New-York tribune., 1878-09-28

j. II. COmstock, went South early in the Summer and
collected mass Of valuable information in spite Of the
yellow fever and the fact that the has been less
active this year than ucua Efficient aid In this work
was rendered by several professional gentlemen in var
GUS parts Of the cotton region.
Professor Riley thinks that the ignorance displayed
by the cotton planters rather their overseers he
planters generally being absent during the growing
season., IS remarkable, considering the extent OF
damage which results from the ravages Of the
They nee the fields green and promising day, and
two or three days aferwaTd the leaves have all been
devoured and the crop ruined they wonder whether
the destroyer grows in night from nothing, comes
from distance. Professor Riley says, however, that
the subject Is in which those who specially
educated for the study OF insect life find many difficult
ties.
Although the serious ravages OF the worm have been
confined this to the cane-brake" regions of
Aal anna and the southwestern counties Of Georgia. yet
individuals OF the species have been found in every field
visited in Georgia and the CarOinas, where one
dreamed that they existed. These occasional specimens
were found to the extreme northern limit OF the cotton
region, and this fact has significant bearing the
spread migration and sudden appearance OF the species
Each female Is capable OF producing several thousand
in season, and under favorable conditions OF
temperature this brood may all be hsched within
few days the sudden appearance OF the insect in num-
bers sufficient TO destroy plant in field is perhaps
explained by the presence Of these solitary individuals
" 1t had often been won Ter TO me-" says Professor
Riley that true parasites had been found in-
festngthis insect since there scarcely exists planeed-
ing species that is not attacked by parasite. Sew
such have been discovered aletia this Summer.
Again had wondered what plants the moth naturally
feeds from since known TO be fond Of sweets and has
to my knowledge done considerable injury in Kansas by
boring into peaches The cotton plant is peculiar for
having gland from three Of the larger ribs OF
the more mature leaves, and still larger gland at the
base Of each Of the three loOes OF the nvoucre AS
as learned that these glands secreted a sweetened
liquid inferred that the plant would be found 70 furnish
nourshment to the moth as well as to the lary1
and drew attention to this belief in The Atlanta
Constitution. II was with small degree OF
pleasure that at BacOnOn, subsequently, in company
with Professors COmstOck and Wllet, able to
prove my anticIpton correct by studying the normal
habits Of the moth with dark-!antern at night The
moth therefore attracted to the plant by the sweets
which this leaf affords and these sweets are hrst
produced when the plant begins flower and fruit VIC
have here possible explanation OF the weknown fact
that the is noticed the young plants, but
first appears about the time OF fruitng 1t also dis
covered that the cotton moth feeds the honey
creted from glands occurring the COW pea. e1 ten
sivey grown through the South as n forage plant"
"Itls by taking advantage Of this love for sweets
which the moth possesses the Professor says that
shan probably arrive at ono OF the most efectua
ways Of preventing the Of the worm. for II we
allure the first moths to certain death, we nip the
effects OF different posons, mixed with sweets
10 use bait These bats may be applied to the trunks
Of the dead pine trees that occur In many cotton
plantations 20 the trunks OF any other trees they
may be used IN pans upon which perforated platforms
OF wood tn are made to float.
"The use OF Paris green, either in water or powder
which first recommended for the insect in 1873 Is now
the and reality the only satisfactory mode OF
killing the worms, though some other preparations OF
arsenic are to limited extent employed. We may yet
discover something eectual and lees dangerous, but
in any event there great deal to be learned In lhe
safe, more economical and more efectual use OF the
green poison. IL IS now either sprinkled In water
through sprnklers that waste the bulk of the
liQuid the ground busted from equally and
crude sleeves Tue careessness with which IL E geuer-
ally used also preudiced the negroes against IT, for
thepOwder settles their persons, and IA carried by
peTspraOD 10 the neither parts causing swelling OF the
grOns and other troubles The cost averages ~ per
rally deters many from attempting 20 the crop.
Lastly planters begin to poison until the worms
nearly tull grown and have fairly begun 20 strip the
plant by which time IL is often too late TO over
large plantation successfully. have doubt whatever
that all this be materially changed. For days
hatch they feed the under side OF the
leaf cOnfDing themselves the parencbyna without
eating through There they may bo in large numbers
without attracting attention. and there, before they have
opportunity TO riddle and destroy the foliage, they
should be killed, and might be with minimum eXpen-
dture OF poison II this applied from beneath IN
stead OF from above. We shall eEdca0Or TO perfect
machine FOR this purpose. BY means or iOrcepump, 10
which an atOmzcr is attached the liquid may also be
sprayed OF the plants al once, thus
greatly reducing the cost OF labor and material has
been proved IN parts OF Alabama"