APPENDIX II ANSWERS TO CIRCULAR. 



397 



QUESTION 2 b. The character of the summer and winter whether icet or dry, mild or severe 

 that have preceded years in which Ike ivorm has been abundant and destructive. 



Upon this point we cannot speak positively, but incline to the belief that dry, mild 

 summers have preceded years in which the worm has been destructive, and that the 

 character of the winters is immaterial. [ J. A. Callaway, Montgomery. 



I have no record of the character of the weather before 1866. The winder of 1865- 

 '66 was mild, with less than average rain. The spring from last of April to 10th of 

 June, excessively wet; latter part of June and first of July, dry and hot ; last of July 

 and to 20th August, rainy ; 1868 much the same, except spring rains that were sea- 

 sonable. The winter of 1872-73 was severe for this latitude ; the spring dry, with ex- 

 cessive wet through early summer, say to 1st of August. [P. T. Graves, Lowndes. 



Average, thermometer for December, January, February, and March : 1868, 47.08 ; 

 186 ( J, 48.90; 1870,47.44; 1871,52.62; 1872.47.7. 



Fahr. 

 In 1873. preceding winter severe 50.86 



1874, preceding winter very mild 53.05 



1875, preceding winter steady cold 54.05 



1876, preceding winter very mild 50.08 



1877, preceding winter uncommonly cold 48.53 



1878, preceding winter mild 



Total fall of rain during December, January, and February : 



Total June, July, and August : 



, Inches. Inches. 



Inl868 11.53 In 1873 12.33 



1869 15.84 1874 16.65 



1870 18.70 1875 



1871 14.45 1876 4.47 



1872 23.56 1877 : 4.82 



[J. H. Smith and J. H. Calhoun, Dallas. 

 Cold, dry winters mostly. [ J. S. Hausberger, Bibb. 



It is pretty generally believed that severe winters are destructive to insects. As to 

 the correctness of this idea I am a little doubtful, as the winter of 1869 was the cold- 

 est we have had for ten years, yet in that year that is, 1870 there were worms. And 

 in 1876 the winter was much colder than 1877, yet in 1878 there were quantities of 

 worms ; so I cannot say I believe the cold or wet has much to do with them. [R. W. 

 Russell, Lowndes. 



The winter of 1872 and '73 was unusually severe in this section, the thermometer 

 sinking to 7 above zero. We all thought this would insure us against the worms, yet 

 li-73 was our most destructive worm year. Last winter was exceedingly mild, the 

 thermometer reaching 32 only two or three times during the winter, yet the worms 

 were not developed until late in the season, and did not do much harm to the crop. 

 [R. S. Williams, Montgomery. 



Have seeu them destructive following almost every character of winter and summer. 

 Cannot say what kind of seasons preceded the worms in the years they were most de- 

 structive. [John D. Johnston, Sumter. 



The winter of 1872-'73 was moderately cold for this climate, as was the winter of 

 1877-78. both of which years the worm was most destructive. [R. F. Henry, Pickens. 



The winter of 1827-'28 was very warm and wet. It was so warm that peach trees 

 bloomed every month during the winter ; but no cotton- worm the next summer. The 

 winter of 1848-'49 was another warm winter, and no worms the next year. Some say 

 that when the winter is warm the moths hibernate so much and can get nothing to 

 subsist upon that they perish of hunger. Others say that a cold winter freezes them 

 to death ; so it is all speculation. [D. Lee, Lowndes. 



Do not think the preceding year has any influence on their coming. Think they are 

 here all the time, and the weather from May to September causes them to hatch out. 

 If wet, we are sure to have them ; if dry, not so certain. [H. A. Stolen werck, Perry. 



It seems cold weather does not affect them. [H. C. Brown, Wilcox. 



