The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, June 12, 1896, Image 3
v
THE CODE OF HONOR. '
IT IS PASSIM) AWAY IN ALL CIV- *
ILIZED COUNTRIES. ]
The Duello lu (irniuiny, Franco and t
Russia?Tlio Lust Kutul Slrctlng I
lu South Cu-oiliiit?John Lyle 1
Wilson's Code. 1
#
Tho duels following tho celebrated
Von Kotze scandals have attracted i
wide interest in Germany and through- n
out tho world. The German nobility as a S
body, have discussed tho possibility of ?
abolishing the Codo Duoilo, and Prof. H(
Von Bulow, of Westphalia, bus recent- H,
ly published "a strong pamplet show- c
ing tho historical origin of tho duelling I'
k.i.u ?ti - ?- - ' " 11
unuil, II11VI UUW IIIU CUUITJUIDU OI "UOU"
or' underlying it is nud hns been nil j,
along really foreign to tho Qermuu |j
mind." lint tho bloody German duel 0
still continues iu spite of priests t]
and pamphotoers.
The public havo been well informed
through tho press of tho four or live ^
duels growing out of tho Von Kotzo ?
scandals, but tho Chicago Record i'
mentions the following recent meetings, u
which tho most ardent advocate of tho
Code would find it dillicult to defend: C
Ernest Zenker, a lawyer iu l'ots- d
dam, was shot and killed in a duel by
a naval ofliccr, Lieut. Von Kottolholdt, ?
of the Emperor's yacht HohenzoUeri. ?
The officer had wronged the lawyer's
wife, and tho adjustment of his difli- ^
culty was affected by killing the husband.
On the same day two lawyers, L
llraudt and Seliwarez, fought a duel h
near Berlin in the Gruuowuld, for a ft
similar reason, tho lesult being exact- e
ly tho same. Another encounter was 11
between Capt. Von Huuerbein, of the 11
Hist dragoons, nnd his father-in-law, a n
wealthy land-owner iu Silesia, named a
Von Springer. Both were wounded. H
Tn !.? * t TK...I OT
M.L.ft l*UU njllUII un.\llll IWMll \j A lJIIUI/.l'U b
there were three duels in one day.
One of them was fought by old Col.
Van Schwanowedo against a physician, ?
Dr. ltohr, because the latter hud dif- j(
fered with him on the new electoral q
law in Saxony. U
IS FRANCE. d
In France, w here the combat a deux n
is rarely fatal, a committee has been h
appointed to revise the lawsof duelling. c
The committee recommends: That the
duel with pistols be abolished; that the s'
injured party may refuse to light with
swords; that whero the duel is between tl
a Frenchman and a foreigner onch
may U3e the sword of his own country, e'
provided that the weapous are of a o
normal pattern and the blades of equal o
length; that the use of the left hand ?
should be forbidden even for parrying; ?
that in a due! with pistols the signul to d
fire must be given at a rate not faster
than 110 words a minute or slower than
00, and that the distance between the j
combatants must not be more than 25 j
metres, or less than 1(1. p
IN RUSSIA.
Tlussia has two codes of duelling.
By the civil law it is strictly forbidden, lt
but since 1804 it is compulsory in the
army. The Chicago Inter-Ocean says:
'Whenever an oilicer has been insulted
the case is submitted to a Regimental
Court of honor, wliieh decides what
shall be done, regardless of the wishes "
of the persons concerned. If an olli
cor who has boon ordered to light does !
not obey or send in his resignation 01
within twowoeUsof tho Court's decision
ho is dismissed from the service. An Cl
ugitntion is now going on to put nu
end to this priiotioo, and make the law 1'
the same for military men and civil- M
iaus. Cl
IN SOfril CA KOL1NA. '
In the United States tho duel lins almost
entirely disappeared, tho last
fatal meeting in tho South Atlantic *'
States having been the duel between
Col. E. lh Cash and Col. Win, ^
Shannon, in South Carolina in 1KK0, (
in which Shanuon was killed. The ^
anti-duelling laws in South Carolina
aud Virginia are now so drastic as W> j.
prevent such encounters, even if there
liad not been u radical change in public ?
opinion regarding the Code, and in
Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Hl
Louisiana "tho Hold of honor" is now
very seldom resorted to by gentlemen
to settle their differences.
The ethics of duelling will not he discussed
here, though it is unquestionable
that many Southern gentlemen 11
still regret the abolition of the custom. J.
A post-bellum apologist for the Code
iu Charleston held that "there are "
caeca of insults grievous nnd degrad- 0
ing for which there is no action at law.
At common law a woman's chastity ^
and n man's truth and courage, which *
are tho foundations of all character, J
may be maliciously impenchcd, au<l "
the aggressor be freo from legal chal- ^
lenge or issue. Tlio injurcr may enjoy t<
impunity at law, while his victims are 8;
drugged down to degradation and do- o
spair. And in eases where suit would
lie for damages, a legal investigation a
maj involve for tho insulted persons, i(
at best, shame, ignominy, perhaps ?|
ruin, and for the assailant, at most, in- k
significant pecuniary loss.
HIE FIUST AMERICAN COI>n.
Up to 18118, when (lovernor John a
Uydo Wilson, of Houth Carolina, pub- ^
lished "Tho Code of Houor, or tin *
e
rules for the government of principal! t
and seconds in duelling," there was no a
higher authority than the !> x non o
ncripta, or possibly tho Irish Code n
adopted by "the gentlemen delegates h
of Tippcrary, Galway, Mayo, Sligo a
and Roscommon, and prescribed for a
general adoption throughout Ireland." h
No copy of Governor Wilton's original
publication of 18118 iH available, t
but a new edition of his Code was pub- t
lished in Charleston in 1858, after his v
death, and in it appears the "rules for o
urincinnls and seconds in duelling," 1.
* Jk
*>*
;iven below.
JOVEKSOK WILSON DEFENDS THE Dl'ELLO,
Governor Wilson, in a brief preatory
address "to the public," in tht
ditiou of I808, defends the "Code ol
donor," and clainis that "it will be
)ersi6ted in as loug us a muuly indetendence
and a lofty personal pride ic
til that (iiguitiics and eunoblcs tbo hu
nan ckaracter shall continue to exist,
do claimed that his purposo iu pub
ishiug tbo Code watt to save ratbel
ban to imperil human life, and con
dudes bis prefatory note as follows:
"Tbo severest penal enuctments can
lot restrain tbo practice of duelling
ud their e*t;utite severity in this
tato tbo more effectually shields the
Render. Tbo teaching and preaehiug
f our eloquent clergy may do somo
srvice, but is wholly iundequr.to to
nppress it. Under these circumstaucs
tbo following rules aro Riven to tbo
nkli. > :f T *? ??- ?
?uu ii x chu nave me me 01 0110
siful member of society I will bo
ompeneated. I have restored to the
osoms of many their sons by my
mely interference, who aro ignorant
f the misery I havo averted from
liom. I believe that nine duels out
f ten, if not ninety-nino out of a bunred,
originate in tho want of oxporiuce
in the seconds. A book of autbor:y
to which they can refer in matters
here they are misinformed will therojro
be a desideratum. IIow far this
'ode will bo that book tho public will
eeide."
As an appendix to his Codo Govcrnr
Wilson republishes tho Irish Code
f Houor of 1777, signed by Crow
lyan, president, and James Keog and
unby Bodkin, secretaries of the "geulemcu
delegates of Tipperary," ete.
lovernor Wilson's Codo remuined tho
ighest authority in South Catolina
ud probably in the South uutil tho
ud of tho dueling era, but in 1878 a
ew edition of tho Codo was published
nouymously in Charleston, with an
ble and interesting historical sketch
ud defence of individual contests for
jo settlement of difficulties umong
entlemen.
a post-neiitium code.
It was a pamphlet of forty-four
ages untitled "The Codo of Honor;
:s Rationale and Uses, by tho Tests of
Common Sense and Good Morals, with
lie Effects of its Preventive Remeies,"
and its authoiship was generally
ttrilmted to Col. R. Barnwell Rhett,
irinerlv editor of tho Charleston Mer
ury nud New Orleans Picayune.
In Lis introductory essay the author
tates the interesting fact that Col.
ohu 8. Ashe, of Charleston, "ono of
lose consulted in the preparation of
Lie Code or Digest of Usages, employd
in this country, fought as principal
ne duel, terminating in a ilesh wound
f his adversary, ami as second or refrce
he settled, without duels, fiftyno
ditliculties between gentlemen uner
the laws of honor."
TEXT OF GOVERNOR WILSON'S CODE.
Following is tho Code compiled by
ohu Lydo Wilson and published in
838 and 1858. The parenthetical exlanatory
clauses are from tho pen of
Lie anonymous editor of 1878:
Chapter 1.
t'LES FOR PRINCIPALS AND SECONDS IN
nrr.LiiiNG.
The person insulted, beforo clml?nge
sent.
1. Whenever yon behove you are
lsulted, if the insult be in public and
y words or behavior, never resent it
lere, if you have self-command
nough to avoid noticing it. If resented
jere, you oiler an indiguity to the
am puny, which you should not.
'J. If th < insult be by blows or any
orsoniil indignity, it tuny be resented
t the moment, lor the insult to the
ompany did not originate with you.
hit, although resented at the moment,
ou are bound still to have satisfaction
ud must, therefore, make the demand.
See note ou Chapter viii, little ;?.)
15. When you believe yourself agrieved
be sileut ou tin; subject; "peak
> no one about the matter and see
our friend who is to act for you as
3011 br possible.
I. Never send a eltnllenge in the
rst instance, for that precludes all ueotiation.
Let your note be in the
ltigttngo of a gentleman, and let the
abject matter of eomplaiut be truly
nd fairly set forth, cautiously avoidag
attributing to the adverse party
uy improper motive.
fl. When your second is in full posession
of the facts, leave the whole
latter to his judgment, and avoid any
oiisultntion with him unless ho seeks
t. He has the custody of your honor,
n*l l\v obeying him you cannot bo
oinpromitted.
(J. Let the timo of demand upon
our adversary after the insult be as
bort as possible, for be has the right
i) double that time in replying to you,
uless you give some good reason for
our delay. Each purty is entitled
l? reasonable time to make the neeosurv
domestic arrangements, by will or
tberwise. before fighting.
7. To a written communication you
re entitled to a written reply, and it
t the business of your friend to reuiro
it.
KCoNl/s Dl'TY IlKl'OIlE CII AI.I.KXC.K
SF.NT.
1. Whenever you are applied to by
friend to act as bis seoond, before
on agree to do so, state distinctly to
our principal that you will ho govern*1
'only by your own judgment,
hat ho will not bo consulted
fter you aro in full possession
f the facts, unless it becomes
iccessarv to make or accept the amende
ouorable, or send a challenge. You
re supposed to be cool and collected,
ml your friend's feelings are inoro or
L'ss irritated.
'J. 1'se every eflort to soothe and
rampiilli/.e your principal, do not sec
liings in the same aggravated light in
rhieli he views them; extenuate the
onduct of his adversary you sc< clcary
uu opportunity to do so, without
doing violence to your friend's irritated
mind. Endeavor to persuade him
that there must bo some misonder,
standing in the mutter. Check him if
I he uses opprobrious epithets towards
( his adversary, uud never permit improper
or insulting words in the note
( you carry.
3. To the note you carry in writing
to the party complained of, you are
[ entitled to a written answer, which will
, be directed to your principal and will
, be delivered to you by his adversary's
friend. If this note bo not written in
, the style of a gentleman, refuse to re,
ceive it, and assigu your reasou for
such refusal. If thero be a question
made as to the charucter of the note,
require the second presenting it to
you, who considers it respectful, to
endorse upon it theso words: "I consider
the note of mv friend resnectful
and would uot have been thu bearer of
it if I believed otherwise.
4. If the party called on refuso to
receive the note you bear, you nro entitled
to demund a reason for such refusal.
If ho refuse to give you any
renson, and persiots in such refusal, he
treats not only your friend, but yourself
with indignity, and you must then
make yourself the actor by sending a
respectful note requiring a proper explauutiou
of the course he has pursued
towards you uud your lriend, and if
ho still adheres to his determination
you nro to challenge or post him.
(When practicable "a card" published
in a newspaper is substituted for "postiug.")
5. If the person to whom you deliver
the note of vonr friond declinos meeting
Litn on grounds of inequality, you
are bound to tender yourself in his
stead, by a note directed to hiiu from
yourself, and if he reluse to meet you,
you are to post him.
0. Iu all eases of tbo substitution of
the second for the principal the socI
otids should intcrposo aud adjust tho
matter if the party substituting avows
lie docs not mako the quarrel of his
principal his own. The true reason of
substitution is the supposed insult of
imputing to you the like inequality
which is charged upon your friend,
and when the coutrirry is declared,
there should bo no tight, for individuals
may well differ in their estimate
of an indidual's character and standing
in society. In case of substitution and
a satisfactory arrangement, you are
then to inform your friend of all the
facts, whoso duty it will be to post in
person.
7. If the party to whom you present
41 Tin^it n uon fa4l?n? /v ? 1 * I* ?
?* uwtv V- 1X1 IV/J < DVU) 1MIUU1 UlUlliCi
as a second, you must decline acting
with either on the ground of consanguinity.
8. If a minor wishes you take ft
note to an ndult. decline doing so on
the ground of his minority. Bt if the
ndult complained of had made a companion
of the ini^or in society you
nifty bear the note.
9. When nn accommodation is tendered
never require too mach, and ii
the party offering the amende honorable
wishes to givo a reason for his
conduct in the matter do not, unless
offensive to your friends, refuse to receive
it. B\ so doing you heal the
breach the most effectually.
10. If a stranger wish you to bear
a note for him be well satisfied before
you do so that he is on an equality
with you and, in presenting, state to
the party the relationship in which
you htiud towards him and what you
know and bolievo about him, for
strangers are entitled to redress tor
wrongs, as well as others, and the
lilies of houor and kospitulity should
protect them.
Chapter II.
Tin: r.vr.ty ukceivino a note ueeoiif
CIIALLEXOE.
1. When the note is presented to
y<m by an equal, receive and read it,
although you may suppose it to be
from one you do not intend to meet,
because its requisites may bo of a character
which luny readily bo complied
with. Hut if the requirements of the
note cannot bo acceded to, return it
through the medium of your friend to
the person who handed it to you, with
your reason for returning it.
'2. If the note received bo in abusive
tcrma, object to its reception and re1
turn it for that reason; but if it be respectful
return au answer of the same
character, in which respond correctly
and openly to nil interrogatories fairly
propounded and hand it to your friend,
who it i < presumed has been consulted,
ami who has advised tho answer directed
to tho opposite party, ami let it
be delivered to his friend.
3. You may refuse to receive a note
from a minor if you have not made an
associate of him; one that has been
posted; one that has been publicly disgraced
without resenting it; one whose
occupation is unlawful, a man in hie
dotage ami a lunatic. There may be
other cases, but the character of those
. enumerated will lead to a correct decision
upon those omitted. If you receive
a note from a stranger you have
a right to a reasonable time to asccr
I tain his standing in socioty, unless bo
bo fully vouched lor by his friend.
4. If a party delays calling on yon
for n week or more after the supposed
insult, and assigns no cause for the delay,
if yon require it, you may double
tho time before you respond to him,
for the wrong cannot be considered
aggravated if borne patieutly for some
days, and the time may liavo been used
in preparation and practice.
second's dl'ty OX ICBCEIVlXa A notb
heql'irino explanation.
1. When consulted by your friend
who lias received ft note requiring explanation,
inform him distinctly thut
lie must bo governed wholly by you
in the progress of the dispute. If he
refuse, decline to net on that ground.
2. Use your utmost efforts to allay
all excitement which your principal
may labor under; search diligently into
the origin of the misunderstanding.for
gentlemen seldom insult each other,
unless tL.v labor under some misnu
lenuon oi the authorities to make the
comiug fair the most wonderful iu the
history of the society?a veritable
gathering of all the people in the full.
Col. Holloway is very hopeful of
making the fair such u success. Ho
suys the country is in good shape, and
tho friends of progress, kuowing the
advantages to accrue to tho people of
the State by encouraging farm industry,
as shown by their experience, will
he confidently believes, uttend the fuir
in larger numbers than ever before.
Col. Holloway says the authorities
of the two great State institutions,
Clemson and tho Wiuthrop college,
havo promised to have a day set apart
for tho attenduuce of the pupils of
these institutions.
Tho society is also endeavoring to
arrange for a couipetivo military contest,
which will secure tho attendance
of many military companies from all
over the State. Efforts are being
made also to arrange a competitive
drill between tho cadet corps from
Clemson and from the citadel.
Clemson will havo one of the best exhibits
ever seen on the grounds of the
society. It will consist of products
from the farm, the dairy, the muchino
shop, the cannery, etc., designed to
show to the people of the State the work
that is being done at Clemson in instructing
tho boys in the various industries.
Tho management of tbo eocioty,
Col. Hollowny naym, are anxious to
have individuate throughout the State
offer special premiums for Huch claps
of exhibits as in their judgment should
be specially encouraged. This should
be done as early as possible in order
that such premiums iuay be inserted
in the premium list, which is now in
the hands of the printer being made
ready for publication.
' The executive committee, in revising
the premium list of the coming fair,
added class 5 of swine, offering the
following premiums: For the heaviest
hog of not less than 500 pounds, 830;
for second heaviest, $20; third heaviest,
810." Jo these premiums Mnj. A. II.
White, of Rock Hill, offers, $7, $5, and
$3, for tho first, second and third
heaviest hog respectively; provided
that the hog is a registered Berkshire,
a certificate of registration being required.
In view of the fact that owing to the
lack of resources tho executive committee
has been compelled to lessen
the amounts of the premiums offered
at the coming fair, it is earnestly suggested
that the hotels and business
houses of Columbia each oiler a special
premium of not less than $5 for such
an exhibit as may be preferred. This
should bo attended to at once, the
amount of the premium and for what
kind of exhibit intended, being sent to
Secretary Holloway immediately, in
order that tho name of tho donor, the
amount of the premium and for what
it is offered may appear iu the forthcoming
premium list.
riiK t'HAItUDY SCHOIjAKSIIIl'S I
!u the Normal Collrffo at Nashville?
Kxamlnattons in July.
The general agent ol' the l'eabody
fuuu h?H made a new apportionment of
scholarships allowed tho several States
in the Penbcdy Normal College at
Nashville, Tenii., by which South
Carolina i8 henceforth to be allowed 13
instead of 11 scholarships, as heretofore,
A Peubody scholarship is worth
S100 a year and tho student's railroad
faro from his home to Nashville ami
return by the most direct route, and is
good for two years. Tho college year
consists of eight months, beginning on
tho first Wednesday in October, and
closing on tho last Wednesday in May,
and tho scholarship students receive
from tho president of tho college ?25
on the last days of October, December,
February and April. These scholarships
are awarded when vacancies occur
from any State, by competitive
examinatiou. Tho examinatiou of npnhennts
will take place this year eu
July 21 and 22.
INDKPKNI)KNCK OF TKXAS.
Tho Original Declaration Found in i
the Archives of tlio State Dcnurt
incut.
Tho curious fact lias boon brought to light
that the State Department at Washington,
has in its possession the original of the Declaration
of Independence adopted by the
Congress of Texas when that State was
part ol Mexico. Beth F. Shepnrd. Associate
Justice of the',Court of Appeals of the Distriot
of Columbia, recently wrote to tho State
Department on the subject, saying that the
original paper was held by the Federal Government,
and desiring to know whether it
did not properly belong to the State. The
State Department archives has been searched
and the document found, hound in a volume
of diplomatic correspondence relating to
the recognition of Texan independence by
the United Str.tes, It is undoubtedly the
original signed by Sam Houston and bis colleagues.
An endorsement on the paper by
Secretary Forsyth says tho document was
left at the department by "Mr. Wharton."
Who Mr. Wharton was the State Department
is anxious to ascertain. Secretary
Oincy has wrote Judge Shepnrd that there
seemed to be uo evidence that the Declaration
properly belonged to tho United States
Government.
prehension or mistake, and when yon
hare.discovered the original ground
of error, follow each movement to the
time of sending the noto and harmony
will be restored. (Retrace step by
step, removing obstacles, or simultaneously
withdraw obstacles.)
3. When your principal refuses to do
what you require of him, decline further
acting on that ground, and iuform
the opposing second of your withdrawal
from the negotiation.
j (continued in next issue.)
THE STATE FAIR.
Interesting Information front Col. Holloway?Special
Premiums.
Already preparations aro being
made for the holding of tho State fair,
and it won't bo the fuult of the otlicials
if the fair is not ono of tho largest and
beat exhibitions ever offered to eight- |
seeing in South Carolina. It is thu in- |
ENEMY OF
WATERMELONS.
A DEADLY KING US THAT ATTACKS
AT THK ROOT.
Mr. Lylios, of Rlrliliind, Has the DIseuso
Explained l>y Pathologist
Smith.
Mr. Wm. Lykep, of Richland county,
who grows lino watermelons, sent to
tho agricultural department some
vines that had died without apparent
causo. A section of his melon Held
was attached and its distruction threatened.
Tho following reply from
Pathologist Smith will bo of interest
to nil melon-growers, ns well as other
'arnurs:
U. S. Department of Agriculture,
Division of Vegetable Physiology and
Pathology,
Washington, D. C., May 27, 1896.
| Mr. W. Lykes, LvUeslaud, S. C.:
| Dear Sir: Your letter of May 24,
together with the package of diseased
melon vines, reached the department
today and have been referred to me for
ntteutiou. Your trouble is not duo
to any insect enemies nor to tho fertilizer
which you applied, that is, not
to them ns fertilizers, although inadvertently
I think they are probably
resj ousihlc for tho wide prevalence of
the disease.
l'he wilt of the vines is duo to the
presence of a fungus which is only too
well known to me. This fungus was
very abundant in the plant you sent,
but well hidden out of sight. Its
method of attack is to enter the plant
under ground through the root system,
from which it often extends into all
parts of the stem, occupying the long
tubular cavities of the stem known
botnnically as water ducts. The melou
vines and similar plants, as you
may know, are provided with an
elaborate system of water pipes for conveying
water and nutrient substances
4 1,) *.v -.11 _ r :
11 win iuc nun iu (ill punn U1 liiU VI11C8.
these begin as tiny tubes iu the smallest
roots und unite into bundles
of larger tubes, traversing the
larger roots and tho stem and main
brauchra, and these bundles of tubes
give oil'hero and there branches, which
puss into the leaves llowers and fruit,
i'ho minutest ramifications of these
water ducts in the leaves are commonly
known us veins. As I have already
intimated, these tubes are for long distance
open passageways from one part
of tho viuo to the other. Now tho
oause of the sudden wilt of the vinesin
whole or iu part is due to the occupation
and clogging of thoso water-conducting
tubes by the little fuugns,
which linds therein sullicient food for
its growth.
In the vines you sent tho water tubes
of the root systems arc tho only ones
which were seriously clogged, but in
\iucB which are more severely wilted
it is customary to find tho fungus also
abundant in the water ducts of tho
parts above ground. The reason for
one branch of the vino often wilting
before another is because the fungus
has penetrated into tho root system of
that side of the vine and clogged the
pipes in connection with that part.
Later on it grows through from one
bundle of tubes to another, and in this
way a second batch will become affected,
and so on until the w hole vino is
wilted. The reason one vine in a hill
is sometimes taken and another left is
T * *
uuu 10 unmi! reason not yet Known to
us, or because one p!aut is more susceptible
to the disease than another,
tliut is, the fungus gains entrance to
the root system of one plant some days
or weeks in advance of its entrance into
the other, i have seen this disease
in a number of locations in the South,
notably at Monetta and Charleston, S.
('., and have received plenty of material
from Georgia and Texas. It is a
widespread disenso iu the melon-growing
regions of the South. It is also a
serious trouble and one with which it
is exceedingly dillieult to deal.
So far there is no known remedy,
and owing to the fact that the disease
attacks the vines, as fur as we know,
always from under ground, you will
see how difticult the problem of treatment
becomes. I have this year under
way in the South, expeiiments in the
wuy of soil fungicides, but it is yet
too early to kuow whether thero will
bo any definite results therefrom.
Tho main efforts plainly should be
directed towards prevention. If I
could known beforehand what you
wera going to do I think I could have
prevented your loss largely or entirely.
This brings us bnck again to the
question of sowing tares. I have beeu
engaged iu studying this disease for
two vears and have Icnn.nil nniln ?
good deal about the life history of the
fungus. It is very resi stent to drying
and to various puisous. It lias, in my
experience, retiincl its vitality for a
year in a diy condition in the laboratory.
It is also cnpaple of growing
quite vigorously on or in a great variety
of den 1 substances. It l.ves for a
long time in the interior of the dead
melon stems, probably for at least six
months. It will also grow vigorously
in dung hills. When a melon vine
containing this fungus is thrown on
the dung heap or in the refuse of tho
stockyard, if tho conditions aro at all
favorable tho fungus begins to grow
and send out its tiny threads, which
multiply in tho manure a million-fold.
There can be little doubt, I think,
that the diseaso is often spread unwittingly
by tho growers in this manner.
Hefuso from tho melon fields,
which tho good sense of tho agriculturist
tell him is the best of fertilizers
for his crop, becomes a medium for
the wido diffusion of the fungus, wheD
/ /
~ ' r : , ~ ; M'?' 1
such refuse, containing diseased plnutaV is
made a part of 'the duhg pile. Ia
Bomo instances which have como uudey .
my observation and which I traced ont
quite carefully, thoro could bo but little
doubt that the inelon-grower waa
responsible for almost complete destmiction
of certain melon fields by ''-1
making use of . infected . tuuuure, .
Really ho unwittingly made what
bacteriologists . call an immense
culture "bed iii his barnyatd. In
4hj> spring this' manure is hauled but*
oni tho fields and put uQder thv.hilfs '
and tho -soil> thoroughly inoculated
with tho fungus. The result waq ja. ft. ...
number of cases tht> eutire destruction
of.tho following crop ?f melons. This
is what I suspect yc.n hnvp. done in
using the "lot manure." Probably
there wero a few diseased viuta in the
refuse which you have added to the
i m&uuro iiile?enoneh to stock or
ilown tho wholo pilt?. When once
thoroughly established, tho fiincjtis
will live in tho soil for n long time,.
probably for not loss than throe years,
nnii homo growers buy from live to
seven years.
Tho melon-growers of southwest
Georgia huvo been groatly bothered by
this disuse in recent years. When o
field is oneo infected with the disease,
it is not save to plant melons on it
again for five to seven years, mother ,
is it safe to lift cattle feed upon it anil
then wander to other parts. c? tho
plantation, for it is possible that tho
disease may bo spread in this manner *
also. ?
Last year one of my South Carolina
friends planted seven acres which hail
been lying out for three years, which
time ho thought was long enough
to get rid of tho fungus, which had
shown itself to somo extent in
the previous melon crop on that.
land. His experience proved .that
time enough had not elapsed, as nearly
tho wholo crop wue uttuekod by tho
disease
I hope after a time to perhaps bo
able to Huggost something in the way
or luugicnlal treatment, but cunuot dot.
so at the present time.
Iu conclusion I would suggest two
or three pre\entive measures: (!)
Avoidance of all lot manure or manure
from huv procured from the melon '
fields; (2) rotation of eropB, the
melon's fields for next ycar'H crop
and successive cropB being selected ..
from parts of the farm which have
not been in melons for quite u good
many years; (3) keeping cattle, mules'*
and other animals otT the fields yon intend
to plant in melons, provided they
have been fed on melon hay or allowed
to wander through the fields whero
the disease prevails; (1) exclusive ubo
of commercial fertilizers, except for
nitrogen, which may bo hud by sowing
cowpeas, scarlet clover, etc, ;
I shall be very glad to hear from .
you again and to know what per cent.,,
of tho crop has been destroyed by the
disease, and to what extent the mulady
prevailB in your locality. >
Regretting that I cannot offer yon ' I
niuie buiiBiaeiory am, i romaiu,
, Very truly,
Erwim F. Smith,
Assistant Pathologist.
CROPS IN THK COTTON RKLT.
Weekly Report of the I*nl????f States
Agricultural Oepnrt inejit.
T1 e f< 11 >wing nro extracts frcnn tin* Agricultural
1)? partment's v ekly weather unit
yrop bulletin:
Virginia?Richmond: Abundanoo of rain
has prevented farm work generally, but on
tile whole has boon beneficial to Crop growth
an?l given a good season to plant the hiM of
tobueeo: grass and pasturage have improved.;
? arly truek rapidly maturing: wheat heads
tilling well and corn growing tasf.
North Carolina-Itulcigh: Showers over
sections where drought prevailed last week'
benelleial, hut insufficient amount; temperature
above normal and er. ps made rapid
growth. Cotton, corn and tobacco excellent
and 'Mm 'beginning .trr-to IsriUl by ill the. .
South: cutting wheat eommeueed.
South Carolina ? t'uluuhla: Showers
poorly distributed, consequently ahseium of
uhiforaiity in crop eonditioii; cotton and
corn range from fair to excellent, with
greater diversity in eane, melons, rice'and
tobacco; penehes ripening, inferior ipinlity;
crops generally well cultivated and two weeks
earlier than usual; wheal and oat harvest
(leorgln?Atlanta: Drought broken by
good rains in North ami central sections ami
showers in Southern secthm; all crops revived
aa<l greatly I?*.*in?llt?^l; corn ami cotton
well cultivated, free of grass ami growing
nicely; oats ntci fridt irreparably damaged.
To inessec -Nashville: Fino rains improved
crop conditions, l>ut generally retarded
cultivation, and crops arc getting
(oul? corn line, some laid l>y in We.-t section;
cotton, where well worked, looks thrifty;
wheat harvest begun; some complaint of
rust; tobncco nearly set and thrifty; cover
cutting progressing.
ST. LOL'IS FlilUHTKNED.
A Threatened Repetition of the Recent
Hurricane Knded in it Rainstorm.
Shortly before 2 o'clock Sumlaj morning
the two stricken cities, St. Louis nud I'ast
St. Louis, received a thorough scare. A
storm came up from the southwest, accompanied
by low, rumbling thunder and almost
continuous flashes of lightning. Then, a
few minutes inter, big, black clouds appeared
on the northern horizon and rolled up until
they covered the city. There was considerable
wind, though nothing at all approaching
a hurricane or tornado. The elemental disturbance
lasted for nearly an hour ami then
became % a slow, drizzling rain, wnieb increased
to a do'i'noour. The work of
ii:g HWfiy the ruins' is being carried on lit a
more systematic manner. ,
In Memory ol" Johnstown Flood Victims.
The people of Johnstown, Fa., observed a
memorial day Sunday iu honor of tho departed
ones who b'id their lives in the great
flood which occurred just seven venrs ago,
on Friday. Mny31,18S'j. Over 3.S00 souls
perished tli.it day. Thousands of pec pie.
Accompanied by hands, visited tho cemeteries.
The scene at the plot of the unknown
dead in Oratidview cemetery, where over f.(K)
lie buried, was singularly pathetic. According
to the mutual custom, services were held
and eneh of the graves were docked with,
flowers. In all the churches surmnns appropriate
were preached, ami the anniversary of
that fatal day was generally observed,