74 REPORT UPON COTTON INSECTS. 



cotton is still exported. The chenille has always been very destructive, 

 and is ranked as the most injurious foe to the crop. Mr. F. W. Cragin, 

 United States consul at Paramaribo, in writing to the Department of 

 Agriculture, in 1856, speaks of the chenille as Noctua xylina, Say. 



Brazil has grown cotton for many years. Concerning the appearance 

 of the cotton-worm in the more northern cotton-growing provinces 

 thare can be little doubt, from their contiguity to Guiana. Farther 

 south, the original Aletia argillacea came from Bahia. We find an inter- 

 esting letter on the occurrence of the insect in the more southern prov- 

 ince of Sao Paulo in Professor Willet's report.* Professor Willet says : 



Dr. E. L. Mclntyre, of Thomasville, Ga., writes: " I settled in the province of Sao 

 Paulo, Brazil, in the year 1866, and remained there eight years and a half. The cul- 

 tivation of cotton was of recent date then, and they were planting their fourth crop 

 when I arrived. Prior to the year 1863 there had been some cotton planted in the 

 country, perhaps of an indigenous variety, but no one had ever observed a cotton- 

 worm, and I believe they had never existed there, t In 1802 the price of cotton offer- 

 ing great inducements to Brazilian farmers they sought to procure seeds, but none 

 could be had, and I am informed the seed then being used was brought from New 

 Orleans. The first year no caterpillars were seen, but after the second they com- 

 menced to eat the leaves, and had increased to such an extent that when I moved 

 from there the cultivation of cotton was nearly abandoned. 



Concerning the appearance of Aletia in the other South American 

 countries which export cotton Venezuela and Peru, and in those coun- 

 tries in which it is cultivated simply for domestic purposes, United 

 States of Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentine Eepublic we 

 regret having no data whatsoever. 



Appendix I, Report of J. E. Willet. 

 t Undoubtedly an incorrect inference. 



