APPENDIX II ANSWERS TO CIRCULAR. 413 



In 1867 and 1873 loss was total; in 1877 about 75 per cent. [S. B. Tack aberry, 

 Polk. 



For the years 1871 and '73, 25 per cent each; 1874 and '76, 40 per cent each. [A. 

 Schroeter, Burnet. 



I caunot make any attempt at estimates of losses, as I have never kept any data ; 

 but millions of dollars have been lost and many farmers brought to ruin and pov- 

 erty.-[W. T. Hill, Walker. 



QUESTION 4r State as nearly as you can from the records the prevailing direction and force 

 of the ivind in your locality. 



ALABAMA. 



During February, March, and April tbe prevailing winds are from the east and 

 south. After this we have but little wind except with thunder showers, which often 

 come from the northwest. [R. W. Russell, Lowndes. 



Northeast and southwest. [H. C. Brown, Wilcox. 



Southeast. [Knox, Minge, and Evans, Hale. 



It would be folly on my part to attempt to answer the question as to the prevailing 

 direction of the wind during the first six months of the year, but will give the outlines 

 of my recollections, namely, nine out of ten rainfalls in the county are preceded by 

 winds from the Gulf (southwest) ; the remainder from the west to northwest, some- 

 times, but very rare from the northeast. Most winds not followed immediately by 

 rainfall arc from the west and northwest to north ; this in the months of January, 

 February, and March. Some six years ago Dr. W. D. F. Kelly, now of Demopolis, Ala- 

 bama, was doing business in this place (Evergreen) ; his house was fronting on the 

 Mobile and Montgomery Railway, and it was in the month of May or Juno that he 

 called my attention to the fact that we had a pleasant breeze from the southwest, be- 

 ginning at ten o'clock every morning, which caused me to take notice of a fact more 

 particular in fair weather. The Doctor was satisfied that it was the Gulf breeze, 

 although nearly one hundred miles away. There is no doubt in my mind, as the moth 

 is oitener found hundreds of miles away from the cotton-field, that it is caused by the 

 favorable winds from the south to northward, and I am perfectly satisfied that Mr. A. 

 R. Grote is very much mistaken when he comes to the conclusion that the species per- 

 ish each year with the plant and that they come to the cotton States from more south- 

 ward countries. Dr. R. A. Lee, of this place, who has given much time and attention 

 to the cotton-worm, informs mo that he has often seen the chrysalis under old logs, 

 sticks, bark, and other pieces of wood, or in dry places, in the months of January and 

 February, where ho had hands plowing in the old cotton-field previously planted, and 

 that he has seen the moth of warm nights in the months of January and February 

 come in the house to the light of lamps. I have also noticed the fact myself. Taking 

 it for a point of basis that the 17th day of May is the earliest dute at which the worm 

 has ever been seen in this county, it would show that Mr. Grote's theory is not in 

 harmony with the above facts. If this reasoning bo correct in many warm springs, 

 why may not the troths conio in great numbers before the month of May, or even in 

 June ; also, where are the great cotton-fields south or west of the Gulf for them to 

 come from ? The Mexican and Central States fail to give any account of the ravages 

 of worms destructive to the cotton-plant (keeping in mind that the worm will not 

 feed upon any other plant than cotton). And this in corresponding years in which 

 the greatest damage has been done us, looks to me to be very easy to find out for the 

 years 1S67, -'68, -'69, -'74, -'75, and -'78. What damage was done to the very little 

 long-staple cotton planted south of the United States ? The well-known fact that the 

 moth is rarely or never seen (save in its hiding place) in the daytime, and that they 

 are on the wing at night, can be taken to strengthen or deny Mr. A. R. Grote's posi- 

 tion, but more strongly to deny. As the moth would have to cross a portion of the 

 Gulf, if brought by winds from the south of the United States, and as the sun- 

 light is repulsive to them, I would think, as a natural consequence, that the moth 

 failing to reach land in the night, would find a watery grave. There is,no doubt in 

 my mind but that the chrysalis remains in a torpid state in the fall depository or hid- 

 ing place until the warm sun in May brings them to life, and the moth comes out and 

 btarts upon his journey of life and destruction. [P. D. Bowles, Conecuh. 



The Alabama and Conecuh Rivers run south and south west and empty into the Gulf 

 of Mexico. The cotton-worm approaches us by traveling up these rivers and their 

 tributaries. [George W. Thagard, Creushaw. 



It is generally believed they migrate northward, coming from South and East Flor- 

 ida. Whether this be so or not I can't say. They often appear ICO miles north of 

 here sooner than here, and always in the black lands first. [J. C. Matthews, Dale. 



It is not clear to my mind that the moths migrate, as I have never had any reliable 

 evidence of such migration, with an experience of thirty-five years. I have often 



