164 COTTON PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



be lessened : though I am inclined to believe that the dry 

 weather we have now will be of more advantage in that re- 

 spect than everything else beside. The flies are very abun- 

 dant, though I have heard no complaint of the worm. We 

 can't make a large crop in this region, even if we have no 

 worms, for three reasons : it is backward, the weed is un- 

 usually small, and there are generally bad stands. 



I am sorry to inform you that not one of the India cotton 

 seed that I received from the Patent Office, came up ; the 

 most of them, I think, were rotten. A few, however, had the 

 appearance of being sound, but were too dry to vegetate. 



Respectfully yours, 



Sumtcrville, Ala., August, 1850. J. R. D. 



SECTION VI. THE BOLL-WORM AND " SORE SHIN" IN COTTON. 



MESSRS. EDITORS : There has been a great deal said 

 among planters as to means for the destruction of the boll- 

 worm (which is given up to be the greatest evil cotton is 

 heir to), but not much done. The means are within the reach 

 of every planter, if he was apprised of it. If the plan that I 

 will lay before you is not effectual, you may take my hat, 

 though a " shocking bad one." In the spring of 1849, my 

 pigs, between thirty and forty in number, ran through into 

 my cotton field. I determined to veto it on seeing any depre- 

 dations committed by them ; but, to my astonishment, they 

 devoured grass, tie-vines, weeds, purslain, &c., and, making 

 diligent search after cut-worms, destroyed them entirely. 

 The result was, they were in high keeping, and few, if any, 

 boll-worms followed. This forced upon me the conclusion, 

 that all worms that prey upon the cotton plant are of the 

 same origin. Every observing mind is aware that the insect 



