1867 Article a Cotton "Worm" Infestation in Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by T. D. Hudson, 12/2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Captain George W. McCranie founded the 'Weekly Telegraph' in Monroe, Ouachita Parish beginning in September 1865. In mid-December, he decided to change the name to the "Ouachita Telegraph'. The paper continued publication until and the 1890s or later. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== ================================================================================== ================================================================================== 1867 Article a Cotton "Worm" Infestation in Union Parish Louisiana From the Monroe "Ouachita Telegraph", issue of 22 August 1867, page 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== THE WORM ABOARD. -- The Ashley County (Ark.) Times reports that there is much complaint of the worms in that County. Some of the farmers are killing the worms, while others build fires, and thus, it is said, destroy thousands of the moth. The Times says there is a marked difference between those plantations which have been wormed and those which have not. The Flag, of Jackson parish, laments the inevitable destruction of the cotton crops in that parish, saying that "many planters have told us that they did not believe there will be enough cotton saved in the parish to furnish seed for next year." We are inclined to think our co[n]temporary's information is rather too gloomy. -- But should it be correct, Ouachita, we think, will have a few cotton seed to exchange for bacon and beans -- those snap beans, for instance, that grow to 29 inches in length! The Union Record, of last Saturday, says: The army worm is in almost every cotton field in the parish. The crop is represented as almost totaly destroyed, many farms having the leaves eaten from the stalk and the worms at work on the young bolls. It is hard -- hard upon the people. Beware of a panic, brethren. -- Your people don't owe New Orleans much for advances; they have an abundance of swine and horned cattle, beside plenty of old looms and spinning wheels. We once knew plenty of men in the hills who never planted a seed of cotton, and yet always had plenty to live upon. We all will have to give up, for awhile at least, the idea of amassing sudden fortunes. -- Perhaps this whole generation will live and die poor. We unwittingly killed our goose, and thereby stopped the laying of nuriferous eggs. Let us strike out boldly for individual independence, and trust to Providence for a super-abundance. ###############################################################################