36 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



Early in the season, when cotton is young and tender, one ounce of arsenic boiled 

 in one gallon of water five minutes and then put in a barrel of cold water will de- 

 stroy the worms. But in order to make it more efficient, add one-fourth pound Lon- 

 don purple, mixed up in cold water. This will go over an acre of land when proper! y 

 applied. When the cotton is older and the worms more numerous double the poison ; 

 no danger of hurting the cotton. The worms are about nine days hatching, and as 

 heavy dews and rains will wash off the poison it must be applied every three days in 

 hatching season. The proper time to commence poisoning is when the millers or 

 moths are depositing their eggs. They can be seen at work after sunset and before 

 sunrise. 



I regard as important this gentleman's views, as he is a thoroughly 

 practical man, and has the energy to execute as well as the intelligence 

 to formulate his ideas methodically. 



From this point I went to Fort Bend on the Brazos, and remained sev- 

 eral days with Colonel Cunningham, adjoining Colonel Ellis's, the two 

 plantations cultivating 2,000 acres of cotton. This was early in May, 

 I inquired for the largest cotton, and on visiting the field found a few 

 worms, specimens of which were sent to you. This was the first brood, 

 and unsuspected until found by me. This field was located near Oyster 

 Creek, and had upon it the decaying trunks of live oak, still covered 

 with moss, and pecans. It was designated as mulatto land, and very 

 rich, lying between Oyster Creek and the Brazos. The general features 

 were such as observed upon Colonel Ellis's plantation adjoining. The 

 mildness of winter temperature here, the many secluded spots, the abun- 

 dance of native perennial flora, and the almost perpetual southern gulf 

 breeze, as well as the great mass of stubble, rendering the soil extremely 

 porous, would all favor the different theories entertained as to Aletia. 

 While passing through many portions of Southern Texas, of both bald 

 and wooded prairie, now devoted to ranches, I could not but pause 

 to admire the profusion of wild flowers of infinite variety, intermingled 

 with native grasses, giving an additional charm to the landscape, and 

 furnishing food for both insect and animal. Here the moth could find 

 a congenial winter home, if nature has endowed it with such longevity. 



Xext visited Hempstead. As I have reported to you from that point 

 in detail in my correspondence, will now give a mere synopsis. Found 

 the first brood there on the highest point in the field, where bone phos- 

 phates had been used as a fertilizer, and where cotton was then, May 

 14 forming. This plantation was upland wooded prairie, 3 miles from 

 the Brazos, at an elevation of 30 or 40 feet above river, and about 70 

 above sea level. The soil may be called sandy loam, and quite fertile. 

 The size of the cotton had much to do with the presence of the worm, 

 but there were, perhaps, other agencies that aided in hastening it there. 

 It was found near an abrupt break on the crest of the hill which had 

 become overgrown with rank vegetation, and which sheltered a portion 

 of the field under its lea. Here either chrysalis or moth would have 

 been protected against the inclemency of winter. Here, likewise, all 

 the surroundings were favorable for the preservation of insect life. It 

 is a- coincidence not without significance in my experience that the first 



