MEANS OF DESTROYING THE MOTH. 131 



by Colonel Lewis and described in Chapter XIII) have been used on a 

 sufficiently large scale to fully test the efficacy is that around Hearne, 

 Tex., in 1878. Over 1,000 lamps were used in that vicinity during a 

 period of several weeks, and while it was true that cotton was not 

 injured that year, the same was equally true throughout that whole 

 section of the country ; so that it was impossible to draw any satisfac- 

 tory conclusions. Still, where they were used pretty extensively in 

 1879 they did not prevent final injury to the cotton, and where but a 

 few are used in some particular fields, it is undoubtedly true, and in ac- 

 cordance with general experience, that more harm than good ensues to 

 the individual using them — the moths being allured from other fields 

 and frequently laying their eggs before perishing. The worms are, con- 

 sequently, often more numerous at such centers than elsewhere. 



At tbe Atlanta Exposition Hotel, in the autumn of 1881, these moths 

 swarmed in myriads about the electric lights outside of the building. 

 Beneath these the ground was strewn with dead moths, and a quart of 

 them would often accumulate during a single night in the glass globe 

 surrounding each light. It is to be inferred that the more brilliant the 

 light is the farther will it attract, and the less heat it exhibits the closer 

 will tbe moth approach. On these accounts electric lights may be the 

 best, and probably the calcium lights and gaslights will rank next; but 

 at present these are generally not economically applicable for field use. 

 In general a kerosene lantern will be found most convenient. 



The whitish flames give as good results as, and probably better results 

 than, colored flames. There is not satisfactory evidence that these in- 

 sects take cognizance of the qualities of the light, but its degree of in- 

 tensity seems to be a more important consideration. Movement of the^ 

 light has long been recognized as enhancing the chances of capture. 

 These facts came to light with the practice of carrying torches between 

 the rows and at the same time agitating the plants. In Louisiana and 

 Arkansas we were informed that parties of several persons abreast have 

 gone through the fields in this way, and claimed that the moths were 

 thus successfully destroyed. Probably this method was observed also 

 in Texas, as the portable lamp or torch machines of Le Blanc andFord- 

 tran appear as though they might have been suggested by it. The noc- 

 turnal labor and the machinery required prevent these methods from 

 becoming popular. 



The various kinds of trap lanterns which have been invented will be 

 described and figured in Chapter XIII. 



Poisoned Sweets and Fluids as Means of destroying the Moths. — It has 

 long been known that the Cotton Moth, like most of the other species 

 of its family, has a great fondness for sweets. Southern writers upon 

 the insect repeatedly mention the fact that the moth is numerously at- 

 tracted by barrels or other vessels containing molasses, by sugar- vats, 

 &c. ; while, as we have already seen (p. 11), it is very fond of most ripe 

 fruits. The second peach-crop very often suffers materially from the 



