INTRODUCTION. XXXV 



the winter preservation of the moth, which finds its most favorable 

 winter conditions in the sheltered pine regions and drj- sandy soil cov- 

 ered with wire grass. But aside from this Professor Smith's chapter 

 will have a deep interest for cotton planters. 



In Chapter YII we have briefly considered the influences, direct and 

 indirect, which the character and condition of the soil, of the plant, 

 and of the weather have upon the first api)earance of the worms and 

 upon their increase and destructiveness — a subject, as the context shows, 

 of no mean importance. 



In Chapter VIII the natural enemies of the insect are treated of and 

 their value as checks to its increase considered. The list is a long one, 

 and those of its own class are treated of systematically. Many previous 

 errors are here corrected and a number of pertinent entomological facts 

 for the first time published. When the investigation began not a sin- 

 gle true parasite had been recorded by name, whereas over a dozen are 

 here recorded. 



In Chapter IX we have dealt with such preventive measures as are 

 worthy of consideration by planters, while in Chapter X we have dealt 

 at length with remedies, L e., with means of coping with the insect, 

 whether in the egg, larva, pupa, or imago state, but more particularly 

 with substances that maybe used for the destruction of the worm. This 

 is the chapter which will i)robably prove of greatest A^alue to those for 

 whom the report is primarily intended, and we bespeak its careful con- 

 sideration. While many substances ar^ considered which have no value 

 whatever, yet negative results once established have a decided value 

 in preventing future waste of time and energy in futile work, and the 

 matter of the chapter is based on original research and experiment. In 

 treating of the use of yeast ferment or other fungus germs we have used 

 essentially the language of the first edition. Time has only served to 

 confirm us in our opinion of their practical futility in the field. The 

 question of the practical use of these micro-organisms — these disease- 

 germs — as insecticides is a very fascinating one, and is much written 

 about just now 5 but unfortunately it proves most alluring to those who 

 have had the least practical experience in coping with injurious insects 

 in the field, and is much more apt to assume importance to the closet 

 theorists than to those who, from experience, are conscious of the difl- 

 culties involved in its applicability. 



Chapters XI, XII, and XIII treat of the machinery and mechanical 

 devices which are in use or may be used for the destruction of the insect, 

 whether direct or by facilitating the application of the various sub- 

 stances treated of in Chapter X. Ko excuse need be offered for the rel- 

 ative length of these chapters, as, owing to its imjjortance, by far the 

 larger part of the time and means employed in the investigation has 

 been given to this part of the subject. In the early part of the in- 

 vestigation we personally took pains to acquaint ourself with all that 

 had been done in this direction, and studied not only the patents that 



