410 REPORT UPON COTTON INSECTS. 



I planted for 350 bales cottou in 1872 ; believe I would have gathered that quantity, 

 but by the 15th of August the entire foliage and smaller fruiting had been eaten by 

 caterpillars. I realized 220 bales. I planted for 250 bales in 1873. The caterpillars 

 found my crop very fine in July ; they spread rapidly. I realized 85 bales. One of 

 my neighbors thinks that in 1876 he would have made only 25 bales had he not used 

 poison. By the aid of the poison he made 150 bales. The stage of maturity of the 

 fruitage when the caterpillar appears is, of course, conclusive of the amount of damage 

 resulting. [ J. W. Du Bose, Montgomery. 



In 1868 probably one-fourth of the entire cotton crop was lost by the cotton- worm, 

 that eats off the leaves and squares or forms of cotton. In 1871 they appeared earlier 

 than at any other date in my recollection ; they appeared as early as the 10th of 

 August in sufficient force to strip the cotton-stalk of everything but the full-grown 

 bolls. In 1871 I think one-half the crop was lost by the cotton-worm. [George W. 

 Thagard, Crenshaw. 



On late cotton generally about two-thirds of a crop is lost. On uplands planted 

 early not much loss, as the crop has generally fruited and matured before they come. 

 [H. C. Brown, Wilcox. 



In 1866 the loss in this county amounted to 30 per cent., owing greatly, however, to 

 the large amount of late cotton, caused by old seed having been planted that failed to 

 germinate, making it necessary to plant again. In 1873 the loss was 70 percent. This 

 year on the bottom and lime lands a loss of 20 per cent, is claimed. Other years the 

 damage has been local or incidental. [P. T. Graves, Lowndes. 



If the worm comes early in the season the crop is cut off one-half. In 1878 the crop 

 was damaged one-eighth in this vicinity; but east of here in this county, where the 

 worm came in August, the crop was damaged one-fourth. [J. N. Gilmore, Sumter. 



In 1836, about one-third ; 1844, about one-third ; 1852, one-half ; in 1867, about one- 

 fifth ; in 1868, about one-fourth of the crop was destroyed ; in 1869, about one-third ; 

 in 1873, fully one-third. [M. W. Hand, Greene. 



In 1866, about one-third; in 1871, about one-half; in 1872, one-fourth; in 1873, one- 

 eighth ; and in 1876, one-half. [J. S. Hansberger, Bibb. 



Where the crop is well advanced, the land being well prepared, and planted just as 

 early as the season will permit, cultivated well andrapidly, and, as thesayingis, "pushed 

 from the word go," the loss is much less than when planted late and poorly cultivated. 

 The general average of loss we estimate for county and State to be 33^ per cent. [ J. 

 A. Callaway, Montgomery. 



Farmers divide the crop into three sections or crops : (1) bottom, (2) middle, and 

 (3) top crop, all of which very easily mature. In the year 1825 the oldest farmers now 

 living estimate the loss at 98 per cent. Mr. Chesley Crosby, a large planter, only 

 gathered 10 bales from 500 acres. In 1867 at least 66| ; 1868, 25; loss in 1873, about 

 40 ; some placing it at 90, some 75 ; 1874, about the same as 1873, each farmer estimat- 

 ing from his individual loss. In 1874 Mr. le Dramond gathered 900 pounds of seed 

 cotton from 14 acres, which would have produced 1,000 pounds per acre. This is about 

 an average for this county for 1874. But taking the drought and rainy seasons year 

 after year, together, with all things incident to cotton-growing, I think that 50 is a 

 Very fair average since 1868. [P. D. Bowles, Conecuh. 



I have not the data and hence can hardly give the approximate losses in the cotton 

 crop in notable worm years. If the season is favorable, the cotton planted early and 

 well cultivated, much is gained, and the loss would be light ; for when the bottom 

 crop is heavy the top crop is light ; hence there would be less for worms to destroy. 

 But if the spring is cool and wet, and the summer wet, the crop will of necessity be 

 badly cultivated ; and consequently the crop will be late. Under such disadvantages 

 the crop would be cut off one-third. [David Lee, Lowndes. 



ARKANSAS. 



I think the loss to the crop in this county this year will be $100,000. At least one- 

 fourth of the crop is destroyed. Planters were not aware of the extent of damage until 

 they bad picked a good deal. [T. S. Edwards, Pope. 



During the years 1865-'68-'67, the worms destroyed at least one-fourth of the crop 

 each year, and in some portions of the Red River lands the entire crop on many plan- 

 tations. [E. T. Dale, Miller. 



FLORIDA. 



The losses vary, of course, according to the completeness of destruction and the 

 amount of matured cotton at the time of destruction. In some fields I have seen four- 

 fifths destroyed ; in others, not exceeding a fifth, though both were entirely eaten over 

 "by the worm. But I think it safe to say the destruction generally amounted to one- 

 third in the bad years. [F. M. Meekin, Alachua. 



GEORGIA. 



I don't think our county lost any from the effects of the worm, as it was late before 

 they came, and barely touched the bolls of cotton. In places they come in August, 

 and make havoc with the cotton. [E. M. Thompson, Jackson. 



