XXVI 
INTRODUCTION. 
« 
feeding on the plant should thus be sent) a supply of food should he inclosed with 
them ; if first killed, they should he carefully packed in a little cotton, to prevent 
shaking and breaking. 
Correspondents who desire to make especial observations with a view of replying to this 
circular, and who wish further information as to the best manner of preserving specimens, 
will receive assistance and further instructions upon communicating ivith the department. 
CHAS. V. RILEY, 
Entomologist. 
Two circumstances have somewhat interfered with the inquiry, viz, the yellow fever 
and the general freedom of the plant from the Cotton Worm, the serious injuries of 
this last having been restricted to the cane-brake regions of Alabama and to the 
southwest counties of Georgia, especially the country between the forks of the Flint, 
and Chattahoochee Rivers— the more malarious portions of either State. Its appear- 
ance in injurious numbers, both here and in South Texas, was from four to six weeks 
later than usual, and this was one cause of the small amount of injury done. The 
weather at the time of their greatest abundance was wet and interfered with the ap- 
plication of remedies. 
Professor Comstock's observations were chiefly confined to that fertile cotton-grow- 
ing region along the line of the Alabama Central Railroad, known as the " cane-brake.'* 
He reached Selina July 20. There he met many prominent planters, and from them 
collected important statistics respecting the occurrence of the Cotton Worm and the 
results of experiments in the use of remedies for this species. July 23 he began his 
field observations near Uniontown, Perry County, and from that time on, till the mid- 
dle of October, he was constantly engaged in studying the habits of cotton insects on 
plantations in Dallas, Perry, Hale, and Marengo Counti es. His only absence from this 
region was from August 10 to August 15, when I directed him to make a trip through 
the State northward as far as Madison County, where much cotton is grown. Profes- 
sor Comstock has prepared a full and valuable report, which will be incorporated in 
the final report of the investigation. 
Professor Grote's operations will appear by the following extract from a brief report 
submitted. 
"Sir : In accordance with your favor of July 18, in which you directed me to visit 
the States of Georgia and Florida for the purpose of making observations on the in- 
sects injurious to the cotton plant, I proceeded to Savannah and during the following 
month of August made examinations of cotton fields at different points between Sa- 
vannah and Atlanta. Having charged me especially with that phase of the cotton- 
worm inquiry which comes under the head of migrations, I directed my chief atten- 
tion to making observations and collecting information on the appearance and move- 
ments of the Cotton Worm (Aletia argillacea). 
"A careful survey of the plantation of Dr. Lawton, near Savannah, from August 1 
to August 7, and the cotton patches in the vicinity convinced me that the worm had 
not then appeared. The statements made to me were to the effect that its earliest 
appearance was usually to be looked for about the middle of the month. Henry Gas- 
ton, engaged in planting cotton for nearly twenty years, said that the first brood of 
worms web up about the middle to the latter part of August, giving a second brood 
in September. The worm was first noticed in the stronger cotton on the bottom 
lands. * * * He had observed the moth before the appearance of the worm, but 
had never noticed it in the early spring. 
"This testimony is given as a sample of the information collected from various in- 
dividuals. While August seems to be the usual time for the appearance of the worm 
on the mainland on the coast of Georgia, in the neighborhood of Savannah, the testi- 
mony of Dr. J. S. Lawton, on the sea islands off the coast of South Carolina to the 
northward of Savannah, is to the effect that the worm appears sometimes as early as 
J ulv and is then usually excessively injurious to the long-staple cottons. 
" In Southwestern Georgia the worm is noticed as early as the last week in June in 
Home years, and the main damage inflicted in the State seems to come from this quar- 
ter. The worm occurs there every year, though the date at which it is noticed va- 
ries. The question whether the so-called 'brood' is the first appearance of the worm 
in any quarter has been raised by yourself, and is one which I hope to be able to pay 
close attention in the spring. 
" For the present we must accept the testimony that the worm seems to advance 
from Southwest Georgia over the western and occasionally over the central portion 
