CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF COTTON WORM INJURY. 25 



In Texas the coast counties were overmn, but the inland counties, 

 with here and there a marked exception (Walker lost 60 per cent, of 

 the crop), escaped without particular damage. 



It was at the close of this year that the theory of periodical recur- 

 rence of the worms in destructive numbers every twenty-one years be- 

 gan to be mentioned in the newspapers. Some person, noticing that 

 the years of great disaster, 1804, 1825, and 1816, were separated by 

 periods of twenty-one years, formulated the theory that these periods 

 were constant, and that in 18G7 another similar invasion was to be ex- 

 pected. The confidence "with which this idea was universally regarded 

 warrants its mention here. 



In 1847 the months of June and July augured an exceedingly bad 

 worm year, for the caterpillars appeared very early in considerable 

 force and were widespread. The season, however, proved unfavorable 

 to their great increase, since it was remarkable for periods of great heat 

 and drought, interrupted by an occasional severe storm, and compara- 

 tively little damage was done by the caterpillars, although the crop 

 suffered from the other causes mentioned. 



From this period to 18G6 there was, as far as we can ascertain, not a 

 single general caterpillar year. The worms were every year to be found, 

 and occasionally did some severe local damage. Thus in 1810, 1851, 

 and 1852 the crops of northern Florida were injured quite seriously ; 



1852, 1854, and 1860 were quite marked in the canebrake region. In 



1853, 1860, and 1864 the worms were more than usually injurious in 

 Mississippi and Louisiana. In 1850 they made their first recorded ap- 

 pearance in Tennessee. 1864 and 1865 were marked by the appear- 

 ance of the worms in Korth Carolina. The visitation in both of these 

 years seems to have been severer than in any year since 1847, though it 

 is difficult to compare them on account of the comparatively small 

 amount of cotton grown during the war. 



From 1866 up to the present date the worms have been widespread 

 every year. It is a common thing to hear planters say, " The worm never 

 used to be as destructive as this before the war^j and indeed the 

 records seem to bear out the assertion. We may look for the reason, 

 without doubt, in the general looseness and carelessness of the system 

 of cultivation since, as compared with the clean and thorough methods 

 before the war. 



A large crop in 1866 was a necessity. Cotton had risen greatly in 

 value, and as a consequence of this and of the Liberation of the planters 

 from martial occupation the acreage was largely increased over the 

 preceding five years. Unfortunately, however, it proved a bad worm 

 year. The losses may be averaged about as follows : Louisiana, Texas, 

 and Alabama about 40 i)er cent.; Mississippi, 30 per cent.; Georgia, 

 Florida, and South Carolina much less. The hopes and fears for the 

 result of this crop and the disastrous effects of the advent of the worms 

 are well told by Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe in an article entitled **Our 



