45 



Either of the agents uamed will supply orders for the Texas Cotton 

 Worm Destroyer, at 50 cents per pound (sufficient for four barrels of 

 water) and make a liberal discount to those who purchase to sell again. 



The following interesting letters recently received, we submit as a con . 

 elusion to our work, which we trust may prove valuable to planters 

 throughout the South. 



Cold Springs, Texas, March, 23rd, 1878. 

 J. Curtis Waldo Esq., New Orleans: 



Dear Sir, — In answer to your circular of December 1st, 1877, I beg 

 leave to state my experience with cotton, and the cotton worm. 



I have watched the growth of cotton and its attendant ills, for the last 20 

 years, and have been directly interested in its cultivation for the past 

 twelve years. The first time I was affected with the caterpiller was in 

 1865 after my return from the army, but little damage was done however 

 in that year. The next was in 1867 when the whole crop was totaly des- 

 troyed and out of two hundred acres planted I gathered nothing. We 

 then attributed it to the wet season which prevailed in this section at the 

 time. 



And just here I may mention that it is my impression after years of con- 

 nection with different farmers, and my own observation that a wet season 

 we are more apt to have these worms, than of a hot dry season. The only 

 sign that I am aware of is the egg deposited on the leaf before their ap- 

 pearance, and the smell (when once become acquainted with never for- 

 gotten) which is emitted from the field before any worm can be discovered , 

 unless by the most watchful " observer." 



When they are discovered in their most diminutive state, an application 

 of poison, in some form, is the only preventative that I know of, which 

 must be applied at intervals, as they generally make their appearance at 

 different times in the space of three weeks; or, in other words, web up 

 and hatch out again in that space of time. The first crop, as it is under- 

 stood, does little harm, except furnishing a supply of eggs for the second 

 and third crops. 



I think after eating, many fall on the ground after obtaining their full 

 growth and go into the ground and there remain in the shape of a " cocoon " 

 or " chrysalis," and I have seen hundreds of them plowed up in the spring 

 when preparing the ground for planting. 



I have used none of the remedies named in your circular except the 

 " Texas Cotton Worm Destroyer." In 1876 I used that article on 20 acres 

 of cotton, which the worms had begun to make a little ragged. It proved 

 a perfect success with one application with fountain pump ; the balance 

 of the cotton on the place was entirely destroyed by the worms, whereas 

 this bloomed and bore until frost. 



In 1877 I again applied the remedy with partial success. In this I retarded 



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