The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-05

Prof Smith curator of the museum Of the, University of Alabama, was former ly curator of the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburg. He is a naturalist of national reputation. He e the author of num- Ter of important scientific works in Eng fish and other languages. and he has of fered his services to the farmers of the county. His letter is interesting and valuable and his suggestion practical and timely.
 University, August 4.-(SpeciaD.-The ds nger to the cotton crops from the ap- pearance of the cotton worm is real and imminent Already advices from widely separated localities show that these pests are very much in evidence and In some IJsces have ruined the plants. In lew days these worms will stop eating and inexperienced people may suppose the danger is past. It has only commenced. J5rder ordinary circumstances this brood will be succeeded by a larger one which will be in force towards the end of Au- gust In this latitude the cotton moth has five or six generations during the year and in each brood the female lays about 500 eggs which are so many pros t cf increase would quickly put an end to the cotton industry if 1t were unchecked. As it is very large proportion Of the worms are killed by birds predac1ous ln- sects and parasites, and they are also ! very susceptible te weather influences 5 sg7e- rre->s &5e-el9ays here, but in most re- cent years it is kept down by these nat ural causes. Sometimes, through favor able weather conditions and an abund- ance of food, the worms increase faster Il an the parasites; then we have epidemic years. 1911, thus far, has been such a year-favorable to the worms but rather .unfavorable for the parasites, which are less active in damp and cloudy weather A sudden weather change may check the scourge, but the plain truth is that such a change In August is not at all prob able. To save our crops we must aid nature by artificial means.
 Middle-aged men have seen one or per haps two caterpillar years" Older ones tel; narrowing stories of the havoc wrought in 1888 and 1873. All through our agricultural history these epidemic years stand out with frightfulf distinctiveness. Here for instance. are extracts from a newspaper published in September, 1S46:
 "I have heard from the greater part of the cotton region and the news is all elike-the worm has destroyed the crop. At this moment every field within this region of country, say south of Vicks- burg, Is stripped of everything but the stems, larger branches and a few of the first bolls already too hard for the worms' power of mastication. The fields present most melancholy appearance; nc thing is to be seen but the brown, with cred skeltons of the plants'
 This is dark picture, but not blacker than the reality. The old-time planter scCuld do little or nothing to lessen the scourge We of this generation are not tca 1rIn lave been observing and experimenting; thanks to them. we know what to do. The enemy can be fought effectually; by systematic work can even stave off the epidemic and preserve almost our entire crop Now almost for the first time the more intelligent farmers have been quick 10 their danger. People are ready to take instant and drastic measures; and all this activity, let me say in parenthesis. is due to our patient rturalists. Ii is due 10 our patitnt nat uralists. It s the hopeful feature of the situation and the best pledge of the future.
 Foolish people or those who have ION kept up with the times may de- cry such efforts The danger, they will Say. may pass why fight against it TOW? That is the sheerest nonsense. The wise man doesn't wait for fire before insurinx his house
 If we could have concerted action ef all the cotton growers our cam paign would be ended within four weeks and practically the whole cror could be saved Such perfect co-opera- ton is impossible; some ignorant or lazy farmers will shirk the task or Jut it off unti. too late. And one in- fccted field becomes a focus for in" 1ecting the surrounding region.
 It appears to me that the best and probably the only effectual measure would be to establish a regular pa trol of the county by paid workers. They should bs trustworthy and care