34 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



raphy. Oyster Creek, quite a large stream, runs through this planta- 

 tion from north to south, and has upon its banks a varied growth of 

 native and luxuriant vegetation. Among the trees live-oak, cotton- 

 wood, pecan, and hackberry are the most conspicuous. From its serpen- 

 tine course, forming many densely shaded curves, it would afford at 

 many points admirable protection to insects or animals. The large- 

 size of the gin-house and corn-cribs situated near by the creek would 

 also afford the best of winter quarters. Winter temperature and all 

 local circumstances favor the belief that Aletia passes the winter here 

 in some form. 



From this point I went on to San Antonio, finding cotton too small 

 for observation ; but, as all climatic influences seemed favorable, de- 

 termined to remain there a short time and await answers to correspond- 

 ence and then go to the most promising field. While there interviewed 

 General H. T. Bee, among others, and felt quite interested in his account 

 of his cotton experiments in Leon and Durango, Mexico. The appear- 

 ance upon cotton the first year, two hundred miles from any other cot- 

 ton, and where cotton had never been planted before, leads to the pre- 

 sumption that the worm was indigenous and had fed upon other vege- 

 tation previously. General Bee still seems to think that it is generated 

 by some peculiar condition of the cotton plant, on the evolution theory. 

 All local circumstances here, the mildness of the climate during winter? 

 the profusion of flowers furnishing nectar perpetually, and from the 

 succulent perennial vegetation, it would appear to be the paradise of 

 insects. 



One marked feature here is what they call the sea-breeze, which is 

 almost perpetual and only interrupted during the prevalence of a norther, 

 which is always of short duration and scarcely worthy of the name. 

 Without this breeze their climate would be intolerably hot. 



Finding no field for observation here I went to De Witt County, 

 where I heard the first bale of cotton always came from. Stopped a 

 day at Cuero to see J. C. Hatton, to whom I had been referred. Found 

 him interested on the subject of the worm and conversant with poisons. 

 He recommends the following, viz : 



No. 1. Arsenic 1 ounce; hot water to dissolve; boil until dissolved. For one 

 barrel and one acre. 



No. 2. Arsenic 1 ounce; to be dissolved in hot water and put into one barrel of 

 water; London purple 1 pound to be added cold and well stirred in. To be used on 

 one acre. 



He also showed me several pumps, made of block tin, but none supe- 

 rior to those exhibited and described in Bulletin No. 3. Told me Mr. 

 J. D. Anderson had requested me to visit him, as he thought he had 

 the worm. On visiting Mr. Anderson's field the first object that at- 

 tracted my attention was the rattoon sprouts from the stalks of the pre- 

 ceding year. On first examination found the eggs of Aletia much more 

 crowded than usual, and upon footstalk as well as leaf, showing a marked 

 preference for this cotton. Specimens of this were sent you at the time. 

 There were occasional stalks found in the middle of the rows, while the 



