I 



317 



which died last fall, the sap timber of which looks like a coars*^ sponge. I send the 

 oak chip in which the destroyer was found. I very much fear that the fly or moth is 

 depredating upon other oaks iu the yard. How can we distinguish it, and is there 

 no protection against it ?— [Carringtou Mason, Memphis, Teun., October, 22, 1889.] 

 Reply. — The larva is that of one of the large Tile-horn beetles (gems Prionus). 

 The particular species is probably P. laticollis. For an illustrated account consult 

 Riley's second report on the insects of Missouri, p. 78. — [October, 1889.] 



The Boll Worm, 



As you are chief of the entomological division of the Department of Agriculture, I 

 take the liberty of writing you iu regard to a pest that is fast destroying the prosperity 

 of the cotton farmer of this section of our State and reducing us to penury, and will ul- 

 timately, if help does not come, force us to abandon cotton culture. That pest is the 

 ^' boll worm." Much discussion has been had in our local press — many things have 

 been advised and tried — but their ravages were greater the past season than ever be- 

 fore, aud I feel convinced that something else will have to be done than we have 

 hitherto adopted. Paris green, Loudon purple, burning of lamps to catch the miller, 

 are among the best of the remedies resorted to, but all have proved comparative fail- 

 ures. 



I am not an entomologist, but necessity has forced me to give some attention to 

 this matter, and this attention has been followed by the conviction that our most cer- 

 tain method of relief will be found in the line of fostering and caring for those nat- 

 ural enemies, parasites aud otherwise, which we know by observation do exist here, 

 or which observation teaches by parallel lines of investigation, may exist elsewhere 

 aud can be introduced here. Could you give us any help; aud, if so, will you ? I 

 have read carefully reports made by yourself to the Department in 1881 or 1882, and 

 thank you aud the Department therefor, but we need something more. 



We need, I think, bulletins scattered broadcast throughout this part of Texas 

 (east Texas) containing the information in your reports, and such other practi- 

 cal suggestions as may occur to you or others who are familiar with the life-history 

 of this pest and those parasites, its natural enemies, to be found here ; and besides 

 this, a more thorough search for something that will prove of more utility than any- 

 thing hitherto suggested.— [H. L. Tate, M. D., Lindale, Smith County, Tex., Janu- 

 ary 12, 1890. 



Reply. — Your letter of January 12 relative to the boll-worm has been received, 

 I have sent you to-day a copy of the Fourth Report of the U. S. Entomological Com- 

 mission, in which you will find the subject treated from the latest stand-point. If you 

 have read nothing from me upon the subject since 1881-'82, you will find this matter 

 interesting. There is little to be hoped for in the directiou which you particularly 

 mention, viz, the assistance of parasites. As it happens, the boll-worm is singularly 

 free from the attacks of parasitic insects, and up to the present time only one or two 

 have been recorded. These, moreover, are very rare aud do not seem to breed in any 

 abundance. The best hope is in spraying with Paris green and in worming the 

 neighboring corn-fields, as indicated iu the report which 1 send you. If it seems 

 necessarj^, we may give some further attention to the matter the coming season. — 

 [January 17. 1890.] 



Feather Felting by Dermestids. 



I have in my possession a beautiful curiosity, and, as far as I can learn, the only one 

 in existence. I take the liberty of addressing you iu regard to it, as you are author- 

 ity on entomology, and this will probably come under that head. 



It is an ordinary feather-pillow tick, which was made of common bed-ticking and 

 filled with the domestic duck feathers about three years ago and the pillow has been in 

 general use about the house since that time. Of late the lady concluded to remove 



