48 
extent, at least, the imagos adapt themselves to unfavorable conditions, 
and that their period of egg deposition, on the whole, is not much in- 
fluenced by such conditions. Their progeny, however, as has already 
been noted, suffers materially. 
As bearing on the abundance (or rather scarcity) of the Boll Worm 
the past year, I quote from the report of Professor Fulton for 1890 as 
follows: "The most important irregularities of the year were the un- 
usually high temperature in January and February, with a marked 
deficiency of temperature in March." During the period of high tem- 
perature in January, and especially February, it may be that many 
of the moths issued. If so, the cold period in March quite likely 
killed many of those which had issued. In the Eed Eiver section of 
Louisiana the Eed Eiver overflowed badly in spring, and planting of 
both corn and cotton was delayed until late in May and some in June. 
This necessarily delayed finding suitable host plants for the moths 
which had issued during April and May to deposit on, and doubtless a 
large per cent of their progeny failed to survive. In some localities 
also corn and cotton had been planted and was large enough for the 
moths which had issued to deposit upon when the river overflowed. As 
a result the corn and cotton both were drowned, or at any rate stunted 
so that it was all plowed under and planted a second time. By this 
process doubtless many of the first brood of worms were destroyed. 
From these reasons the second brood and consequently all subsequent 
broods were in all probability greatly reduced. 
From all the information gathered through observers of the U. S. 
Signal Service it is certain that the boll-worm depredations are much 
more extensive in the southern portion of the cotton belt. There is, 
therefore, no question but that the future work on the Boll Worm 
should be carried on principally in that region. 
INSECT DISEASES. 
The work upon insect diseases has formed an important part of the 
investigation. At the present time, however, it would be unwarranted 
and hazardous to enter largely into a report upon the work done and in 
^contemplation, or to draw conclusions. I shall therefore give but little 
more than a synopsis of the present condition of the work, and will re- 
serve acknowledgments to those who have contributed in any way for a 
more detailed report in the future. 
The first thing to be done in preparing for such work was to equip 
and arrange for a bacteriological laboratory. Some time was spent at 
Shreveport, Louisiana, in cooperation with Dr. Booth (who assumed 
charge of the work for the season) towards accomplishing this end. 
Hot-air and steam sterilizers were designed and a good workman soon 
had them in condition for use. The other supplies immediately neces- 
sary were ordered. These have been added to as the progress of the 
