The Abbeville banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, September 04, 1856, Image 1
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!pTi57"^r ;\ WiTTf Tf T?) IA WfOTiWrD
Jlkliih ^AiyiL*jii J iiiLJjiili
TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM ] "this i'nicu of IjIbeiity xs? etehktau vigiijanob." [PAYABLE IN ADVANCE*
BY DAVIS & IIOLLINGSWORTIL ABBEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 1, 185G. VOL. XIII NO so M
PETEH FRANCISCO.
As late as the year ISoG, there lived in
Western Virginia a man whose strength
was bo remarkable as to win htm the title
of " the Western Samson." 1 Ic knew nothing
of his birth or parentage, but supposed
lie was born in Portugal, whence he was
tetolen wlicn a chiM. siihI <-:ir?ii>i1 In Tr<>1.-iml
recollections were those of boyhood
iu the latter country. While yet a
tal, lie apprenticed himself to a sea captain
for seven years, in pay for a passage to this
country.
'On his arrival, his time and services were
sold to a Mr. "Winston, of Virginia, in
whoso service ho remained until the breaking
out of the revolution. ]>eiug*of an
adventurous turn of mind, he sought and
obtained permission of his nTaster to join
the army, and was engaged in active service
during the whole contest. Such was his
strength and personal bravery, that no enemy
could resist him. lie wielded a sword.
tlio bla<.lc of which was live feet in length,
as though it had been a feather, and every
one who camc in contact with him, paid
the forfeit of his life.
At Stony l'oint he was one of the "forlorn
hope" which was advanced to cut
away the abatlis, and, next to Maj. (Jibson,
was the first man to enter the works. At
lkandywinc and Moninouih ho exhibited !
the most fearless bravery, and nothing but j
his inability to wiitc prevented his promo- !
nun iu ii commission. i rnusielTetl lo Hie
South, In: look part in most of the engagements
iii llnil section, ami towards tlic close
of the war ho was engaged in a contcst
which exhibited, iu a striking manner, his'
self-confidence aiul courage.
One day while rocuunoitering, he stopped
at the house of a man by the name of
W , to refresh himself. While at the
tabic, he was surprised by nine 1'ritish
troopers, who rode up to the house and told
him lie was their prisoner. Seeing that lie
woe e.\ muuillu / *..! 1 1 1 - - ' ' 1
.....J .IV givukijr UHUKiiUDCiai, HO pimeUUCU
to surrender, and the dragoons seeing lie
was apparently peacefully inclined, aflcr
disarming liim, allowed him considerable
freedom while (hoy sal down to partake of
the food which he had left when lie was
disturbed.
"Wandering out in the door yard, he was
accosted by the paymaster, who demanded
of him everything of value about him, at
the risk of his iife in case of refusal.
"I have nothing to give," sai.l Francisco,
"so use your pleasure."
" Ciive nj) (hose massive silver buckles in
your shoes," said the dragoon.
"They were the gift of a fiiend," replied
x'ranciscu, "anu give litem to you I never
shall; take them if you will; you have
the power, but I will never give llieui to
any one."
Putting his sabre under his arm, the soldier
stooped down to take them. Francisco
seeing the opportunity, which was too
good to bo lost, seized the sword, and drawing
it with force from under the arm of the
soldier, dealt him a severe blow across (he
skull. Although severely wounded, yet
being a brave man, the dragoon drew a
pistol and aimed it at his antagonist, who '
was too quick for him,however; and as lie
pulled the trigger, a blow from the sword
nearly severed his wrist, and placed him 1
hurs ilu combat. {
The report of llic pistol drew the oilier '
dragoons into llic yard, as well as W
wlio very ungenerously brought out a musket
which he handed lo one of llic soldiers,
and told him to make use of it. Mounting !
the only horse he could get, lie presented
Alio muzzle at the breast of Francisco and '
pulled the trigger. Fortunately it missed 1
fire, and Francisco eloscd in upon him. A '
short struggle ensued, which ended in his
disarming and wounding the soldier.
Tarleton's troops were now in sight, and
the oLlio.r ilrKmiiiio ? /?? /? '
?- IIVIU UUUUb W tillUOlX
liim. Seeing liis caso was desperate, lie
turned to an adjoining thicket, and, as if
cheering a parly of men, cried out, "Coino
on, my brave boys, now's your time; we'll
soon dispatch these few, and then attack
;lho main body," at the same time rushing
fit the dragoons with the fury of an dnraged
,,tiger.
."They did not wait to cngago him, but
^ |1.~ ' - 1
f*vv . IV 4U<J |)aiJIU'MIUCii
Jond dismayed. Seizing upon the traitorous
Villain W , Francisco was about to dispatch'
him, but ho bogged and plead so
hard for Iiia -life, that bo forgave him and
; "idld him ia secrete for biin the eight horses
' *bicli the soldiers hj^d left'bohind them.?
PeVee jviftg; tft&Tarletoir had dispatchcd two
' of him, ho made
peaceful nature and his strength, i.s also
lold of Francisco. How Inio it is we cannot
say, but we tell it as it was tuld to us
many years ago, while he was still living in
Buckingham county.
One day, while working in his garden,
he was accosted by a stranger, who rode up
to the fence and inquired if he knew where
a man by the name of Francisco lived ?
Reaching himself up from his work and
eyeing his interrogator, who appeared to be
-one of the "half horse, half alligator"
breed of Kcntuckians, lie replied, " Well,
stranger, I don't know of any oilier person
l?y that name in these pails but myself."
" Well, I reckon yon ain't the man I
want. 1 want to fm<! a great fighting man
I've heard tell so miueh about; the feller,
they say, can whip all creation, and old
Kuiiituck lo buol."
" 1 can't tell you, stranger, where you
will find that man. 1 don't know such a
man," said Francisco, resuming his work,
as a hint lo the other that the conference
was ended. l?ut the Kenluekian was not
lo be " bin fled oil'," as lu; would term it.
I. i ....r. . .." -m ?
uwiv ijl I ?H 11 I j ftiliU IK'j I ULMI
lo tlie charge, " what ini^IiL your name
l?o 2"
u My name is I'elcr Francisco, at your
liJl'v ice."
"All,'' returned t lio other, " you'ro just
Lite man I want lo find," at the same time j
riding inside t!ie feiiee; lie dismounted and j
tied llie animal?a ivu;;h, ungainly Indian j
pony?lo one of llie p";>ls.
' .My name is Ijig !>ill Stokes, ail llie way I
from okl Keiiluck. I am llie Kentucky
game chicken, I am. 1 can outrun, outhop,
ouijump, knock down, drag out, ami whip
any man in all them digging*. So, as 1
heard tell of a feller clown hereabouts who
could whip all creation, 1 thought I'd saddle
old lilossom and just ride over and see
what sluir lie's made of, and hero I am.?
And now, stranger, I'm. most starved fur a
light, and 1 am bomid to see who's the bo.*-l
man before T go home. It's all in good
fueling, you know; and if you lick me,
why Pin satisfied. I Jul"?
"SU'|? a liitnlite, stranger,'' said Francisco;
"you've mistaken the man entirely.
I'm no fighting mail al all ; and it I was,
, ..v.i.iiii- joii 10 iigui about."
" Well, 1 don't know ; is there any oilier
l'cter Francisco in these parts?"
" No, not that 1 know of."
"Well, then, you're the man, and you
must fijht. l'vo come all the way from
old Kentucky, and 1 ain't a going Lack
without knowing who's the best man."
44 Uiit 1 won't fight. I've nothing lo
fight about, and I tell yoivT won't fight."
41 l)arn'd if you shan't fight, stranger.?
I'm bound to lick you if 1 can; if 1 don't,
you must lick me."
J?y this time, Francisco had bcconic angry
at the importunity of his visitor, and
determined lo put au en J to the scene.
Seizing his antagonist, therefore, by the
scat of lii.s l>ucl;sl;in breeches ami the collar
of his limiting sliii I, lie threw him over
the fence.
The Kentuckian rai.sc<l himself from I ho
ground, perfectly dumbfounded by such an
exhibition of ??trenglh ; and after rubbing
his eyes as though he thought he might not
have seen clearly, he mounted thu pony,
remarking?" "Well,stianger, I reckon you'll
Jo. I reckon ii.'? nl>.?n? < ?/> r..?. .??
billlV 1VI iliU IV
make tracks. If anybody asks you about ,
Lbat great fight, you can tell \jm you liekcil ]
Dill most confoundedly." ,
Francisco was a powerfully built man, ]
standing six fet and ono inch in height, t
weighing two hundred pounds. Ilis inuE- i
cular system was extraordinarily developed, i
and ho had been known to shoulder with i
case, a cannon weighing eleven hundred
pounds ; and a gentleman of undoubted :
veracity, still living in Virginia, who knew
him well, says " ho could take mo in his
right hand and pass over the room with i
me, playing my head against tho ceiling as
though 1 had been a doll-baby. My weight
was one hundred and ninoty-fivo pounds.''
His wife, who was a woman of good
sizo and fair proportions, ho would take in
liis right hand, and holding her out at
arm's length, would pass around tho room
with her, and carry licr up and down stairs
in this position. ITo would take a barrel
rtf rMni1 #li/* /iliJiiiAfl n%\.l 1.-1 * ~
v.mv* +SJ %tiv VIIUUW| aiiu It IU I
his iiiouth would drink from llio bung a
long and hearty draught without any apparent
exertion.
Yot, with all liia strength, he was a very
peacefully disposed man, and never mado
uso of his power oxcept in case of necessity, '
about his usual vocations or in defenco of
Cho riglit. On occasious of outbrcakings
at public oratherinffs lie was hotter nt. r??h.
ing in and preserving the public peace tlian all
tlio conservative authorities on tho
ground. >.
Although uncducatcd, he Was -withal a*
companionable man, And fats anecdotes and
stork* of war, of which :hq possessed a rich '
fund, rendered him a welcomo guest in iho ;
first families id-the State. "His luQuatrious'
and temporal fciabits* together with Lis >
THE HUNTER'S rEAST.
Captain Mayne lleid, in liia " Hunter's
Feast," gives llio following graphic account
of a thrilling adventure lie had on one of
the Aineiican livers. While in search of
tho Scarlut Ibis, his boat floated away ami
left him 011 a barren island, lie tells his
story thus:
I lay in a stupor, almost unconscious,
how loll" I lcillliv llllf l?lll T
_ , J .
run ecrtain. I know this hy Iho sun ; it
was going down when 1 awoke?if I may
so term the recovery of my sickened senses.
I was a roused by a Btrango circumstance:
I was surrounded by dark objects of hideous
shape and hue?reptiles they were.?
They had been before my eyes for some
time, but I had not seen them. I had only
a sort of dreamy consciousness of their
presence, but I heard them at length : my
car was in better tune, * d the strange noises
they uttered reached 1153- intellect. It
seemed like the blowing of great bellows,
with now and then a note harder and
louder, like llio roaring of a bull. This
startled mo, and I looked up, and bent my
e)*c:i upon llio objects : they were forms of
the ctvcoililiilic, the giant lizards?they
were alligators. Hugo ones tlicy were,
some of tlicm; and many were they in
number?a hundred at least were crawling
over t'ne i.-let, before, behind, and oil all
tides around me. Their long gaunt jaws
and channelled snouts projected forward so
as almost to touch my body ; and their
eyes, usually leade.ii, seemed t<; ?iaio. Im
polled by this new danger, 1 .sprang to my J
1'cut, when, recognizing the upright form of
man, the reptiles scuttled oil', and plunging
hurriedly into tlic lake, hid their hideous
bodies uni'ler the water.
The incident in r.omc measure revived
me. 1 saw that I was nut alone: there
was company in the crocodiles. I gradually
bccamc more myself, and began
to reflect with some degree of coolness
ii.? ?i.~? - i- t ?
v/ii cuvi i.iivuiiniiiiii;v:a uiiii.. ^uii n'UHUL'U i!IL'.
My eyes wandered over llio islet; every
inch of it came uiulcr my glance; every
object upon il was scrutinized ; the moultcn
feathers of wild fowls, tlic pieces of saiul,
(he fresh water muscles (unias) strewed 1
upon llie beach?ail were examined. SLill
the barren answer, no means of escape.
The Islet was but the head of a sand ;
bar forme] by the eddy, perhaps gathered
together within the year. It was bare of
herbage, with llio exception of a few tufts j
of grass. There was neither tree nor bush J
upon it; not even a r.lielc. A raft, hided ! j
There was not wood enough to mako a j
raft that would have floated a frog. The I
idea of raft was but brielly entertained ;
such a thought had certainly crossed my
miiul, but a single glance around the islet
T II 1 ? 1 * ? ' * ' '
uisjicucu it ueiuio il iiaa iai;en shape. J
paced my prison from en J to end ; from
side to siilo 1 walked it over, I tried the water's
depth; 011 all sides I sounded it, wading
recklessly in ; everywhere it deepened
rapidly as I advanced. Three lengths of
myself from the islet's edge, and 1 was up
to my neck. #l'ho huge reptiles swam
around, snorting and blowing; they wore
bolder in this element. I could not have
waded safely ashore, even had the water
been shallow. To swim it?no?even
though I swam like a duck, they would
have closed upon me and quartered me
T rnillll lmvo mmli> n iln'/n elmlm
Horrified l?y llioir demonstrations, I turned
back npon dry ground, and paccd llio
islet with dripping garments. I continued
walking until night, which gathered
round 1110 dark and dismal. Willi night
came new voices, tlio hideous voices of
Lhc nocturnal swamp; the qua qua of tho
night heron, lhc scrccch of the night owl,
Llie cry of tho bittern, cl-l-uk of tho great
water toad, the tinkling uf tho boll frog,
and llio chirp of the savannah cricket, all
fell upon my ear. Sounds still harsher and
more hideous were heard around me?the
splashing of tho alligator, and tho roaring
of his voicc?lliesc reminded 1110 that I
must not go to sloop. To sleep! I durst
not have slept for a single instant. Even
when 1 lay for a few minutes motionless,
the dark reptiles came crawling round nie,
so closo that I could havo put forth my
hand and touched tlioin.
At intervals I sprang to my feet, shouted,
swept .my gun around and chased them
hack to the water, into which tlicy betook
themselves with a sullen plunge, but with
little semblance of fear. At each fresh
demonstration on my part, they showed less
alarm, until I could no longer drivo them,
either with shouts or threatening gestures.
They only retreated n few feet, forming an
irregular circlo round me.
Thus hemmed in, I bccamo frightened
in turn. I loaded my gun and fired; I
killed none. They aro impervious to a
bullet, except in tho eye or under tho foro
arm. It was too dark to aim at thoso
parts ; and ray shots glanced harmlessly
from tho pyramidical scales of their bodies.
Xbo loud report, however, and the kjazo
rI M > > ?
irigmencu mom, ana inoy lied la return
again, after a long interval. I was asleep
whoa (hoy returned; I had gone to sleep
in spite of ray efforts to keep awake. 1 ,
was startled by iho touch of something
hail crawled closo along side mo, and wsis
preparing to make his attack, as I saw llial
ho was bent in tho form of a bow, ami I
knew that these creatures assumed that attitude
when about to strike their victim.?
I was just in time (o spring aside and avoid
the stroke of his powerful tail, that tho
next moment swept tho ground where 1
had lain. Again I fired, and he with tho
rest, once more retreated to the lake.
All thoughts of going to sleep were at an
end. Nottliat I lelt wakeful; on the contrary,
wearied with my day's exertions?for I Iiad
Iiad a long pull under a tropical sun?1
could have laid down upon tlio earth, in
the inud, anywhere, and .slept in an instant.
Nothing but tlio dread certainty of my
peril kept me awake. Once again before
morning, 1 was compelled to battle with
the hideous reptiles, and chased them away
with a shot from my gun.
Morning cauio at length, but with no
change in my perilous position. The light
only showed inc my island prison, but revealed
no way of escape from it. Indeed,
the change couKl not bo culled for the better,
for tlie fervid rays of an almost vertical
sun poured down upon me until my skin
almost blistered. I was already specklud
l?y tho bites of a thousand swamp flies and
musquilocs that all night bad preyed upon
mc. There was not a cloud in the heavens
to shade mc; and (lie sunbeams smote the
sin lace of (lie dead bayou with a double
intensity.
Towards evening I began to hunger ;
no wonder at that. 1 had not eaten since
leaving tho villago settlement. To assuage
thirst, I drank the walor of ilin lnk<?
tulbid and slimy as it was, I drank il in large
Humilities, for it was hot, and only moistened
my palate without fjuenchiiig the
cravings of my appetite. Of water tlicro
was enough ; I had more fear from want
of food. What could I oat? The Ibis.?
Cut how to cook it? There was nothing
wherewith to ?s:d;e a fire?not a stick.?
No matter for that. Cooking is a modem
invention, a luxury for pampered palates.?
I divested the Ibis of its brilliant plumage,
and ate it raw. I spoiled my specimen,
bill at tlio time there was little thought of
that. There was nut much of the liatiualiot
loft in inc. 1 anathematised the hour I
had ever promised to procure the bird.?
1 wished my friend up to his ucek iu a
swamp. The Ibis did not weigh three
pounds, bones and all. It served inc for
a second meal, a breakfast; but at this
dejeuner suns fourchcllc 1 picked the
bones.
What next? Starve? Xo?not vet.?
In tiic batiks 1 had had with the alligators
during the second night, one of llicm had
received a shot that proved mortal, 'i'he
hideous carcass uf the reptile lay dead upon
the beach. I need noL starve; I could eat
that. Such were my reflections. I must
hunger, though, before I could bring myself
to touch the musky morsel. Two days
more fasting conquered my sijueamislmess,
1 drew out my knife, cut a steak from the
alligator's tail anil ate it?not the one I
had first killed, but a second ; the other
was now putrid, rapidly decomposing under
the hot sun?its odor filled the islet.
Tlio stench had grown intolerable.?
mere was not a brculli ol air stirring;
otherwisa I might liavo shunned it by
keeping to windward. TIio whole atmosphere
of tho islet, as well as a largo cirele
round it, was impregnated with the fearful
diluvium. I could bear it 110 longer.?
With tho aid of my gun I pushed the
half decomposed carcass iuto the lake.?
Perhaps the current might carry it away.
It did ; I had the satisfaction to bco it float
ofl*. This circumstanco led 1110 into a train
of rcllcclions. Why did tho body of the
alligator float? It was swollen, inflated
with gases. 11a!
An idea shot through my mind?0110 of
these brilliant ideas, the children of neces
suy. i inougiii 01 mo n on ting alligator,
its intestines?wliat if I iullatod tlicin ??
Yea, yea! buoys and bladders, Hunts and
life preservers ! That was the thought. I
would open the alligatore, and inako a buoy
of their intestines, that would bear mu from
Lhc islet!
I did not loso a moment's time; I was
full of energy; hope had given mo new
life. My gun was loaded?a huge cu>eodilo
that swain near the slioro received the
shot in his eye. I dragged hiin on tho
bench ; with my knife I laid open his entrails.
Few they were, but enough for my
purpose. A pluino quill from the wing of
tuo iuis serveu mo tor a uiow-pipc. 1 saw
tho bladder-liko skin expand, until I was
surrounded by objocts like groat sausages,
Thcso woro lied together, and fastened to
my body, and then with a plungo, I entered
tho waters of the lako and floated downward.
I had tied on my life prosorvere in
such a way thAt I sat in an upright position,
holding my guu with both hands. This
I intended to Iiavo used as a club in case
I should bo attacked by tho alligators; but I
had choscn tho hot hour of noon, when ;
these creatures lie in a half torpid state,
and to my joy I was not molested. Half
? ' tit. ai. .
ji? pour a urttuug wiyinuo current earned
me W the end of rthe lake, And I found my- :
self at the debouchure of the bayou.. Here
to my
* . -v*. . (, i
Progress of Rclbjion.?'l'lio " Presbyterian
Critic" has an article from llio Rev.
Dr. Sluart llobinson, in which it is .stated
that, " after a careful comparison and summing
up of tho religious statistics of tho
various denominations, the Evangelical bodies
of tho United States now number
thirty thousand ministers, four millions of
church members, sixteen million and a half
connected by education and sympathy with
them, seventy millions of dollars invested in
cliui'cli properly, twenty millions annually
raised for the support of ordinances at
home, four millions for tho spread of the
church abroad, and twelve millions of sittings
in their houses of worships. In this
estimate no account is taken of tho many
millions of dollars invested in schools, colleges,
and seminaries, under the control of
Evangelical denominations. Thus it appears
that, out of a population estimated
at twenty-six and a half millions, nearly
two-thirds of tho whole arc members in
full communion, or under tho direct influence
of Evangelical churches."
Culcntla Trade.?Uor.ton is tho seat of
the Calcutta trade, tlie chief importations
from which havo been linseed, saltpetre,
hides, gunny bags and cloth, indigo and
'i'i.~ ?i? f ? -
aAi..x inu viiiuu 01 mo importations
for 18.11 was $7,310,GM, and that of 1855
was about the same. Calcutta furnishes
this entire country with saltpetre, as it can
bo imported cheaper than it can be made
here. When it id worth from iiftccn to
twenty cents a pound, the manufacturer can
produce it in this country principally from
nitrous caverns. The Dupont Company,
Dolowarc, in their manufacture of powder,
use about 100 tons, or 1200 bags, of saltpetre
a month. Calcutta has a population
cf 113,000, and the exports from that
cilv amount to ?GU,0UU,000; the imports
to 1,000,000. In the years 1 S31-2, ships
entered the port of Calcutta with an aggregate.
lmrdcn of -125,553 tons.
Shoes.?Among the new things of the
age is the manufacture of shoes by cementing
together the pieces of leather of which
they arc composed. A shoe is thus made
without a peg or a stitch, which it is said
will never rip and cannot be torn apart in
the seems, because tlie leather will lo.-n- fii-st
A large company lias been started for this
iiianufacturc at Italian! Vale, their proccss
being to ecinent t!io shucs 011 tho common
wooden lasts and tlien dry them in owens.
liut wo understand an improved process
has been invented, by which a pair of shoes
can bo completed in five minutes. The
piecca are cemented on a hollow metalio
last, into which steam is . .trodneed by
turning a cock, and its heat sets the cement
almost instantaneously.
Texits on the ELclion of Fremont.?A
Texas paper contains the following item :
"On the 31st ult., in the State Scnato,
at Austin, Mr. Uryan, of Ihazoria, introduced
a Joint Resolution requiring tho
Governor to convene a special Legislature
011 or before the first of January, 1S57,
should tho anti-slavery candidate for the
Presidency bo electcd; and further, ilia1
tho Governor forward a copy of this resolution
to tho Governor of each slaveholding
Slate. Tho resolution was referYed to the
Committee 011 Stato Affairs, and will, we
hopo, bo reported on favorably."
Writ Refused.?Judge McLean, of tho
Supremo Court, has written to tho Cincin
nati Gazette in regard to tho application
mado to liim for a writ of habeas corjnts in
the ease of llobinson and others in confinement
in Kansas, charged with treason. lie
states that as the iiidiciment for treason
charged the offence as within the Constitution,
and that the defendants were arrested
under a warrant issued by tho court on the
indictment, he refused tho writ, inasmuch
as illegality, tlio only ground for release,
did not appear on tlic facc of tho papers.
To ascertain tho length of a day
night, any limo of tho year, douhlo tho
timo of tho sun's rising, which gives the
length of tho night, and double tho timo of
sotting, which gives tho length of tho day.
This is a liulo method of " doing tho thing1'
which fow of our roadcra have boon nwaro
of.
Decision of Clmracttr.?Without it no
man or woman is ever worth a button, nor
over can bo. Without it n man becomes
at once a good-natured nobody ; tho poverty
stricken possessor of but ono solitary
principle?that of obliging everybody uudcr
tho sun merely for tlic asking.
Hours for Marruinn in Kriahind.?Tim
limitation of tlio tftno of tho day for mur-rying
in England is fixed by statute. Tbo
period botween eight in the jporuing and
noon is asssigncd as tho legal timo for all
marriages. The custom here and Uio law
in England are widely different in this particular.
.
" You sa^r," said tho judge, " tho
Squire who married you to thenrst wife
authorized you to take sixteen 1 What do
you mean by that f " Well," said Hans,
? he' dold roe that I should 'half four potter,
four vomer, four richer, foot boorcr-r-and
" & ? a a m ? &.ir is & & a..
l'toui the Jitli/ijirhl A'locrltecr.
TILE BILL EUU OR CORN BORER.
Mil. Editor : Perhaps it will not be
amiss to givo to your many renders my observation
and experience dining this last
spring and summer on the above l>ng.
I noticed some time in ibo early part of
the spring, whilst I was engngtd in sowing
u:u*, mai nearly or quite all ol llic old rag
or carrot weeds had holes in tlietn as though
something had raised in the pclh of the
stein, had matured and come out. The
more I examined the more I found it to be
so, until at length I determined to see what
insect had inhabited the rag weed during
the last summer. After a closc watch until
about the midulo of May, I discovered
that some of the most forward weeds had
grown to be about four inches high when 1
discovered that a small incision or pauatur
had been made near the brul of the main
stem; and upon further examination 1
found it to contain a small yellow egg about
the size of a small mustard seed. I then
~1 1 - 1- - ? ? *
I II VIUMJ lOOK-Olll lO SCO Wliat KIIKt 01
an insect deposited llio egg. I looked
steadily for some lime and almost came to
tlic conclusion that the eggs must be deposited
in the night time and not in the
day. 1 >ut, after ii continued and a very
close examination, and when the weeds become
more plenty and larger, and the Ihigs
more abundant, 1 found them at length making
their incision and also depositing the
1*0* nr.
For a ilusrriniinii ?.f ilin 11511 ri.i .-.i
1 ,,,v I,Ma vl
Corn Borer, 1 rcler your readers lo the .Patent
Ofliec Report lor ISO!, where you will
find Senator Evans' desoiiptiun.
But for fear that t-romo of your readers
may nut have an opportunity uf reeing the
Patent Olliee Keport, 1 will givo my description
of tho Bill Bug I have discovered.
The Dill Bug or Corn Borer is about fiveeighths
of an iuch long, and one-eight J
around, and a sixteenth of an inch in diameter,
running out rather sharp or nearly so
each way. Ai the commencement of the
i i ii < - i
uv.iiu mere runs out a lyng HUtiK or CI'OOKI
ed bill, f>omcthing larger at the end of the
bill than a little way from their end. It is
of a dark or yellowish color, more yellowish
than dark. The bug cannot fly, but
when interrupted closes up its legs and
tumbles to the ground, and there lies apparently
dead for some time; and when it
in ids that it has not* been harmed, it ?ises
and moves oft" as though nothing had taken
place.
When the young plant (Corn) comes up,
iiiuj iiiuiciv u uooui uirce cigmns 01 an men
above the grain, or just about where tlic
first bracc roots comc out. They force their
bill into the tender bud of llie young corn
and then continue to sap it until it is dead.
I difl'er with lion. Senator Evans in regard
to the purpose of the inscct making the incision
or boring tho young plant. The
Senator says it is for tho purpose of depositing
the egg. But from my observations
during this summer, the insect bores into
the young plant for the express purpose of
food. Corn is about the first vegetation
that comes up in the spring, consequently
it is the only plant largo enough that the
bug can feed upon, and being of a very
juicy nature, affords a very fine subslanco
for the Dill Bug to pierce his long bill into.
He sucks tho-very essence of life until tho
plant must dwindle and die. They con
tiuuc their ravages until about the Hrat week
iu June, at which time they arc all out of
tho ground, and have concentrated their
forces on the rag weed for tho balanco of
the summer. I observo whilst they are depositing
their eggs iu the tender stalk of
tho rag weed, you may find them frequently
through the day feeding on tho leaves,
which I think is suilicient food for them after
they leave Lho corn.
T ?... .... *
jl niu ui on ujiiiuuii mat even inc rag
weed, when they Ui-st como up in llio spring,
nro not free from their ravages; but tho
root being of a very hard, wood-like nature,
they cannot penetrate it suQicicully to destroy
it.
Tho eggs hatch out a very small white
worm, a grub with a blackish or yellowish
head, and ik continues to food on the pithy
purtion of tho weed until it gels Iho requiciiA
6i'/A for W io /???ai-a.1
w.uw >vt <Hi<wiviiuukivii| IV la WTUIVU VVCI
with n yellow transparent coat; and in that
covering is formed the full developed Corn
Bug. When fully matured, it cuts through
this transparent covering, works a hole
through tho hard stem of tho weed and is
then ready to generato its species for the r&
maindcr of tho season. 1 havo counted
from ono to three hundred eggs sgtjlgirubs
in a single rag weect stalk; am^uhon to
ill ink of tbo nuu&or of rag weeds that
grow annually in our stubblo fields to say
nothing of tho quantity that generally
grow in ou* com fields, cotton fields, hedge
rows, fence corners, and around .trees and
stumps, in fact almost most every wUcrd th^
tho land is not wqll cqltivatwi:!
Mjr plan for drying.tbo.Bug,.s to
is eaten l>v tin! slock. As soon as tlio
grain is taken oil", the rag weeds spring up,
and take the place of everything else. If
tho planting interest (and it is to theui that
I appeal) would take a deep interest' "in
this matter, and array itself in a regatfljr
phalanx against tho enemy, before ?wo
years will roll around, tho destroying horiloa '
...:n 1... I.: * " * - :
.. I im <111vcii mio uespair and wholly dostroyod.
t'*.
As I have remarked before, my fbr
destroying the l?ug, is to destroy their phtuu
of generating. 1 would advise all farmers,
as it is a leisure season of the voar, to furnish
themselves with a plenty of large turning
plows, s;?y for instance, a good iron
plow would be famous for the like, and go
into their stubble fields and turn the rag
weeds upside down, and by so doing you
?.;n - ? .i ' - -
..... v?vtil inciii nuiii coming or making
seed for another crop. At the same tiino
lot the Iioc hands, trim round the bedgo
row?, fcneo corners, branches. ditches, and
every otlier place where llif-y can find
a tinglo weed standing; and in this way
you may tllcetiialiy, in llic course of a few
years, nut only destroy this troublesome
weed, ]>ul will cud in tlu> dc-sti action of tho
Corn 1 Joror. ^
I Mr. Ivlitor, I have spun this emninunica!
lion out lunger than I expected wlicftjl
commenced, hut ?ny decp-foll interest in jtfeo i
mailer inu-t he my excuse fur its length. '1
1 hope that 1 may enlist some of your readers
to lake hold of litis subjcct thatWro i
boiler calculated lu do moro juMiee to it^fts
il is a mailer of vital interest to the fattaing
community. 'i
J'eihaps wlien I get a little more at
lire. I will give your readers a more full:**?.
r .i i - - - ^w..j l ! -
ui mo uaiisionniiiion from liie gttifb
to the perfect 1 'ill J)?pf or Corn lioror.1 ; *
SALUDA PLANTED
TIEE BE3T MODE OF STOPPING DITCIF
WAoHBi. ,
uy tui; con ok.
If IS Woll L-Il/IU'B I..
and ditches witli timber
but little good is elv
water must liftvc ;ti
strneted, 'nirtqraH
wbich.it i]o>y? am
jury, has boon dor
certainly, than gt.
tor Johnston,1 Of is
ebeap method of ren.
is bolb tlVeclusd ancl con,vc
tilled lauds. It i?, simply, to
of slakes across the -wash or ditch, eve?j
leu or fifteen feet?these r.tafeos to btflwdtvo
or fifteen inches from each otlieK^ rattling
of j?inc, eedav, or any firiSpprpy.
then interwoven between the staKes^'^lljfch
must lie extended beyond the line of b%h
water mark, and this allows the water fo
drain through, whilst it leaves all the earth
and coarsor vegetable matter behind. Tlie
first dam is soon filled uj>, and the second
then receives the benefit, and so on succte?ively
until the entire wash is "healed arid
haired over." These washes make the richest
portions of the field, and when they||ut?
again rendered fit for cultivation, it is
to protect them permanently by guard
drains and ditches. There is always a sufficient
quantity of brushwood growing *H>
the margins of streams, to furnish the 19*f.ll'
(Ilia
? ?. !.> [MUWCUUU UJ UH)
soil. "NVc cull safely recoinniewl this plhh,
as wc have practically tested it ourselves.?
South Curolina Ayricnltxirint. ff
To Male J'Jxa'lknt Soap for Cvmf&m
ooi.? iuu uiusL uuvo goou asues, and MP&
them in hoppers or barrels, on a thick.Infer
of straw, adding a half bushel oflimo
common sized hopper; wet the ashes d(t!!y
fur several days, to lot them rot; then, fen
it through, and it will be strong; put:riwyour
kettles, and boil it, and fill up for two
or thrco days, or till you can skim up thick
potash, thnt looks like diity 6alt; then lake
out oue-fourth of the lie and potash and set
it asido. Now get your grease, and put in
the coarsest skins of bacon, boncs^ you
have, and the lye will soon eat tb'eriJ*togjgf?
If clear grease rises on tbo top, ladle^pff
till it cats up all tho bones. Arp. : i\iarr. It
. r> *?-? .
| there Lo any houos left, take a liirpf#.- fork
and pick tlieni out, and throw theitf injfoo
other kclf!c of potash; then add'tftjb piiro
grouse dipped oft', to make tlio sonp aq ittlld
that it will not quite tnko the skin off J/ppr
tongno; try ami see if it lather* weH^lBon
Btir it an lmnr.. aihI nvot'a il.n i
, ..? tnv vuivi,
tho sumo way, and it "Will bo
can take it out when Cool. If yd?
refine somo, put in a pailfnl of
in it, stirring it till it bUls;.
in tlio ketllo, and cut out