34 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
raphy. Oyster Creek, quite a large stream, runs through this planta- 
tion from north to south, and has upon its banks a varied growth of 
native and luxuriant vegetation. Among the trees live-oak, cotton- 
wood, pecan, and hackberry are the most conspicuous. From its serpen- 
tine course, forming many densely shaded curves, it would afford at 
many points admirable protection to insects or animals. The large 
size of the gin-house and corn-cribs situated near by the creek would 
also afford the best of winter quarters. Winter temperature and all 
local circumstances favor the belief that Aletia passes the winter here 
in some form. 
From this point I went on to San Antonio, finding cotton too small 
for observation; but, as all climatic influences seemed favorable, de- 
termined to remain there a short time and await answers to correspond- 
ence and then go to the most promising field. While there interviewed 
General H. T. Bee, among others, and felt quite interested in his account 
of his cotton experiments in Leon and Durango, Mexico. The appear- 
ance upon cotton the first year, two hundred miles from any other cot- 
ton, and where cotton had never been planted before, leads to the pre- 
sumption that the worm was indigenous and had fed upon other vege- 
tation previously. General Bee still seems to think that it is generated 
by some peculiar condition of the cotton plant, on the evolution theory. 
All local circumstances here, the mildness of the climate during winter, 
the profusion of flowers furnishing nectar perpetually, and from the 
succulent perennial vegetation, it would appear to be the paradise of 
insects. 
One marked feature here is what they cal! the sea-breeze, which is 
almost perpetual and only interrupted during the prevalence of a norther, 
which is always of short duration and scarcely worthy of the name. 
Without this breeze their climate would be intolerably hot. 
Finding no field for observation here I went to De Witt County, 
where I heard the first bale of cotton always came from. Stopped a 
day at Cuero to see J. C. Hatton, to whom I had been referred. Found 
him interested on the subject of the worm. and conversant with poisons. 
He recommends the following, viz: 
No. 1. Arsenic 1 ounce; hot water to dissolve; boil until dissolved. For one 
barrel and one acre. 
No. 2. Arsenic 1 ounce; to be dissolved in hot water and put into one barrel of 
water; London purple 1 pound to be added cold and well stirred in. To be used on 
one acre. . 
He also showed me several pumps, made of block tin, but none supe- 
rior to those exhibited and described in Bulletin No. 3. Told me Mr. 
J. D. Anderson had requested me to visit him, as he thought he had 
the worm. On visiting Mr. Anderson’s field the first object that at- 
tracted my attention was the rattoon sprouts from the stalks of the pre- 
ceding year. On first examination found the eggs of Aletia much more 
crowded than usual, and upon footstalk as well as leaf, showing a marked 
preference for this cotton. Specimens of this were sent you at the time. 
There were occasional stalks found in the middle of the rows, while the | 
