85 



These are but fair samples of the opinions expressed in. the ex- 

 tracts of reports in Professor Comstock's paper, showing the light in 

 which the insect is held by the planters of the principal cotton- 

 growing region. In Illinois, and other States adjoining, cotton does 

 not form the staple product, but during the seasons it grows readily 

 and comes to maturity through the southern counties, and, where 

 raised, would be subject to the attacks of tlie Boll-worm the same 

 as in the South. ^ 



Practically, we can not separate the work of this insect as a Boll- 

 worm from its work as a Corn-worm, for it is pretty evident that 

 these two plants, in a measure, supplement each other in carrying 

 over the species from one season to another. In the cotton-growing 

 region the early brood of worms is found in the terminal buds of 

 the corn, while the late brood, after the corn has become too hard 

 for them to longer feed upon, is found upon the cotton plants. It 

 has been found that where a farmer had a field of corn in which 

 he had taken pains to kill all the Heliothis worms, his cotton did 

 not suffer from the Boll-worm. North of the cotton belt, the worm 

 has the same habit, as has been shown by Mr. Treat, of New Jer- 

 sey ; but here there are but two broods of the worms, and the eggs 

 for the last brood are usually deposited upon ears that are suffi- 

 ciently late in maturing that the worms may get their growth before 

 the corn hardens. 



Before closing this part of the subject, it should be stated that, 

 from examination of the buds and young bolls of cotton that had 

 fallen withered to the ground. Professor Comstock is of the opinion 

 that the amount of damage done by the Boll-worm is slightly over- 

 estimated. Some of the buds showed evidences of having been 

 pierced by some hemipterous or other beaked insect, instead of 

 gnawed by the young Boll-worm. Others were probably blasted by 

 rains or some other causes operating to prevent fertilization, which 

 would result in blighting. This would take a little from the results 

 of such estimates as were based upon the amount of those strewn 

 upon the ground around the plants. * 



AS A CORN- WORM. 



Where the season is long enough, and the summers sufficiently 

 warm for corn to be grown, it may be subject to the attacks of 

 Corn-worms, but it is only in the more moderately warm portions 

 of the corn- growing region where serious damage is done. Professor 

 Kiley says, in his third Missouri Eeport : 



"I have seen whole fields of corn nearly ruined in this way in the 

 State of Kentucky, but nowhere have I known it to be so destruc- 

 tive as in Southern Illinois." 



Other extracts might be given to show that it is more destructive 

 through a belt of about the latitude of Southern Illinois than further 

 north or south. I would assign the following as a probable reason. 

 In the South cotton seems to be preferred as a food-plant, and as 

 soon as the cotton attams considerable size the moths deposit their 



