TABLE OF CONTENTS. V 



CHAPTER VI. 



Page. 



The Cotton Belt. By Prof. E. A. Smith 59 



A. General features of the cotton States 59 



Region included in the cotton belt, 59— climate, 59— winds, 59 — rainfall, 

 59-61— temperature, 61-62 — geological sketch, 62-63— topography, 63- 



64 — soils, 64-65 — agricultural subdivisions, 65— regions of forest growth, 

 66-67. 



B. Deso'iption of the agricultural subdivisions 67 



The alluvial region, 67-68— the lower prairie region, 68-69 — the long-leaf 

 pine region, 69-71 — the oak uplands region, 72-73 — the upper prairie re- 

 gion, 73-75 — the red and brown loam region, 75-77 — the sandy and sili- 

 ceous lands of the older formations, 77-79 — the gneissic region, 79-80. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Terrestrial AND meteorological influences affecting the worm 81 



Condition of soil and plant connected with the appearance of the first 

 worms, 81 — the earliest worms are confined to the '' low lands," 81 — and 

 to luxuriant plants, 82— and to the vicinity of winter shelters, 82 — and to 

 the same localities, 82 — influence of wet weather on the development of 

 the worms, 83 — severe rains with, gales destroy both worms and crop, 

 83 — late cold rains do the same, 84 — frequent summer rains favor the de- 

 velopment of the worms, 84 — hot, dry weather destructive to them, 84 — 

 artificial drought produces the same effect, 84 — indirect influences of wet 

 weather in favoring the development of the worms, 85 — immunity of the 

 worms from their enemies in wet weather, 85 — drowning of ants by heavy 

 showers, 85 — wet weather prevents poisoning and working the cotton, 85 — 

 letter from J. W. Du Bose on the influence of winds on Aletia, 85-86. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

 Natural enemies 87 



General remarks, 87 — importance lessened by the use of arsenical poisons, 

 87 — vertebrate enemies, 87 — quadrupeds, 87 — birds, 87 — English spar- 

 row, 88 — toads and lizards, 89 — invertebrates, 89 — spiders, 89 — ants, 90 — 

 species of ants destroying Aletia, 90 — Hubbard's observations on ants, 

 92 — the leaf-cutting ant, 94 — wasps, 94 — Coleoptera, 95 — tiger-beetles, 95 

 — ground-beetles, 95 — lady-birds, 96— soldier-beetles, 96 — Heteroptera, 97 

 — list of species, 97 — Dipteia, 99 — Orthoptera, 99 — Neuroptera, 100 — Lepi- 

 doptera, 100 — parasites, 101 — list of species, 101 — the Trichogramma egg- 

 parasite, 102 — the cotton- worm Microgaster, 104 — Comstock's Euplectrus, 

 105 — Elachistus euplectri, a secondary parasite, 106— the common flesh-fly, 

 107 — Cyrtoneurastabulans,108—i8 it parasitic? 108— tachiua- flies, 109 — 

 their habits, 109 — the watchful Pimpla, 111 — the Ring-legged Pimpla, 113 

 — Cryptus nuncius, 113— the Ovate Chalcis, 114 — the Devouring Tetrasti- 

 chus, 115— species that are easily mistaken for parasites of Aletia, 115 — 

 Sexaplasta zgizag, 115 — Fhora aleiice, 116. 



CHAPTER IX. 

 Preventive measures 120 



Mode of cultivation, 120 — improving cotton seed, 120— forcing the young 

 plants, 120 — transplanting from hot-beds, 120— objections, 121 — frequent 

 cultivation, 121 — topping the cotton, 121 — fertilizers, 121 — sulphuric 

 acid on seeds, 121 — late planting, 121 — " worm-proof cotton," 121 — diver- 

 sified agriculture, 122 — rotation of crops, 122— jute as a protection, 122 — 



