DISEASES OF THE COTTON PLANT. 
215 
It has been recommended to light tires in various parts 
of the plantations, at the season when the first moths of 
this insect make their appearance, as they are attracted by 
light, and perish in great numbers in the flames ; and, if 
the first brood of females be thus destroyed, their numbers 
must necessarily be reduced, as it is highly probable that 
it is the second and third generations which do the prin- 
cipal damage to the crops. Some successfiil experiments 
in kilUng these moths with molasses and vinegar were 
made by Captain Sorsby, a year or two ago, which I here 
describe in his own words : 
"We procured eighteen common-sized dinner-plates, 
into each of which we put about half a gill of vinegar and 
molasses, previously prepared in the proportion of four 
parts of the former to one of the latter. These plates were 
set on small stakes, or poles, driven into the ground in the 
cotton fields, one to about each three acres, and reaching a 
little above the cotton plant, with a six-inch-square board 
tacked on the top, to receive the plate. These arrange- 
ments were made in the evening, soon after the flies had 
made their appearance. The next morning we found from 
eighteen to thirty-five moths to each plate. The experi- 
ment was continued for five or six days, distributing the 
plates over the entire field, each day's success decreasing 
until the number v^as reduced to two or three to each 
plate, when it was abandoned, as being no longer worthy 
of the trouble. The crop that year was but very little in- 
jured by the boll-worm. The flies were caught in their 
eugerness to feed upon the mixture, by alighting into it, 
and being unable to make their escape. They were doubt- 
less attracted by the odor of the preparation, the vinegar 
probably being an important agent in the matter. As flies 
feed only at night, the plates should be visited late every 
