The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-28
COTTON GROWERS. ATTENTION.

COl1ON OGOW EICCS Al AAOE
The Entomologist of the U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture, DR.. Riley,
has just submitted to Secretary Rusk
for publication a progress report on the
investigation of the boil worm OF cot
ton, an investigation provided for I'm
der the act making appropriation for
the Department of Agriculture for the
current fiscal year. Although only q
progress report, the writer, Mr. F. W.
Nally, who has had charge Of the de-
tails Of the investigation, under the
direction of the Entomologist, and who
has been constantly in the field since
last July, presents some facts of great
Importance to planters. He points out
in the first place, that the damage in
ficted on cotton by this insect. is far
less than has been generally supposed.
Careful investigation, showing the
damaged bolls in the fields observed to
amount to nearly % per cent, indicate
that less than a third of this damage
was due to the boil worm. 1t is never-
theless generally agreed that the dam
age was fully up to the average, some
even thinking that it was above the
normal, while none estimated it as
lower than usual. The conclusion is,
evidently, that many planters fail to
distinguish the boil worm ravagesf from
those of other insects, from physiOlOgi-
cal phenomena of the cotton plant, and
from some of the fungoid diseases. In
order to aid the planter in this matter,
the report offers some valuable obser-
vations upon insect ravages easily con-
founded with those Of the boil worm.
A considerable portion of the report is
directed to a consideration of the
remedies, and to presentation of the
results Of experiments made during
the season. This would indicate that.
on the whole, of the remedies so far
employed, that of using corn as a trap
crop seems to be the most satisfactory.
In reference to a supposed protection
not uncommonly employed, namely,
the Use of lights to attract the moths
in their flight through the field, the
somewhat slight favorable results seem
to be far more than counterbalanced
by the large destruction of parasitical
insects. A chapter is devoted to in
sect diseases, affecting the boil worm
but with these, as well indeed as with
most Of the field work, the very late
date at which the appropriation for
this investigation became available
last year, it has been impossible to do
much more than to provide effectual
means for continuing the work under
the most favorable conditions the COM
ing season. In this respect the report
furnishes ample testimony as to the
Importance of early action on the part
of Congress with reference to appro-
priations for agriculture. It can be
readily understood that for work neces-
sary to be done in the field, appropria-
tiOns not available as was that of last
year until the middle of July, are of
little avail for immediate use, while
even an appropriation made in the
spring is liable to be SO late as to make
adequate preparations for necessary
field work impossible in time for the
opening of the season.
The report in question will be pub
lished in Bulletin No. "a of the Division
of Entomology, U. S. Department of
Agriculture, and those who are inter
ested in the subject, should immedi-
ately address their applications to the
Department.
IANn