178 COTTON 



The cotton crop is ripe and harvested or what 

 is left of it after the weevil has done his work is 

 harvested. He still stays with the cotton plant un- 

 til late in December, or as long as any portion of 

 the plant is green. 



Winter approaches now, and a winter home is 

 needed. Where shall he go ? He does not like 

 cold, and thousands and thousands of his fellows 

 perish each year; but there are many places of pro- 

 tection on the average cotton farm; the open bolls, 

 grass and weeds, brush and rubbish; even leaves 

 in the ground furnish a home and warmth. Here 

 he stays with all his fellows, silent and asleep, until 

 spring comes again. The warm days of rejuvena- 

 tion go on. The buds on tree and grass stalk 

 crack and burst in their joy, and perhaps awake the 

 sleeping beetle, which is now attracted by the 

 joyful sounds, and proceeds to take breakfast with 

 the happy hosts. 



When cotton has grown so large that squares 

 are made, the enemy appears, looking altogether 

 harmless, few in numbers, and exceptionally gay. 

 Soon the female begins to lay eggs . At first her nests 

 are many and she puts but one egg to the square. 

 By and by, as the number of females increases, and 

 the squares become fewer in number, more nests 

 must be found. The boll seems to serve the pur- 

 pose well. But the shell is hard. So much the 

 better; it will be safer there. Wise little mother 

 beetle! she will find a way. And she does, for that 

 snout seems especially built for digging and eating. 

 The opening made, the egg is inserted, and the open- 

 ing closed. Too precious to the little mother is that 

 egg and the life within it for her not to exercise 

 care, that it may not be disturbed or destroyed. 

 She knows in some way, in some manner, and with 



