HISTORY OF REMEDIES. 35 



propitious to the spread and mnltiplying of the worms. By the adoption of prompt and 

 vigo; 0U8 measures, some of which are new, and a rigid perseverance in their execution, 

 his crop escaped unscathed, while many of his feUow-laborers who lacked faith in any 

 remedy suffered greatly. In the attainment of his purpose the means resorted to by 

 Mr. Townsend were the following: 



1. His peoiile searched for and killed both the worm and the chrysalis of the first 

 jrood. 



2. On the appearance of the second brood he scattered com over the field to invite 

 ^e notice of the birds, and while they depredated on the worms on the top of th« 

 ttalks and their upper limbs, the turkeys destroyed the enemy on the lower branches. 



3. When in the aurclia (chrysalis) state the negroes crushed them between their 

 fingers. 



4. Some patches of cotton where the caterpillars were rery thick and the birdi 

 and turkeys could not get access to them were destroyed. 



5. The tops of the plants and the ends of all the tender and luxuriant branches, 

 where the eggs of the butterfly are usually deposited, were cut off. 



By these means, resolutely pursued, although at one time the prospect of check- 

 ing the depredators was most cheerless, not the slightest injury to the field was sus- 

 tained. The experiment cost Mr. Townsend 2^ acres of cotton, about 15 bushels of 

 com, and the work of all his people for about five days. 



It will be noticed tliat among tlie remedies used by Mr. Townsend was 

 that of toi)ping the cotton, under the supposition that most of the eggs 

 are laid u])on the upper and tenderer leaves. This was one of the early- 

 remedies, but has often been urged since, and has its disciples to the 

 present day. As we shall show in discussing preventive measures, it 

 may be employed to advantage in some cases late in the season, but at 

 the most critical period of the year the eggs are mostly on the lower 

 part of the plant. 



About 1840 Mr. Wailes first publicly recommended the carrying of 

 lighted torches through the fields at night to attract and kill the moths. 

 Soon after, large fires began to be built in different parts of the plan- 

 tations for the same purpose, and, later, these fires were built upon 

 elevated platforms floored with earth. It is stated, however, by Dr. J, 

 C. Keal, that Col. F. D. McDowell, an old Florida planter, had begun 

 the use of fires to destroy the moths as early as 1805. First and last 

 this remedy has been extensively tried ; but the general verdict seems 

 to be against its utility. It is held that such fires attract to a planta- 

 tion many more moths than they kill. One author has even gone so far 

 as to dispute that any moths are destroyed in this way, stating that 

 repeated observation has shown to him that the rush of hot air carries 

 them up and away before they can reach the flame. 



Prior to 1855 were published a number of articles recommending the 

 flying of white flags hi different parts of the fields, and stating that the 

 moths would ovii)osit upon them. Each published recommendation, 

 however, was from hearsay, and no oue of the writers was able to say 

 that he had ever seen a single egg upon such a flag. Where the idea 

 started we are unable to say. 



Clean cultivation, forcing the cotton, and rotation of crops had all 

 been urged by writers before this, and followed by many planters, no 

 doubt with much advantage. 



