FIBER PLANTS 183 



been devised for it. The losses that it occasions 

 reach large figures each season. It has been found 

 to slightly prefer corn to cotton, and a small measure 

 of protection may be secured by planting occasional 

 rows of corn through the cotton field. During the 

 period when the corn is in silk, the worms will be 

 attracted by it instead of by the cotton. 



The cotton caterpillar is also related to the cut- 

 worms and the army worm. In habit it is much like 

 the latter. In certain seasons it suddenly appears in 

 immense numbers, and if allowed to go unchecked, 

 will, in a very few days, entirely defoliate even the 

 largest cotton fields. When this insect first appeared, 

 it created great alarm, and for some years caused 

 enormous losses to the cotton industry. However, 

 it was soon found to be easily controlled by the use 

 of Paris green, so now the loss from it is small. 

 The Paris green is usually applied in the form of 

 powder. A quantity is placed in each of two thin 

 muslin bags, which are tied on the ends of a short 

 pole, that is the length of the distance between the 

 rows of cotton ; this pole is then placed across the 

 saddle in front of a man on a mule, who rides up 

 and down between the rows, the jolting of the mule 

 sifting enough of the Paris green through the muslin 

 to poison the leaves effectively and economically. 

 It is only in occasional years that this insect ap- 

 pears in sufficient numbers to attract attention. A 

 serious outbreak can be quickly subdued by the 

 above simple remedy. 



The diseases of cotton were first seriously studied 

 by Professor G. F. Atkinson, while connected with the 



