APPENDIX II ANSWERS TO CIRCULAR. 429 



If the moths are in great numbers, the worms begin their work all over the largest 

 fields at once. This year there were not many worms; they wandered from one field 

 to another. No particular side was ever noted to be favored by tb.6 worms. [ R. Wip- 

 precht, Comal. 



There is no particular side that they prefer. Some farmers say they will feed with 

 the wind. [P. S. Clarke, Waller. 



From lowest wet and swamp parts of the field. [H. J. H. Brensing, Bowie. 



The worm most always begins its work in the middle of a patch, generally in places 

 where the cotton is most luxuriant. For the past two years it has commenced on the 

 southwest side, the moth coming in the direction of the Colorado River. [J. H. Kran- 

 cher, Austin. 



Generally near the center or away from the edges of the field. [W. T. Hill, Walker. 



The first worms are generally near the middle of the cotton-field, and the second 

 crop spread in all directions. [C. B. Richardson, Rusk. 



On every side and all over simultaneously. [A. Underwood, Brazoria. 



They generally attack the youngest cotton first, no matter which side that may 

 be. [S. Harbert, Colorado. 



Generally the soul h side and center, except that side is low damp land. High points 

 appear to be the first points attacked. [J. W. Jackson, Titus. 



Sometimes in one place and again in another. Generally where the cotton is the 

 rankest and largest. Not anyways choice of sides. [Natt. Holuian, Fayette. 



Generally in or near the center. [P. S. Watts, Hardin. 



No particular side. [W. Barnes, Cherokee. 



QUESTION 4 i. Do local topographical features influence tJie extent of the icorm's ravages f 



ALABAMA. 



They seem to prefer cotton grown in black lands, as they generally make their first 

 appearance on that character of land and eat the cotton grown there first before mi- 

 grating to other lands ; and there are instances of their making their appearance for 

 three or four years in succession on the same piece of land. [John D. Johnston, Sum- 

 ter. 



I am living on a line between the black or prairie lands and the sandy lands in this 

 county. This black belt is from 15 to 20 miles wide, running nearly east and west. 

 The first worms are invariably heard of in the black belt, and this is even so on the 

 south side of the black lands. There is not an intelligent farmer in this section but 

 can point out the field and the place in that field where he will find his first crop of 

 worms before they appear. They invariably put in their first appearance in the same lo- 

 cality in particular fields. This has reference to what we call the first crop of worms. 

 The moth that is developed from this crop may be, and no doubt is, carried about by 

 the winds. But why or how could the moth, surviving the winter, invariably select 

 these particular starting points ? [R. S. Williams, Montgomery. 



I think they do. [I. P. Culver, Bullock. 



They are more numerous and destructive on black prairie and bottom lands. They 

 make their appearance from two to three weeks earlier on the black land than on 

 sandy and light colored lands. I am of the opinion/that this is due, at least in part, 

 to the fact that the crops are earlier on black lands. [J. R. Rogers, Bullock. 



They frequently do less damage to the foliage where they begin on places as indi- 

 cated above, the following brood seeming to prefer untouched parts. [C. C. Howard, 

 Autauga. 



Have never known the cotton- worm to feed upon any other plant than cotton. [R. 

 F. Henry, Pickens. 



Low lands as a rule are more favorable for the rapid and destructive development 

 of the worm, for the reason that the moth, guided by instinct, deposits her eggs where 

 the food is in the best condition and most abundant to nourish the infant worm. 

 Where, by fertility of the soil and sufficient rain, the upland crops are as luxuriant 

 in foliage as the bottom or low land, they are visited as early and as destructively as 

 the low lands. Places in many fields escape their ravages. [P. T. Graves, Lowndes. 



I think not. But I do think that topographical features have a great influence in 

 producing a larger or Bmaller number of the caterpillar. Dense and moist localities 

 appear to be the most favorable for the protection of the moth during the winter. [I. 

 D. Driesbach, Baldwin. 



Does not. [H. C. Brown, Wilcox. 



Low lands are always attacked first; and, where the weeds are large and thick, this 

 is a protection from the heat of the sun. [ J. C. Matthews, Dale. 



They are more destructive and appear earlier in black or prairie lands than on gray 

 or sandy. [R. H. Powell, Bullock. 



