ANSWERS TO CIRCULAR NO. 7. [75] 



does not look reasonable as compared with the observations as above stated; besides, 

 they would then hatch out and reappear at every place where they existed the year 

 previous; so I rather believe they are migratory, and come from the south annually. 

 I am of the opinion that if planters would top their cotton,8ay,threeor four inches 

 below the bud, about the time they see the first fly, much benefit would be had. First, the 

 natural place for depositing the eggs would be removed ; second, if any eggs had been 

 deposited about the time of topping, the topped part would become dry in a few hours 

 and the egg would perish ; or, if hatched, the little baby worm could not feed on the 

 dry, parched leaf, and would thus perish. If, however, he hud strength to make his 

 way to a neighboring stalk, he could not feed so young on the lower tough leaves, as 

 he can only survive on the downy part in the bud first, and then on the youngest and 

 tenderest leaves. Thus he acquires size and strength in a few days to feed on older 

 leaves. 



It is natural that they do not deposit the egg anywhere on logs, trees, or woody 

 substances, or even on grown tough leaves, where the diminutive baby worm cannot 

 feed, thrive, and live ; so the last or third crop, if deposited on these substances, would 

 soon become extinct. Therefore they are migratory and come from the south. 



Then, as a remedy, I would suggest, first, to work and cultivate fast, get a good 

 growth as early as possible, but, large or small, top the cotton as soon as you see the 

 first fly; second, I would urge, as an additional remedy, to put up poles with martin- 

 boxes on the top, and cultivate and raise our black-martin bird. It is a South American 

 bird, innocent and harmless to all vegetation. They arrive here in May, raise their 

 young, and migrate the 1st of September. They are a fine, greedy insect-scavenger, 

 and increase rapidly. Again, they are by nature adapted to the work, because the 

 caterpillar-fly works from about 5 o'clock p. m. till dark each day, and while all other 

 birds retire to roost early, the black martin feeds till dark. In fact, this mode of fur- 

 nishing artificial homes for birds would invite many of our native birds to occupy these 

 homes, and particularly our bluebirds, which are also fine insect-destroyers. Thus, by 

 largely increasing our birds which feed on these insects, we would be well fortified 

 against the boll-worm fly, which much resembles the caterpillar-fly, both of which 

 appear about the same time, first in small force, and increase very rapidly. 



If birds could be distributed over the fields in these artificial homes, they would 

 eff'ectually destroy them on their first arrival, when so few in number. You are 

 aware that in the early history of the Southern States, where the farms were small 

 and few in number, then the forests were vocal with the song of birds. As the fields 

 increased in size the forest decreased, and since our late war the freedmen all, young 

 and old, used every means to procure guns for the purpose of killing game, and no 

 bird, however small and innocent, is allowed to escape their deadly aim. Nor will 

 I stop in condemning the negroes for this unwise practice, but the same holds true of 

 our idle young white men, many of whom indulge in the practice as mere sport. Our 

 forest songsters are now seldom to be seen, their songs are hushed, and the moaning noise 

 of the wind in the tree-top is undisturbed by the note of the bird. Laws should be 

 passed by all the States to put a stop to this unwise practice. 

 Yours, truly, 



JNO. M. WOLKOM. 



C. V. Riley, Chief U. S. E. C. 



Hempstead, Waller County, Texas. 



I herewith send replies given by different farmers in this county in answer to the 

 question asked on the first page, and you will see that there is a variety of ideas as 

 to the manner of hibernation. 



The questions in Circular No. 7 having been carefully answered, to your first cir- 

 cular, I do not think I can add any more information, save perhaps to reiterate my 

 firmer belief in what I had stated, to wit : 



That the worm has four changes: from chrysalis to moth; moth to egg; egg to 

 worm; worm to chrysalis. 



That the moth is short-lived, from five to seven days; is not an eater; always an 

 egg-layer; remarkably timid; a strong light readily attracts them; they perform 

 their mission and then die. 



That the egg hatches in from about five to seven days; is deposited on the under 

 side of cotton leaf in regular layers. 



That the worms as they hatch proceed at once to do their mission, and take from 

 seven to nine days to perfect themselves, when they begin to spin their web. In 

 about thirty-six hours the chrysalis — the hibernator — is ready for its long or short 

 sleep, accordiug to the protection or exposure, the heat or cold, surrounding it. It is 

 the seed, that chance may throw on stony ground and it will perish, or it may fall in 

 some sheltered spot and there be preserved through any winter. The cause of so few 

 appearing in spring may, and I think does, result from the fact that so few chrysalids 

 fall into nooks or places suitable to protect them through the winter, and are de- 

 stroyed by winter's cold or their own decay. 



