36 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
Early in the season, when cotton is young and tender, one ounce of arsenic boiled 
in one gallon of water five minutes and then put ina barrel of cold water will de- 
stroy the worms. But in order to make it more efficient, add one-fourth pound Lon- 
don purple, mixed up in cold water. This will go over an acre of land when properly 
applied. When the cotton is older and the worms more numerous double the poison ; 
no danger of hurting the cotton. The worms are about nine days hatching, and as 
heavy dews and rains will wash off the poison it must be applied every three days in 
hatching season. The proper time to commence poisoning is when the millers or 
moths are depositing their eggs. They can be seen at work after sunset and before 
sunrise, 
I regard as important this gentleman’s views, as he is a thoroughly 
practical man, and has the energy to execute as well asthe intelligence 
to formulate his ideas methodically. 
From this point I went to Fort Bend on the Brazos, and remained sev- 
eral days with Colonel Cunningham, adjoining Colonel Ellis’s, the two 
plantations cultivating 2,000 acres of cotton. This was early in May, 
I inquired for the largest cotton, and on visiting the field found a few 
worms, specimens of which were sent to you. This was the first brood, 
and unsuspected until found by me. This field was located near Oyster 
Creek, and had upon it the decaying trunks of live oak, still covered 
with moss, and pecans. It was designated as mulatto land, and very 
rich, lying between Oyster Creek and the Brazos. The general features 
were such as observed upon Colonel Ellis’s plantation adjoining. The 
mildness of winter temperature here, the many secluded spots, the abun- 
dance of native perennial flora, and the almost perpetual southern gulf 
breeze, as well as the great mass of stubble, rendering the soil extremely 
porous, would all favor the different theories entertained as to Aletia. 
While passing through many portions of Southern Texas, of both bald 
and wooded prairie, now devoted to ranches, I could not but pause 
to admire the profusion of wild flowers of infinite variety, intermingled 
with native grasses, giving an additional charm to the iandseape, and 
furnishing food for both insect and animal. Here the moth could find 
a congenial winter home, if nature has endowed it with such longevity. 
Next visited Hempstead. As I have reported to you from that point 
in detail in my correspondence, will now give a mere synopsis. Found 
the first brood there on the highest point in the field, where bone phos- 
phates had been used as a fertilizer, and where cotton was then, May 
14 forming. This plantation was upland wooded prairie, 3 miles from 
the Brazos, at an elevation of 30 or 40 feet above river, and about 70 
above sea level. The soil may be called sandy loam, and quite fertile. 
The size of the cotton had much to do with the presence of the worm, 
but there were, perhaps, other agencies that aided in hastening it there. 
It was found near an abrupt break on the crest of the hill which had 
become overgrown with rank vegetation, and which sheltered a portion 
of the field under its lea. Here either chrysalis or moth would have 
been protected against the inclemency of winter. Here, likewise, all 
the surroundings were favorable for the preservation of insect life. It 
is a coincidence not without significance in my experience that the first 
