The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1878-10-11
d0l aeu Eaamimer
Riley on Cotton Insects.

COrncll University, anu by GrOf. "A.
II. Grotc, another distinguished en-
tomologist who has paid special at
tenlion TO cotton insects. These sci
cntists have divided the whole South
ern cotton-iield between them. and.
with the assistance of several able
local observers, have been industri-
ously pushing their operations. I'm
fortunately for the Investigation. but
fortunately for the planters, cotton
insects so far have been developed to
"A very small extent, and the facts TO
be gathered are so isolated and seat
tered ms to neccssitatc great labor in
gathering them. The prevailing en-
idcmic in the South, the yellow fever
has also retarded their investigation,
even in places in which there is no
possible danger of its occurrence.
The panic among planters and labor
ers has superseded even the chronic
anxiety caused by the insect enemies
of the cotton crop, and hence the OBJ
servations of cultivators are very
limited and unsatisfactory. Local
correspondence is also difficult, and
hence the operations of these gen
tlemen have been greatly embar-
rassed.
As the eastern portion of the cot
ton field has been measurably free
from this pest, Professor Comstock's
observations are confined to the State
of Alabama, and mostly to that fer
tile cotton region known as the Game
brake" and traversed by the Ala
bama Central Railroad. He reports
II ! 1 a
gWdced) made a very late appear
ance this season, none being observed
in the Cane-brake till the middle of
July. 1t is noted, as special pecul-
iarity of the season.. that the second
brood of these worms, contrary to
previous observations, was unusually
large in few limited localities, near
ly stripping the cotton of its foliage,
whereas in previous seasons this
brood has not been regarded as
very formidable. In Marengo, Perry
and Hale counties the second brood
wcbbed up between the 4th and 9th
of August, and appeared as moths
between the 18th and 10th. In Dali
las, just east of Marengo, they webb
ed up about week later, but by the
first week in September the third
brood was very destructive in all
these counties, to crops that had not
been well poisoned. 1t is rcmarka-
bic that cotton on poor soil and con-
siderably blighted or rusted escaped
their ravages.
Professor Grotc reports having
made reconnaissance through East
crn Georgia, paying special attention
10 the migrations of the moth 41tetid
drgiiidced). From very numerous
personal observations and from an
extensive interchange of views with
intelligent planters in this region he
could discover no traces of the WISH
tation OF this insect during the sea-
son. In fact he is satisfied, from the
observations of planters, that the
'cotton-worm" visits this region only
occasionally. He traversed the coun-
ties of Burke, Clarke, Fulton, Greene,
Hall, Hancock, Jones, Monroe, Put
nam and Richmond without discov-
ering any trace of the insect. In
Jones county the earliest recorded
visitation of the worm was August
II, 1873, when the ravages were
quite serious in Central and Eastern
Georgia. In the western and south
western parts of the State the worm
puts in n regular annual appearance,
especially in the rich, rolling lands
between the Chattahoochce and Flint
Rivers, where il was first noticed
about the end of July. Professor
Grote cites the observations of j. G..
Hall, esq, of Macon, TO the effect
HAT the worm annually invadcs the
State from the southwest, and its
line Of movement has been traced
through Decatur, Baker, Calhoun,
Dougherty and Lee counties. On the
Islands of the coast the "worm" is a
regular visitor, appearing early in
July, ms il often does in the cotton
belt of Alabama and Mississippi.
Professor Grote has gathered historic
evidence of the gradual introduction
OF the "worm" into the United States
by way of Florida from the West
Indies. The details of this evidence
WIZ be given to the public hereafter.
Professor Riley, while taking the
oversight of the whole field, has di-
recled special attention to the more
southern portions. lie notes an UNI
usual late appearance of the worm"
N the Southwest, where il did not
SHOW itself in any forcs till the mid
die of August, and then only within
harrow limits. Some observers in
south Texas put the loss occasioned
ny the insect at third of crop, but
experience has taught distrust in
local estimates of this character,
winch are often unduly Influenced by
panic. A still greater loss is stated
IN some districts of Alabama, lead
ing to extrayagant local estimates OF
general loss.
VI, Notwithstanding the obstacles
thrown in the way of the investiga-
uon by the prevailing epidemic, sew
eral Important and substantial re-
suits have been reached. No previ-
Gus observation of parasites of the
cotton-worm had been made, but
lllis season several have been detect.
co. The experience gathered in Al.
uOalila IL adverse to Professor Grote'i
theory of the annual introduction Of
lhe worm, and in favor of its hiber
nation in the Cane-brake. The ne
cesSlty OF fuller and more satisiacto
~ observations on the subject and
me lack of original facts of undoubt
eu verify from which to form gener
~ conclusions are emphatically notice
W Professor Riley. The owners o
plantations at this season of the yea
are generally absent at watering
PAGES, and the overseers left il
Gharge "are often so little iniorme,
IN regard to even the simplest fact
u insect life that their opinions an,
reports are found upon examination