226 



REPORT UPON COTTON INSECTS. 



little of the poison. Paris-green being practically insoluble in water, 

 I am unable to account for this. 



On the 8th of September I noted that the cotton on which Paris green 

 was used three days before was uninjured by the worms, though a few 

 were still eating, most of these having hatched after the poison was 

 applied. But where I used kerosene or oil of turpentine the cotton was 

 almost leafless, these substances having injured some of the leaves, and 

 killed a considerable number of larvae, but not enough to save the. crop. 



September 10, a number of gallons of water, containing from a half 

 teaspoonful to a teaspoonful of carbolic acid per gallon, were applied 

 with the fountain pump. This water was stirred so that the acid was 

 suspended through it as very small globules. It was found to kill some 

 caterpillars, but by no means enough to save the cotton ; and, used in 

 these proportions, it injured the cotton considerably. More water, con- 

 taining kerosene and oil of turpentine in varying quantities, was applied ; 

 but, like the last, I found that it did not effectually destroy the worms, 

 even when strong enough to seriously injure the cotton. 



B. DRY POISON. 



Iii the afternoon of August 22, I poisoned four sections with dry 

 poisons, as shown in the annexed table. Where flour was used with 

 either rosin or dextrine, or both, the proportion was that used in Royall's 

 patent. Where gypsum was used, it replaced the flour, bulk for bulk, in 

 this series. 



As will be seen from examining this table, a rain began falling before 

 we had finished applying the poisons. This rain continued to fall all 

 night, all of the next day, and part of the succeeding night. Another 

 heavy rain occurred the next night. On the 26th, I found that the 

 cotton of sections 1 and 3 was scorched considerably, far more than 

 either 2 or 4. The second section had killed the most worms. I could 

 not see but what section 3 adhered as well as either 1 or 2, and all were 

 far better than 4. 



August 26, four additional sections were poisoned ; the only variation 



