50 
THE ARMY WORM.-HINTS TO AMERICAN FLAX-GROWERS. 
THE ARMY WORM. 
The destruction of the army worm will be greatly 
facilitated when the Southern planters become 
better acquainted with the history of insects in 
general. I therefore add to my observations in 
your last number a few remarks in answer to your 
correspondent whose letter has not been published, 
and who appears earnestly to desire information 
founded on “ fact,” but not on “ theory.” I will 
begin by stating that insects classed under the 
generic term, Lepidoptera, are butterflies, moths, 
and sphinges. Their larvee are caterpillars, and 
have six true legs, and from four to ten fleshy prop- 
legs. Pupae, with the cases of the wings indistinct, 
and soldered to the breast. Some kinds of cater¬ 
pillars are domestic pests, and devour cloth and 
animal substances; but the greater number feed 
wholly on vegetable food; certain kinds being ex¬ 
clusively leaf eaters, while others attack the buds, 
fruit, seeds, bark, pith, or roots of plants. 
All of these have different modes of feeding, and 
protect themselves from injury as their necessities 
may require. Some spin sacks almost as soon as they 
are excluded from the egg, which they carry with 
them, and into which they retire as danger ap¬ 
proaches, protruding their bodies all but the hind 
feet, when feeding or moving from place to place. 
For example, the bee and woollen moths, &c., when 
about to change to the pupa state, creep into some 
secure place, attach one end of the sack firmly to 
the wall, closing both ends, and there hang until 
they take wing. Others feed in large companies 
protected by a canopy of silk which they spin, en¬ 
larging their tent as they increase in size, and 
spread over the branches, sometimes covering the 
whole tree, to the destruction of every green leaf. 
Some come in countless numbers, and, unprotected, 
go forth like the simoom of the desert, blasting 
everything, in their path; w'hile others feed in 
solitude and depart: but all submit to the general 
laws, by which the order is governed. They are 
all hatched from egsgs deposited by a fly—live from 
three to six weeks in the worm or larva state— 
change to a chrysalis or cocoon, and then attain their 
perfect form. When the larva of the butterfly is 
about to change, it finds a retired nook, suspends 
itself by a strong silken band at the tail, and 
another round the body, throws off the outer skin, 
the nailer one becoming the puparium or case. The 
larva of the moth generally spins a silk covering 
like a ball, to protect itself from the weather, or the 
attacks of birds and ichneumons (an insect whose 
larva feeds in the body of the caterpillar, and by 
whose agency millions are destroyed), while some, 
like those of tlie sphinx, creep into the ground to 
undergo the' change; the outer skin becoming 
the puparium To this tribe belong the worms 
which feed on the tomato, the tobacco, and the 
potatoe; and I suppose the greenish worm with 
while stripes, described by your correspondent, 
that “ ate holes in the leaves of the cotton plant, 
arid then departed, God knows where.” A few well 
attested facts .like these, widely disseminated 
amongst the planters, might put to flight the thou¬ 
sand wild theories that are now puzzling them, and 
induce them to adopt some rational mode of arrest¬ 
ing the evil. All agree that the worms spin their 
cocoons on the old cotton plants and neighboring 
weeds. Then why not make bonfires all over the 
fields and burn them ? Millions would he thus 
destroyed, which, if suffered to remain, will become 
moths next year, and do as they have done this 
summer, devastate the country, unless some unfore¬ 
seen agency should come to the planter’s relief. 
I would earnestly recommend to farmers and 
planters generally, the perusal of a few of the 
standard works on insects that are to he procured at 
all the principal towns, such as “ History of Insects,” 
Harpers’ Family Library—“Insect Transforma¬ 
tion,” and “ Insect Architecture,” Library of Enter¬ 
taining Knowledge; and above all that most fascina¬ 
ting volume of Kirby and Spence on “ Entomology,” 
published by Lea and Blanchard, Philadelphia. In 
these works the reader will find no scientific terms • 
to disgust and tire, hut will rise from the perusal a 
new man, and go forth into the fields perceiving 
that all is order and beauty and loveliness, and that 
order is indeed “ Heaven’s first law.” He will find 
that in their order, insects have an important place 
assigned them in .he economy of nature ; and while 
restrained within due bounds, most nobly do they 
perform their part. 
In the “ Old Lady’s Diary,” I find a sentiment 
worth remembering : “ An evil investigated and un¬ 
derstood is half remedied.” M. 
December 2 8th, 1846. 
HINTS TO AMERICAN FLAX-GROWERS. 
The consumption of foreign flax in Great 
Britain amounts to something like 70 to 80,000 
tons annually, and comprises the growths of Russia, 
Prussia, Holland, Belgium, and some of the 
northern provinces of France. The produce of the 
two first named countries will, on the average of 
years, range from £28 to £56 sterling, per ton, or 
say, 6 to 12 cents per lb. ; while the produce of the 
three last named countries and Great Britain, will 
range from £45 to £80 per ton, or, say, from 10 
to 18 cents per lb. -The difference between the two 
being: partly owing to inferior climate, but mainly 
to inferior skill in its preparation for the market. 
I should remark, however, that while a part of the 
Baltic flax brings a price as low as £28, by far the 
greater part will command a higher price, sav 
from £41 to £56 per ton. 
Now, how does American flax stand in com¬ 
parison with this state of things? lam informed 
that its average range of price is from 6 to 10 cents 
per lb ; thus showing that with climate, soil, and 
every natural advantage far superior to the most 
favored countries—America is unable to compete 
with the worst. I have no hesitation in saying 
that the fault is with the grower, as I saw 100 tons 
of American flax the other day possessing all the 
native essentials of first rate flax, but which bore 
strong testimony against its growers for their 
negligence. This parcel had been bought in at the 
prices I have named. 
Now, when we recollect that the market offers 
cent, per cent., in price as a reward for improve¬ 
ment, surely the attempt to reach it is worth 
making, more especially when we reflect that if all 
the difference is not obtained ; yet for every step the 
fanner makes in advance, the markets offer him his 
