HISTORY OF REMEDIES. 
35 
propitious to the spread and multiplying of the worms. By the adoption of prompt and 
vigorous measures, some of which are new, and \ rigid perseverance in their execution, 
his crop escaped unscathed, while many of hia 'eUow-laborers who lacked faith in any 
remody suffered greatly. In the attainment of his purpose the means resorted to by 
Mr. Townsend were the following: 
L His people searched for and killed both the worm and the chrysalis of the first 
)rood. 
2. On the appearance of the second brood he scattered corn over the field to invite 
Vhe notice of the birds, and while they depredated on the worms on the top of the 
ttalks and their upper limbs, the turkeys destroyed the enemy on the lower branches. 
3. When in the aurelia (chrysalis) state the negroes crushed them between their 
fingers. 
4. Some patches of cotton where the caterpillars were very thick and the bird* 
and turkeys could not get access to them were destroyed. 
5. The tops of the plants and the ends of all the tender and luxuriant branches, 
where the eggs of the butterfly are usually deposited, were cut off. 
By these i i i > ' a 1 1 s , r. >.»lut« ly pursued, although at one time the prospect of check- 
ing the depredators was most cheerless, not the slightest injury to the field was sus- 
tained. The experiment cost Mr. Townsend 2$ acres of cotton, about 15 bushels of 
corn, and the work of all his people for about five days. 
It will be noticed that among the remedies used by Mr. Townsend was 
that of topping the cotton, under the supposition that most of the eggs 
are laid upon the upper and tenderer leaves. This was one of the early 
remedies, but has often been urged since, and has its disciples to the 
present day. As we shall show in discussing preventive measures, it 
may be employed to advantage in some cases late in the season, but at 
the most critical period of the year the eggs are mostly on the lower 
part of the plant. 
About 1840 Mr. Wailes first publicly recommended the carrying of 
lighted torches through the fields at night to attract and kill the mollis. 
Soon after, large fires began to be built in different parts of the plan- 
tations for the same purpose, and, later, these fires were built upon 
elevated platforms Moored with earth. It is stated, however, by Dr. J. 
C. Xeal, that Col. F. D. McDowell, an old Florida planter, had begun 
the use of fires to destroy the moths as early as 1805. First and last 
this remedy has been extensively tried; but the general verdict seems 
to be against its utility. It is held that such fires attract to a planta- 
tion many more moths than they kill. One author has even gone so far 
as to dispute that any moths are destroyed in this way, stating that 
repeated observation has shown to him that the rush of hot air carries 
them up and away before they can reach the flame. 
Trior to 1853 were published a number of articles recommending the 
flying of white flags in different parts of the fields, and stating that the 
moths would oviposit upon them. Each published recommendation, 
however, was from hearsay, and no one of the writers was able to say 
that he had ever seen a single egg upon such a flag. Where the idea 
started we are unable to say. 
Clean cultivation, forcing the cotton, and rotation of crops had all 
been urged by writers before this, and followed by many planters, no 
doubt with much advantage. 
