REPORT UPON THE COTTON WORM IN SOUTH TEXAS IN THE 
SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER OF 1883.* 
By Dr. E. H. ANDERSON, of Kirkwood, Miss. 
KIRKWOOD, MIss., June 16, 1883. 
Sir: I have the honor herewith to make to you the following re- 
port: 
Having received on the 30th March my commission from the Depart- 
ment and your instructions to visit Southern Texas to investigate Ale- 
tia, especially as to its advent and all circumstances having an influ- 
ence upon it, as well as to make diligent inquiry as to poisons and ma- 
chinery for distributing them, I left home on the 2d April and reached 
Houston, Tex., on Thursday the 5th. I remained there several days, 
interviewing some of the more prominent citizens, especially those 
thought to be the best informed upon the worm question. 
I soon discovered that these gentlemen were more familiar practi- 
cally with the insects and machines and remedies for poisoning them 
than those of my latitude, and in fact were old veterans in the warfare 
waged by them against the Cotton Worm. Judge J. W. Johnson, now 
editor and proprietor of the Houston Post, was the first whom I chanced 
to meet. He, however, had not prosecuted the study of Aletia far 
enough to add any knowledge to its natural history, but had paid con- 
siderable attention to machines and poisons. I visited his warehouse 
* In obedience to the following instructions: 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, March 20, 1882. 
Sir: Iinclose your appointment for three wonths, beginning April 1. You will at 
once proceed to Southern Texas and institute a thorough inquiry on the following 
points: First. The earliest appearance of the Cotton Worm in particular sections, and 
all attending circumstances as to character of soil, elevation, and other surroundings, 
such as will throw light on the reason for such first appearance; second, the exact 
condition of things in Southern Texas in reference to remedies, and the machinery in 
vogne for applying them. 
In reference to this last part of your work I want notes of experience from such 
practical planters as you may meet—what preferences, in other words, as to remedies *‘ 
applied and means of applying them their experience of the last two or three years 
has led to. At the close of your work you will please make a full report as to these 
two phases of the Cotton Worm question for that particular section, 
C. VY. RILEY, 
Entomologist. 
Dr. E. H. ANDERSON, 
Kirkwood, Miss. 
(31) 
