REPORTS OF DR. E. H. ANDERSON. [47] 



the apex of tlie ear, and on examining the following day have fouikl the worm miss- 

 ing. It drives it out, if it does not kill it. 



I have used it on pea vines in infusion 1 to 30 by spraying, but cannot as yet re- 

 port accurate results, although it is certain that its use diminishes the visits of insects 

 of various kinds that frequent them for nectar. Finding myself foiled in prosecuting 

 experiments implicitly, according to instructions, I have endeavored to study its 

 habits where I have found it, hoping to place at your disposal some simple and feasi- 

 ble plan of preventing its ravages in cotton. Recent observation has strengthened my 

 belief, as intimated in a former report, that they prefer peas to cotton ; audit would 

 seem very natural, if th«y do eat peas, that as after leaving corn they go into chrysa- 

 lis at the foot of the stalk, when they emerge as moth they would commence upon 

 the nectar of - the pea, right at hand, and there also incubate, as the pea furnishes food 

 for its larvae. As the pea continues to bloom throughout the season, when visited by 

 occasional showers, it would there find a continuous and inexhaustible supply. This 

 plan would not only be within reach of ever farmer, but would add to his food supply 

 and prove a blessing. I shall continue my visits daily to the field, and will commence 

 spraying, under instructions, as soon as the worm makes its appearance ; and, judging 

 from past experience, it will not be long before the larvae will be out in full force. 



As the season has been so unpropitious I will here oifer to continue experiments to 

 the 15th October, without salary for that time. I will here remark that all the usual 

 insect visitors of cotton are less numerous than usual. The effect of Aletia is no- 

 where visible, though a few may be found in any field. A later brood may strip the 

 cotton, but will be too late to do any damage. The season has been characterized by 

 low temperature, but abundant moisture, proving that high continued temperature, 

 as well as moisture, are essential to the propagation of these two TSToctuids. The 

 fact that there has been a succession of corn crops and abundant pea crops this sea- 

 son and an absence of Boll Worms in cotton corroborates the belief that Heliothis 

 l^refers the former to the latter as food. Having failed to find Heliothis in cotton in 

 sufficient numbers for experiment, on the 18th I transferred 12 small larvae from corn 

 to cotton. On the following day sprayed the stalk with au infusion of pyrethrum 1 

 to 30, cold. On the 20th found 6 of the number nibbling ; on the 22d and 23d but 2, 

 and on the 25th but 1. Could see do damage done by them and no sign of them upon 

 contiguous stalks. Examined the field of cotton referred to as having been visited 

 on the 14th ; there found on cotton adjoining corn eggs of Heliothis. both on leaves 

 and outer calyx, and young worms. Will commence- operations there in a day or two. 

 As there were no peas there the moth, as predicted, on emerging at the base of the 

 corn stalk, sought the cotton. A search for them elsewhere in cotton has proved fruit- 

 less. 



27th, marked off plat 16 yards square and applied infusion, cold, 1 to 24, by spraying 

 with force pump (Kumsey & Co., patentees, Seneca Falls, N. Y.). I so direct the noz- 

 zle as to apply it chiefly to the under surface of the leaves through a fine spraying 

 nozxle. This piece of cotton was selected, as I there found a number of young BoU 

 Worms, eggs, and also Aletia ; October 2, sprayed a plat of cotton 10 yards square, 

 upon which I found a few Boll Worms and Aletia; the cotton was adjoining corn. 

 Aletia larvae, half grown, showed the effects of the poison almost immediately, and 

 after writhing for a short time fell to the ground. Half grown Boll Worms seemed 

 less sensible to the effects, but left the boll and ceased to eat. This infusion was 1 to 

 30, cold, and applied fresh. 



October 3, visited the field where I had previously used solution and dusted cotton 

 with flour preparation and found no sign of worm either where I had placed the 

 worms or upon adjoining stalks. As pyrethrum kills by contact, the infusion is 

 greatly to be preferred, as, by means of a spraying pump, it can be made to reach every 

 part of the plant. I would suggest the use of tanks, rather flat than otherwise, so 

 that the pump when on a wagon would be but little above the top of the cotton, and 

 should be directed rather against the cotton than over it. The spray striking the 

 plant laterally reaches the under surface of the leaves more readily. 



Looked diligently for Heliothis in cotton remote from corn, but could find none. 



October 4, visited a field where I found a few Aletia and here and there a Boll Worm. 

 Applied to cotton the flour preparation, 1 to 10, which has been kept in a close box 

 for several weeks, and find it as efficient as when first prepared. Aletia gave evidence 

 of its effects at once, and ceased to eat, and after a few contortions spun a web and 

 dropped to the ground. The Boll Worm is more quiet under its influence, a difference 

 perhaps in constitution, but soon becomes torpid and ceases to eat. 



A close examination of a field of cotton which has both bottom and upland and is 

 in vigorous growth, though of a russet aspect, partly from rust and partly from season, 

 and which is an average specimen, shows less injury from both Heliothis and Aletia 

 than for many years past, yet in many crops there is a loss of middle crop due mainly 

 to shedding. 



October 7, sprayed a plot 20 feet square with an infofsion, 1 to 24, cold. This had 

 upon it a large number of well-grown Aletia larvae, but some of all ages. This plat 



