American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-02-16
The Cotton Caterpillar.

farmers not to forget mat the cater
pillars may sweep over the cotton
fields the coming season. The prob
abilities are that they will come in
force earlier than usual. AS rule,
we have but few of them at their
first appearance some time i'll July.
These pass their round of existence
without doing any appreciahle dam
age. The second crop is still not i'll
sufficient numbers to do any serious
injury but the third crop comes i'll
countless millions, and the effect
upon the cotton fields is the Same as
that of a killing frost. In few
days the stalks are stripped of every
thing green, including the immature
bolls, the further perfection of the
crop being entirely checked. Early
cotton upon good land, we'll cultiva-
ted, generally natures a fair crop
before this happens. But, suppose
the first, OF even the second, crop of
worms should be as numerous as the
third SO that the crop would be cut
off early in tho seasoDf Of course
the cotton crop would to very great
extent be failure. This is what is
to be feared the present year. Aud
why this year more than any other?
Let us turn 10 the history Ofthe in
sect. According to Prof Riley, who
is perhaps the frs tOf living entomol
ogists, this insect passes the winter
i'll the perfect or moth state, and
when the proper time arrives, is
ready for depositing on the cotton
plant the egg which produces
the worm. When but few moths
get over from one season to
the next there is but small begin
ming to this great pest, and not
much damage can be done before
the third generation arrives. If the
third generation of any season
should reach the perfect state and
safely pass the winter, escaping all
casualties until the time for deposit
ins the@egg, of course this first gen.
Grafton would be more numerous
than the third of the season previous
and the destruction of the crop
would b. at once complete. 1t is
because but few moths live over from
one season to the next that their
beginning is SO Insignificant. The
third crop of worms having de-
strOyed the cotton, may perish from
starvation before the worms them>
selves mature. Sometimes they are
caught by a cold snap and killed
outright. Even the moths may
perish during the winter or before
the time to begin their work i'll sum-
mer. Now what are the probabiii>
ties the present year 1t will be
remembered that the worms were
very general last year, and that we
had millions of moths from the last
crop of worms. Did these moths
perish or are they safely passing
the winter? Much depends upon
the answer to this question. By
observing closely we may possibly
find out. There is no doubt that a
great part of them have so far sur.
vived. Thousands of them may
now be seen any warm evening
between sunset and dark flying
about the roofs of old houses. They
may be found hidden in piles of old
rails or boards. 1t is not certain
that they will live till summer, but
having come thus far safely the
probabilities are in their favor.
Well, what are we to do? Fore
warned let US try to be fOrearmed.
We can at least not place our whole
dependence ON the cotton crop.
From extended and numerous ex-
periments all over the South, Paris
green when properly applied is
found to be very effectual in de-
the worms aud saving tue
cotton. One part of the green to
% or 80 parts of flour sprink led over
the plants while the dew is on.
The fields should be closely watched
and the sprinkIing begin at the very
first appearance of the worm.