I. 



REPORTS OF SPECIAL AGENTS AND LOCAL OBSERVERS. 



In this appendix will be found the reports of Prof. A. K. Grote, Mr. E. 

 A. Schwarz, Dr. E. H. Anderson, Judge William J. Jones, Prof. J. E. 

 Willet, and Mr. William Trelease. My own report on my observations 

 during the season of 1878, having formed the basis of the present report, 

 will not here be incorporated. Prof. E. A. Smith, of Tuscaloosa,.Ala., 

 as local observer, made an extended series of observations, the results 

 of which were very important. But as these results were communicated 

 to the department from time to time as they were obtained, Professor 

 Smith did not make a formal report. 



REPORT OF E. A. SCHWARZ, OF WASHINGTON, D. C. 



SIR : I have the honor to submit herewith a preliminary report on the insects living 

 on or injurious to the cotton-plant on the Bahamas. 



The cultivation of the cotton-plant dates back to the beginning of last century. 

 Catesby, who visited the Bahamas in 1720, mentions that the cotton-plant was at that 

 lime perennial and growing without cultivation on the island of New Providence . 

 From this remote time up to 1H34 a considerable amount of cotton was raised on almost 

 all the larger islands. Very little information regarding cotton insects in this oldest 

 period can be obtained at the present time. What facts I have been able to obtain 

 will be mentioned below. 



In the year 1834 the cotton cultivation was suddenly and completely abandoned in 

 consequence of the emancipation of the slaves. The only relic of the cotton culti- 

 vation in slavery times is the wild cotton tree, called " fly-away cotton " by the inhab- 

 itants of Long Island, and which I saw occasionally, though not often, on the more 

 elevated hills of this island. It is a very tall shrub, or rather tree, from 15 to 20 feet 

 in height. The bolls of this wild cotton are, however, very small, and the cotton is 

 full of seeds and unfit for ginning. 



The outbreak of the civil war in the United States caused a very vigorous resump- 

 tion of cotton raising on the Bahamas. In 1863 an American company erected a steam 

 gin in the southern extremity of Long Island, and the colonial government distributed 

 at the same time seven hand gins (Eagle gins) for the free use of the planters of Long 

 Island and Great Exuma. Almost immediately after the conclusion of the war this 

 industry began to decline, owing partly to the indo'ence of the natives, partly to the 

 increasing ravages of the cotton-bug, and at the present time it is confined to Exuma 

 and especially to Long Island. 



The American company broke up its establishment in 1866, and of the seven gins 

 furnished by the government only two are in use now, and both of these On Long 

 1*1 and. 



But it is safe to say that the cotton culture of the present time, insignificant as it 

 may be compared with that of a single county of the Southern States, is firmly estab- 

 lished on Long Island. A large portion of the population, which amounts to about 

 3,000 souls, depends for its living entirely upon the income derived from cotton culture. 

 Moreover, the large number of sheep which are raised on that island, and which are the 

 most important article of export except sponges, are fed exclusively with cotton seeds. 

 The amount of cotton raised at present on the Bahamas does not, in my estimation, 

 exceed 150 bales. 



I took the first opportunity that offered itself to proceed to that island, which I 

 reached on the 31st of March, after a tedious voyage of more than three days in a 

 small open sailing-boat. 



Long Island, which, like the other islands of that archipelago, is composed of honey- 



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