REPORTS OF DR. E. H. ANDERSON. [45] 



inches to 3 feet in lieiglit and growing luxuriantly, the preceding month having 

 been of high temperature and seasonable, and consequently favorable to the groTNtli 

 and cultivation of the plant. I found Aphis abundant in spots, but not generally so. 

 Ants in usual numbers, and chiefly among colonies of Aphis. Found a few forms cast 

 from shedding, but no evidence of either Aletia or Heliothis. On the 8th a chrysalis, 

 wrapped up in a leaf, was found. Between this and 15th, Heliothis was found at 

 work in the young forms and bolls, so few, however, as to require diligent search to 

 find it. It was less observable on coin than usual up to this time. The grass worm, 

 thi-oughout the month, was abundant in grassy fields, both upon grass and young 

 cotton and corn, destroying all in many instances, and not confined to bottom, but 

 appearing on hillsides as well. No other development of interest until the 24tb, 

 when a full-grown Aletia larva was brought in from the field, which passed into 

 chrysalis and emerged August 4. 



Through correspondence learned that larvae three and four days old were discov- 

 ered near Canton, same date; other larvte seen here about same time. Heliothis also 

 seen flying about. Noticed Aphis upon okra contiguous to cotton in same numbers as 

 on cotton; also circular j)erforations, apparently the work of a cotton-leaf worm. 



Ha'vfe looked carefully after plants of Malva family during spring and summer, but 

 so far have seen no trace of Aletia. 



A notable faot has been the sudden disappearance of the Grass Worm after a heavy 

 rain. I have often noticed that Aletia does not appear in considerable numbers dur- 

 ing a spell of wet weather, whether stormy or not, and belicTe that such heavy ruins 

 as we have had recently, by lowering the temperature and washing them off", would 

 retard their progress. 



The mean temperature has been 10" Fahr. less than that of June. Facts so far 

 would seem to indicate that Aletia had struggled through in some form from its de- 

 parture last fall until its advent this summer. 



Continued my visits to diff"erent fields of cotton to watch progress of both Aletia 

 and Heliothis. Found very few, though every field has had its quota. Atmospheric 

 conditions have not been favorable, or else the third brood would be easily discover- 

 able, if not damaging. The mean temperature has been much lower than usual, 

 ranging from 70° to 82^ Fahr. Have had frequent showers throughout the month, suc- 

 ceeded by cool s]>el]s, northwest and north winds prevailing, and hard rains on 2od, 

 24th, and 25th, lowering temperature. 



Heliothis has been at work, but to a less extent than usual. Noticed its absence in 

 early corn, and, in fact, could find no sign of it in the first planting, though the Grass 

 Worm was much more abundant than usual. In the corn planted in May it (Helio- 

 this) is now out in full force ; in fact, in a small field of my own, planted in May and 

 now in milk stage, it may be found in every ear, and has done considerable damage. 

 On the 15th, while walking at dusk along a field of cow-peas, where I had gathered 

 a crop of early corn, I noticed numbers of a small, gray moth in the grass and a like 

 number of Heliothis about the peas. I have repeated my visits since, and from the 

 numbers of moths and larvae found there have come to the conclusion that it relishes 

 that food as well as corn or cotton ; and it has suggested to me that by planting an 

 early crop of corn and a crop of peas in the corn, so timing the planting that the peas 

 shall be in bloom about the time the corn hardens, and planting a later crop of corn 

 and peas, so as to furnish food for the season, Heliothis Avould be kept out of the cot- 

 ton. Suggestions as to corn have been made by others (see pages 312, 313, Report on 

 Cotton Insects, 1879), but inasmuch as the pea crop continues to bloom and make fruit 

 so much longer than corn it would furnish food for the whole season. 



I shall watch my crops of peas in reference to Heliothis, and wall report to you the 

 results. 



Received the pyrethrum the 22d, and made my preparations by adding 1 ounce 

 pyrethrum to 10 of flour and 1 to 30 of hot water. I used hot water to make a decoc- 

 tion, as recommended by Professor Hilgard, and to prevent fungus, as referred to by 

 Mr. Schwarz, when made with cold water, thinking the heat would destroy the fun- 

 gus germ. Will try it likewise with cold water. 



Tried the dry preparation on grown and young Boll Worms on the 24th. The pow- 

 der was apparently slow in having any effect, though it seemed to stupefy the older 

 worms, while putting the younger in a torpid condition. I allowed them to remain 

 twenty-four hours, sprinkling the powder hea.vily upon them and the leaves, inclosed 

 in a small bottle, when, on examination, I found the small ones dead and the larger 

 active. The infusion soon put the larger ones to writhing, the smaller remaining 

 torpid and quiet. In an hour the larger and intermediate size commenced crawling, 

 when I reapplied the solution and they again became torpid after writhing a few 

 moments, and died in thirty-six hours. On the 25th brought in a fresh supply of 

 worms, and after adding ^ an ounce of pyrethrum to each preparation, applied the 

 dry to a lot of Boll Worms of various sizes, all of which were soon under its iullu- 

 ence, writhing and becoming torpid, the smaller soon killed outright, the larger and 

 full grown succumbing in from two to three hours. The result with the solution was 



