[76j 



I suggested that perhaps the plant on which the egg was deposited might give 

 dire«tion or impress the worm with desire to eat of that plant. I am ready to change 

 or modify my views, and say that now I think the plant on which the worm feeds 

 must have the effect to determine the plant for the future worm. 



I have observed this year that the Cotton Worms, after finishing the cotton, at- 

 tacked the crab-grass, and have eaten it up — nothing left in the corn field for stock 

 to eat; looks like a frost had killed it. These worms did not retain their cotton-leaf 

 color, but underwent a great change ; the black streaks were obliterated and green 

 color took its place; the half-grown worms became stouter and shorter and more 

 sluggish and of a dirty green color. 



The change in the worm is so great that the identity of the worm has been most 

 stoutly denied by very good farmers, who have said, "if you examine them elosely 

 you will find them to be the genuine ' grass' worm." If all things work according to 

 my views, we shall be visitecl by "grass" worms next spring, which will eventually 

 attack the cotton. 



9. A large and strong light carried slowly through the fields will surely destroy the 

 moth ; but this must be kept up once a week, and the moth must be startled from its 

 rest. 



13, 14, 15. Paris green cheapest, used in powder ; if too strong, will kill plant and 

 any animal that will eat the plant. Shpuld be used only sufficiently strong to kill 

 worm and not damage the plant. Animals should not be allowed in fields where Paris 

 green is used. 



In regard to the answers herein given, my aim was to get the farmers' individual 

 opinion unbiased, and after taking it down would read it, and ask if I had expressed 

 him correctly. 



P. S. CLARKE. 



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



Question addressed to farmers of Waller County, Texas. — What is your opinion as 

 to the manner or mode of perpetuation or preservation of the Army or Cotton Worm 

 from one year or season to another? In what condition does it hibernate ? 



Answer by J. A. Peebles. — The miller, or fly, makes its deposit of " eggs " in the 

 fall in the ground ; they hatch out in the summer, these eggs reproducing the miller. 

 The miller subsists on some kind of food. Believes in a male and female fly and cop- 

 ulation. 



Answer by Dr. J. J. Perry. — Believes it is propagated in the chrysalis from the 

 chrysalis burrowing in the ground, there remaining intact till the period of incuba- 

 tion has expired, when the moth appears. Duration of incubation from six to nine 

 months. Thorough system of winter plowing would eradicate them. 



Answer by John Peebles. — Believes the eggs are deposited in the ground by the 

 fly ; there remaining till cold weather is over, when they hatch as a fly. They (the 

 fly) subsist on some kind of food while existing ; they copulate. 



Answer by A. T. Bedell. — Some of the eggs remain unhurt by the winter and are 

 hatched out in the spring, and in this manner are perpetuated. 



Answer by Dr. L. W. Groce. — Believes the eggs are deposited under the bark of the 

 cotton-stalk, under and at the ground, and in this manner lie dormant through the 

 winter and hatch out in the spring. No copulation. 



Answer by J. C. Ralston. — The fly deposits its egg, which becomes a worm, which 

 becomes a chrysalis, which becomes a fly, which again deposits eggs. The fly does 

 not eat. The egg is the medium of perpetuation, which holds through the winter in 

 a capsule. " 



Answer by Dr. William Clinton.— The flies, or moths, are brought from the per- 

 petual cotton fields of South America by strong southern breeze. Each year termi- 

 nates them, and again are brought by southern breeze. 



Answer by Frank Cooke.— Originated in Southern States, is a.hybrid or cross from 

 common grass-worm ; deposit their eggs on cotton-stalks or in the ground, from which 

 comes the first crop, these eggs lying in the ground till spring. Can be destroyed by 

 deep plowing or freeze. 



Answer by Dr. R. C. Watson. — The moth deposits eggs on leaf, hatches in worm, 

 then goes into chrysalis; depends on peculiar conditions how long it remains in this 

 state, from which comes a moth. The chrysalis hibernates, the fly copulates. 



Answer by R. G. White. — The chrysalis^ drops from the stalk and becomes covered 

 under ground ; in this manner is preserved during the winter. The moth copulates. 



Answer by B. F. Elliott. — Believes the caterpillar goes in the ground in the fall ; 

 then becomes a chrysalis ; remains dormant till next summer, when it hatches out a 

 fly. The fly eats, copulates, lives three or four weeks. 



Answer by Zack Wooley. — The moth deposits eggs in the fall, which are preserved 

 through the winter and hatch out a worm in the spring, which attacks vegetation; 

 then go to work, web up, and turn to the miller again, which deposits eggs; these 

 eggs hatch out the worm, which goes to work on the cotton. The fly eats, copulates, 

 lives three or four weeks. 



