CHAPTER IV. 



DISEASES AND INSECTS DESTRUCTIVE OF THE COTTON 



PLANT. 



SECTION I. THE COTTON-WORM, ITS HISTORY, CHARACTER, 

 VISITATIONS, ETC. 



Correspondence of De Bow's Review. 



THE following are some remarks on the nature of the cotton- 

 fly of 1846, being a sequel to a dissertation on the usefulness 

 of a knowledge of the natural history of insects, written last 

 winter. I send you that portion only which treats of the cot- 

 ton-fly, as falling more especially within the province of your 

 periodical. This manuscript would not have sought a place 

 upon your pages had not my attention been drawn to it by 

 the ill-founded apprehensions of many planters concerning 

 the present existence of the cotton-worm ; an event utterly 

 impossible, for if it makes its appearance at all this season, it 

 most certainly will not do so until the cotton plant has attained 

 its greatest maturity. I see also in your Review a communi- 

 cation claiming to show the means by which the army-worm 

 may be effectually eradicated, in which is displayed the great- 

 est ignorance as to the general laws which govern the insect 

 world. The writer states that the chrysalis of the cotton-fly 

 may be ploughed up, and thus destroyed, &c. Now theo 



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