356 EEPORT UPON COTTON INSECTS. 



While conducting these experiments I had plowing also done where the land was 

 in good tilth and pulverized before the plow, and no worm appeared, though visiting 

 these fields three or four weeks later, I found a second brood of worms, the progeny 

 of the first. Now, in all of these cases, had the plowing been deferred until the soil 

 had become dry enough to pulverize, the speedy generation of the worm would not 

 have occurred. I had one field of my own cultivated with a due observance of the 

 principle here announced, and though the worms visited it they did it no damage, and 

 this was noticeable in other fields in my neighborhood, cultivated upon the same 

 principle. 



I have endeavored, in the foregoing report, to introduce and elucidate all the points 

 involved in my theory, and have recapitulated in order to familiarize and impress 

 them upon the minds of planters, as they are to be the chief recipients of any benefit 

 that may arise from them, and through whose instrumentality they are to bo tested. 

 Of them I ask a careful study of the plan proposed, and an impartial verdict of its 

 efficacy. 



From my observation this season, aided by previous knowledge of the subject, I offer 

 the following postulates : 



1. That the insect Aletia is indigenous. 



2. That it does not hibernate as moth. 



3. That it does hibernate as chrysalis or pupa. 



4. That the egg is probably capable of hibernation. 



5. That solar evaporation is the normal mode of hatching, and tha.t this occurs an- 

 nually. 



6. That a favorable meteorological condition, of uncertain periodical recurrence, 

 increases largely the number hatched. 



7. That plowing wet land under a hot sun produces an artificial heat and is the most 

 prolific source of speedy generation. 



8. And finally, as a corollary deduced from the above, that, by the intelligent appli- 

 cation of the principle indicated to the culture of cotton, we may more effectually 

 arrest the ravages of the cotton-worm than by any plan yet suggested. 



EEPOET OF JUDGE WM. J. JONES, OF VIKGINIA POINT, TEXAS. 



I beg leave to submit the following report of my observations upon the origin and 

 best means of destroying the cotton army worm. 



The circulars and blanks from your department designed for distribution among 

 the most intelligent planters, mailed to my address early in August, did not reach me 

 till the 24th of October, being of that class of mail matter interdicted by our local 

 quarantine regulations, and were not permitted to cross the borders of the State until 

 the time mentioned. This detention prevents me from presenting any facts or ex- 

 pression of opinion from those for whom the questions formulated were designed. 

 Owing to this delay I decided in the latter part of August to visit in person some of 

 the planters near the several lines of railway, and to open some communication with 

 others farther removed, submitting such questions as could be embodied in letter form, 

 asking for such information as they could furnish on point in question. 



To these letters some brief answers have been returned, but disclosing no facts differ- 

 ing from those already well known concerning this destructive insect. 



The present year has been chiefly noticeable from the fact that a large portion of 

 the State heretofore afflicted with its visitations has been entirely exempted from its 

 presence. 



Under instructions from Professor Riley, of the Division of Entomology, I made very 

 strenuous efforts to procure specimens of Aletia and transmitted them to him, all of 

 which were safely delivered. In answer I learn that ho found among them some chry- 

 salides differing from Aletia argillacea, the moth of which appears to belong to another 

 genus. This species, he says, has not been received from any of the other cotton 

 States, and seems to be confined to this section of the cotton-belt. 



The cotton planters generally agree to the hibernation of the chrysalides of this in- 

 sect. I may say with all confidence that the views of those who differ from the well- 

 accepted theory of the worms penetrating the ground where they fall from the cotton- 

 plant, result from their failure to scrutinize their movements as closely as others ; and 

 it is to this fact that a different hypothesis exists ; but nearly every planter is well 

 satisfied of the local development of the moth. 



Such is my own unqualified conviction from the experience and close observation oi 

 thirty-five years as a planter. The few who have suggested the theory that the egg 

 is deposited in the stalk of the cotton-plant, or that the matured insect finds protection 

 in sheltered spots in our midst, are few in number. The natural formation of the moth 

 must necessarily forbid the idea that its embryo could be lodged in any hard or porous 



