HISTORY OF REMEDIES. 37 



or from the logical reasooing of some energetic planter or planters, it 

 is impossible to say. 



Recently, however, Mr. J. P. Stelle, agricnltnral editor of the Mobile 

 Register^ has put forth his own claim to having been the first to pub- 

 licly recommend the use of this poison for the Cotton Worm. This 

 claim he bases upon an article which appeared in the Register in August, 

 1872. 



This article appeared as an editorial in the body of the paper and 

 not in Mr. Stelle's agricultural department, a fact which in itself would 

 argue that he was not its author. Moreover, the article does not 

 specifically recommend the use of the green, but simply announces the 

 fact that it is being tried. We quote the paragraph in which it is 

 found : 



We have but little to offer in the way of remedies with which to combat this pest 

 of the planter. Hand-picking the plants is sure but hardly practicable in all cases. 

 Fires built about the field at night would be likely to do some good in the way of 

 destroying the moth, as it has a natural disposition to fly into them. We know of 

 several persons who are now experimenting with dry Paris green sprinkled upon the 

 plants after having been mixed with 15 or 20 parts dry ashes or slacked lime, and 

 we hope to hear a good report from them. 



It is, moreover, an extremely significant fact, and indicative of the au- 

 thorship of this paragrai^h, that in Mr. Stelle's subsequent writings 

 (see, for instance, " Tlie Cotton Caterpillar and How to Combat it Suc- 

 cessfully ,'' Rural Carolinian^ July? 1874) he gives the entire credit of 

 the recommendation to our essay before the Indianapolis meeting in 

 May, 1873 ; and it is only recently that he has laid any claim whatever 

 to an earlier announcement.** 



In the fall of 1873 the following circular, doubtless prompted by our 

 Indianapolis address, was issued and distributed throughout the South 

 by the Commissioner of Agriculture : 



PROTECnON AGALNST COTTON INSECTS. 



To Correspondents: 



The annual losses of cotton from ravages of cotton insects amount possibly to half 

 a million bales in years of insect prevalence. One-fourth of a million bales would be 

 deemed a light infliction, and yet, at §100 per bale, such a loss would be equivalent to 

 $25,000,000. The methods to be employed lor lessening their ravages have been here- 

 tofore canvassed by the Entomologist of this Department. The remedy can only be 

 applied by the planters themselves, and their own experience can best render practi- 

 cable and efficient the means employed. 



Numerous correspondents have of late been experimenting with a mixture of Paris 

 green and flour or plaster, dusted on the plauts when wet with dew — a remedy which 

 has proved very efficient against the Colorado potato-beetle and other insects. Some 

 report this remedy effectual against the cotton-caterpillar, while others declare it of 

 no value whatever ; others, still, hesitate to try it for fear of poisoning. It is of the 

 utmost importance that the facts in the experience of planters the present season 

 ■hould be carefully reported, showing the quality and proportions of material used, 

 the method and frequency of its application, and the observed results, that a thorough 

 test may be made of its value or worthlessness. The answer of the following questiona 

 is therefore requested : , 



