HISTORY OF RAVAGES, 1813-1862. 27 



thirds of the crop. Local injury seems to have been done in Montgom- 

 ery County, Alabama, and in Coffee County, Georgia, to a considerable 

 extent. 



From 1848 to 1860, inclusive, there was not a single notable worm 

 year. The caterpillars were every year more or less injurious jn limited 

 districts, but not a single general invasion took place. The increase in 

 their numbers was comparatively slight, and frequent unfavorable years 

 kept them Avell subdued. In addition to this, the planters had worked 

 into a clean and thorough system of cultivation ; there was no waste and 

 no rubbish, and such a method has always proved the best way to keep 

 all insect pests in check. 



The year 1848 seems to have been even much more unfavorable for the 

 caterpillars than was 1847. We have them reported simply from the 

 northwestern part of Florida and from the canebrake region of Alabama. 



In 1849, they were found over a wider extent of country. Eastern 

 Texas, Central Alabama, Northern Florida, Southern Georgia, and the 

 southern coast of South Carolina reported their presence with little or 

 no damage. Leon County, Florida, is the only locality in which severe 

 damage was done. 



In 1850 no great injury was done. The worms appeared in parts of 

 Texas, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and for the first time in Ten- 

 nessee. 



In 1851 they were found in the canebr.'ike region and in Northern- 

 Florida. The correspondent from Gadsden County reports " clean de 

 vouring " for this year. 



In 1852 they were more wide-spread again and heavy local losses 

 were reported from Greene County, Alabama, and. Leon County, Florida. 

 Other localities reported no material damage. On the South Carolina 

 coast they appeared rather earlier than usual, but little harm was ac- 

 complished. 



In 1853 they again appeared in Arkansas, and some localities in Mis- 

 sissippi were more than usually afflicted. 



In 1854 they were numerous in the canebrake region ; 1855 was a dry 

 year, and, according to Dr. Phares, the caterpillars were destroyed by 

 drought and heat ; 1856 was a year of remarkable exemption ; 1857, 

 1858, and 1859 are unworthy of remark as caterpillar years ; in 1860 they 

 were more abundant in the canebrake and in parts of Texas and Mis- 

 sissippi than they had been for the few preceding years. 



From 1861 to 1865, inclusive, the cotton crop was necessarily greatly 

 curtailed, and the reports of the activity of the caterpillar during that 

 period could hardly be expected to be of sufficient accuracy or com- 

 pleteness to assist in studying the periodical appearances. Still the re- 

 ports have been comparatively full, and show that the caterpillars were 

 present over all the more southern portions of the cotton belt and were 

 increasing in numbers every year. In 1861 and 1862, although they 

 were widespread, their ravages were reported as slight from every 



