The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-22
THE CATERPILLAR CRUSADE.

| LII VA ILhTlLLhh UhUSAUE,
Much interesting literature and valuable
Information Is now being accumulated by
Prof. G. V. Riley, chief OF the chronological
commission. with reference to the nature,
habits and history Of the cotton worm. Prof
Riley has been charged with an inquiry into
this special subject with the view of eaborat-
Ing some general plan for the extinction OF
the great enemy to cotton, and for some time
past has been distributing circulars through
out the cotton-growing region, In which cir
culars he formulates his investigation and in
invites responses. One OF the most compre-
hensive and Intelligent OF these replies en-
anates from DR.. Geo. Z. Gillespie, of Natch-
toches parish, and Is published In full by the
Vindicator DR.. Gillespie answers all Prof.
Riley's questions at length, and sustains
| his propositions by statistics which bear
the impress OF care and industry. AS regards
the matter OF destroying the worms, Dr. Gil
lespie advances nothing new He knows OF
no improvement upon the already familiar
process Of applying Paris green and recon-
mends no change In some other directions
however, he has much that is interesting and
important to say-notably with reference to
the Information OF the caterpillar which In
| our opinion, Is the question OF paramount
| Significance. Upon this topic the Doctor
| writes as follows:
The insect undoubtedly passes tho winter In
the butterfly form. which Is the fourth and last
stage OF their existence. They belong TO the
species Lepidoptera. and genus Papiio. and
are the proceeds OF the chrysatdes, from the
| caterpfliars. They are about seven eighths of
an inch long; of dark Greyish brown color not
with Characteristic dark circular spot on each
wing. The last seen Of the caterpillar In the
autumnal season. whom tho crop OF cotton is
after they eat all the cotton leaves they proceed
to web up" on any leaf that will afford them
protection. This chrysais produces the butter
ton. 1t Is my opinion that they seek winter
quarters before they mingle in concourse with
the males ft Pence their eggs IRE not fortified
the spring of the year. They may be seen IN
the warm days Of January. February or March
or In corners Of fences made of rails with the
bark on them. just before sunset, after one II
these warm d ta they WI come out and
same brilliant colors that they do in spring and
summer whom they are depositing their eggs.
ana one not not perfectly acquainted With them
therefore. pass the winter In the butterfly form
IN semi-torpid condition: yet. strange to re-
mark. q. passaM rhe first thing seen In the
spring OF the year Is the worm itself.
This is perhaps not new theory but it Is
certainly put with intelligence and force and
Is full of interest. Many Of the most thought
full observers Of this subject maintain that it |
Is during the alternating period that the |
worm can be most successfully attacked |
Many, indeed, believe and insist that the |
worm hibernates In the fields under ground, |
and that by winter blowing and consequent |
exposure to the cold the worm can be prac-
tically destroyed. Theorists Of this latter |
class sustain their proposition by showing |
that the worm has prevailed to far greater |
extent since than before the war, and attribute
this to the fact that before the war fall and |
winter blowing was the rule; whereas, since
the war, it is the exception. There may or
may not be something In this 1t must un-
dergo the investigation OF science along with |
the mass Of theories growing out OF the In
quiry and its discussion.
AS the matter stands, we know Of nothing
which answers better than Paris green as a
weapon against the developed and matured
worm, though 1t Is very certain that If any
agent equally destructive could be applied to
the worm in the earlier stages of its develop
ment, far better results would be obtained. No
doubt Prof. Riley will give this feature his
most earnest attention, for since there is q
period at which the worm Is inert, torpid and
helpless, that period Is the one at which to
attack 1t, II attack be practicable A mat
ter Of the very first moment Is to ascertain all
the facts relative to the Information of the
worm and to devise some means, ii possible,
Of destroying it at that stage. In conclusion,
we call especial attention to what DIR. Giles
pie says concerning birds, and commend 1t to
The consideration OF the authorities as well as
of the planters In every part Of the cotton
)elt:
This present year. 1879. the cotton worms
nave not developed as rapidly and as numer-
'usly as they have usually done heretofore
IND among other causes retardinR their pro-
Zress mas been pointed out as their great enemy
he red.Winged blackbird (Argelaius Plaeni-
EMS. Th1s bird has been seen in large hocks
q the cotton fields very early this year. These
olrds nave been seen freQuenting our fields and
oIests IN great numbers late In the
.naIn ha season, put have never been
md August before. One planter told me that
le saw enc flock Of at least forty thousand in
lis cotton field! This mum Der may have been
onslderapiy exaggerated. but there is 10 oles-
lon that they have been in the cotton fields dnr-
ag these early months, July and August. in
cry great quantities. such as have never heen | ;
cen before: I have been informed that they
led upon the worms in three of their forms | r
20 butterfly. caterpillar and chrysalis. These