6 REPORT UPON COTTON INSECTS. 



OTHER COTTON INSECTS. 



There are many other insects that attack and do more or less injury to the cotton 

 plant. Many of these have been figured and . eferred to by the former entomologist 

 to the department, Mr. Towuend Glover, but there is much yet to learn of their 

 habits and natural history and of the best means of subduing them. Specimens of 

 all insects that may be found upon the plant are, therefore, earnestly solicited, with 

 accounts of their work and habits and the amount of injury they do. These speci- 

 mens are best sent by mail, in tight >in or wood n boxes. If living (and all found 

 feeding on the plant should thus b sent) a supply of food should be inclosed with 

 them ; if first killed, they should be carefully packed in a little cotton to prevent 

 shaking and breaking. 



BP Correspondents who desire to make especial observations with a view of replying to this 

 circular, and who wish furthe information as to the best manner of preserving specimens- 

 will receive assistance an .further instructions upon communicating with the department. 



CHAS. V. RILEY, 



Entomologist, 



Two circumstances have somewhat interfered with the 'nquiry, viz, the yellow 

 fever and the general freedom of the plant from the cotton- worm, the serious injuries 

 of this last having been restricted to the cane-brake regions of Alabama and to the 

 southwest counties of Georgia, especially the country between the forks of the Flint 

 and Chattahoochee Rivers the more malarious portions of either State. Its appear- 

 ance n injurious numbers both here and in South Texas was from four to six weeks 

 later than usual, and this was one cause of the small amottut of injury done. The 

 weather at the time of their greatest abundance was wet and interfered with the ap- 

 plication of remedies. 



Professor Comstock's observations were chiefly confined to that fertile cotton-grow- 

 ing region along the line of the Alabama Central Railroad, known as the " cane-brake." 

 He reach d Sehna July 20. There he met many prominent planters, and from them 

 collected important statistics respecting the occurrence of the cotton- worm and the 

 results of experiments in the use of remedies for this species. July 23 he began his 

 field observations near Uniontowu, Perry County, and from that time on, till the mid- 

 dle of October, he was constantly engaged in studying the habits of cotton insects mi 

 plantal ions in Dallas, Perry, Hale, and Mareugo Counties. His only absence from this 

 region was from August 10 to August 15, when I directed him to make a trip through 

 tin- state northward as 'far as Madison County, where much cotton is grown. Profes- 

 sor Comstock has prepared a full and valuable report, which will be incorporated in 

 the final report of the investigation. 



Professor Grote's operations will appear by the following extract from a brief re- 

 port submitted. 



[ Professor Grote's report is given in full in Appendix I of this work. J. H. C. ] 



starting sontli myself the latter part of August, I passed through Tennessee to 

 Mitchell County in Southwest Georgia, and thence, during September, through the 

 <-.)tton sections of the southeastern part of that State and of the Carolinas and Vir- 

 ginia. I was at this time made painfully aware of the hindering .-fleets of the yellow 

 f.-ver. One can scarcely conceive of the panic and excitement that prevailed, even in 

 regions where there was little or no danger. But a few weeks before in the thicker 

 < ittim counties of Alabama and Georgia the prevailing topic of conversation, as I 

 learned, was the work of the Cotton-worm. At the time of my visit its injuries were 

 forgot ten in the all-absorbing subject of the epidemic. Colt mi fields were neglected, 

 and in M.uht of acres of stripped and spindling stalks one heard but the universal re- 

 frainyellow fever, yellow fever. It seriously interfered with my own plans, and 

 oldiged tue to avoid the very Mii>Mppi cotton fields which I desired most to visit. 



Notwithstanding tliis serious drawback to the present year's operations, much that 

 is valuable and important has been learned. There is a very general want of knowl- 



