DESTRUCTION OF THE MOTHS. 219 



moths are flying. I would recommend that this be tried, especially on 

 warm days in winter, when the moths are allured from their hibernac- 

 ula ; in the early spring, and in the fall, after the brood which destroys 

 the cotton have emerged as moths. 



From what has been said in the earlier agricultural reports, and from 

 the testimony of planters as to the attraction of lights for these moths, 

 I had supposed that the easiest and most scientific method of destroying 

 Aletia was to employ fires into which they should be attracted, or lights 

 in combination with some form of trap, either with or without the added 

 attraction of food, these to be used whenever the moths were flying, and 

 their use enforced, if necessary, by legislation. Considering, for the 

 above reasons, that the fondness of these moths for light was proved, 

 I made no efforts to obtain personal demonstration of the fact, and it 

 was only on learning how many species of moths and even of other in- 

 sects may pass for Aletia with the ordinary observer, and on seeing from 

 my notes how little attention was paid to the light of my lantern, that I 

 began to doubt the efficacy of this remedy ; but this, unfortunately, was 

 after I had left the field. As it is, I can only say that the number at- 

 tracted to lights, as compared with the entire number, was very small, 

 so far as my experience goes. Though I saw a few dozen attracted into 

 the house, thousands were in sight of the light and removed but a few 

 rods; while for each of those thus attracted a dozen individuals, belong- 

 ing to other species, came to the light. My own observation, then, goes 

 to show that these moths are not attracted to any great extent by lights, 

 but if this attraction should be proven to be considerable this would 

 prove one of the best ways of dealing with the pest. 



In the destruction of some noxious insects, especially those injurious 

 to the vegetables of the kitchen garden, hand-picking is found very 

 efficacious, and this has been suggested as a means of destroying the 

 cotton-caterpillar. Where it can be properly done, this is undoubtedly 

 a certain remedy ; but for cotton as ordinarily grown it is impracticable 

 for several reasons: 1. Its great cost; 2. The impossibility of getting 

 over the plantation before parts of it should be eaten out; 3. The fact 

 that labor is almost invariably needed to house fodder at the time when 

 this would have to be done, and could not well be spared for this work. 



Various machines have been patented for either shaking the cater- 

 pillars from the plant or by disturbing them, causing them to leap from 

 it voluntarily, after which they are crushed by some contrivance. Though 

 I have not seen these machines, I feel doubtful of their value for the reason 

 that driving a vehicle of any sort through very high cotton which has 

 locked across the rows is certain to injure it more or less, and the extent 

 of the injury will depend upon the rapidity of driving and the amount 

 of concussion which the plants receive, any severe jolting causing the 

 bolls to fly off. From their very nature these machines must cause more 

 or less of this jarring, and I believe that to be true of any machine in- 

 tended to shake the worms from the plant. 



