EXAMPLES OF LIGHT AND HEAVY DAMAGES. 65 



Ashwood Station, Wilkinson County, Mississippi. In 1873, 40 to 50 per cent. 



Station Creek, Covington County, Mississippi. In 1847 and 1848, probably 50 per cent. 



Denison's Landing, Perry County, Tennessee. It is quite difficult to give even an ap- 

 proximation of the loss sustained in the State or county during years of the severest 

 visitation; for while old, large farms have lost maybe 50 to 75 per cent., new, small 

 farms, inclosed by dense forests, have suffered very frequently none at all. 



Isabella, Worth County. Georgia. In a bad worm year, wet and cool, they destroy all 

 the top cotton, and necessarily it is cut off one-half. 



Faunsdale, Marengo County, Alabama. In 1872 and 1873 the cotton crop was cut short 

 one-half. 



Tionus, Bibb County, Alabama. In 1868, about one-third; in 1871, about one-half; in 

 1872, one-fourth ; in 1873, one-eighth ; and in 1876, one-half. 



Haickinsrille, Barbour County, Alabama. In 1873, I am satisfied I lost one-half of 

 my crop ; in 1868 and 1874, one- sixth ; and in 1878, one-fifth. 



Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas. Two-thirds during the years of greatest damage, 

 though all fields are not attacked alike ; it depends upon the locality of the field and 

 maturity of the crop. 



Millheim, Austin County, Texas. In the year 1863, the worm having been very de- 

 structive, destroyed about 25 to 30 per cent, of the crop. In 1868, the first appearance 

 of the worm having been the earliest on record, the crop was nearly destroyed the first 

 part of July, and injured more than 50 per cent. 



Morrison's Mills, Alachua County, Florida. In some fields I have seen four-fifths de- 

 stroyed ; in others, not exceeding one-fifth, though both were entirely eaten over by the 

 worm. But I think it safe to say the destruction generally amounted to one-third in 

 bad years. 



Milton, Florida. In the black lands of Montgomery and Lowndes Counties, Alabama, 

 the worm rarely if ever destroyed less than one-half, and often three-fourths of the 

 crop. 



Saint FrancisriUe, West Felidana Parish, Louisiana. In 1846 the cotton crops here 

 were cut short from 50 to 60 per cent. In the last fourteen years the destructive years 

 were particularly 1867, 1871, 1872, and 1873. 



Waverly, Walker County, Texas. I cannot make any attempt at estimates of losses, 

 as I have never kept any data ; but millions of dollars have been lost, and many farmers 

 brought to ruin and poverty. 



Turning from the gloomy side of the question there are returns of 

 " slight injury" from many localities. In North Carolina the worms are 

 so late in making their appearance, the planters generally consider them 

 a benefit, as they eat off the top leaves, and allowing the sun and air to 

 come to the lower bolls, ripen, and cause them to open better. This is 

 likewise the case in some locations, as far south as Louisiana and Texas; 

 a correspondent in Waller County, in the latter State, attributing 

 the damage to a too favorable growtli of the plant, in which case the 

 worms, by stripping the leaves, benefited rather than injured the crop. 

 It is not unusual to find reports of slight loss in counties adjoining those 

 where the injury has been considerable. We give a few returns as ex- 

 amples of slight injury: 



FayetteriUc, Cumberland County, North Carolina. So late in making their appearance 

 in this latitude, it is doubtful if they ever do any injury. 



Buena Vista, Marion County, Georgia. The losses from worms in this county have 

 been very small, not one bale out of 1,000. 



Atauquarille,Autauqua County, Alabama. My general impression is that in the aggre- 

 gate the losses have not been considerable. 

 5c I 



