have been 

 engaged three years as foreman of the model 

 farm established in the State of Louisiana. 

 I have compared the fabrication from cane 

 with the one from beets, and am convinced 

 that both are subject to great modifications. 

 You would oblige me by mentioning the 

 manner in which you intend to boil your 

 beet syrup. Is it by evaporation or by va- 

 cuum '! To which do you give the preference, 

 to the English systen of Howard, or to one of 

 the four French systems? I shall be happy 

 to receive your advice, as well as any ques- 

 tions you might desire to make, and I am 

 convinced that my experience might be of 



