APPENDIX II. 
REPORT OF PROF. R. W. JONES. 
Oxford, Xovember 27 , 1880. 
Sir : I herewith mail to you a hrief report of work done by me and under my direc- 
ri .n according to authority from you. 
1 had the valuable assistance of Prof. J. W. Kilpatrick, A. M., now of Central Col- 
lege, Mo., daring August. 
to gathering material and handling it for making tin* large number of extracts, in- 
fusions, and decoctions, which I tried here, and many of which I shipped, on your 
order, to Selma, Ala., to ho used by yourself and Mr. Schwarz, I had the co-operation 
«>f Mcs.-rs. F. S. Chew and R. W. .Jones, jr., both students of the university. 
Accept my acknow ledgmenis for your uniform courtesy in our correspondence and 
work, and he assured of my high appreciation of the \aluable services you are ren- 
dering to the cotton interests of the Southern States. 
Very respectfully, &c, 
R. W. JONES, 
University of Jffefftmnt 
l*i of. C. V. Rilkv, M. A., Ph.D., 
Chirf Cuittd States Entomological Commission. 
HIE COTTON BOLL WORM. 
(Heliothis armigera.) 
This worm is far more injurious to cotton in this part of Mississippi than the Cot- 
ton Army Worm or any other insect pest. I believe the cultivators of cotton are by 
no means aware of its devastating power. It begins its work here in May, sometimes 
in June, and continues until about the end of September. Its mode of work, and the 
great variety of its plant-food, give it marked advantages in the struggle for lijjjs and 
in multiplying. It is well known to all students of this subject that the moth of the 
Cotton Army Worm (Aletia xylina), in visiting a held of cotton, begins at a selected spot 
that affords moisture and tender, juicy plants, and lays its eggs within quite a limited 
area, so that tho worms, as soon as hatching begins, aro there in considerable numbers. 
This fact makes it comparatively easy and inexpensive to apply insect poisons for 
Aletia larva?. 
But the moth of Heliothis lays its eggs over a much wider area ; the young worms 
are scattered more sparsely on the cotton, and therefore it is more costly and laborious 
to poison them. Moreover, during much of the time, these larva' of Heliothis are hid- 
den wholly or partially in the bolls into which they cut their way. It is difficult, there- 
fore, to affect them by means of those poisons which must be projected upon the food of 
insects, and be devoured by them, in order to their destruction ; and, no matter what 
kind of poison might be employed, a much larger quantity would be needed to reach 
the scattered Poll Worms than the same number of Aletia feeding close together. 
It is not to be inferred that the damage in a field is small because the worms are 
scattered. The amount of damage done by a single worm is astonishing. J have 
counted 18 youug bolls, shriveling, decaying, and falling or fallen, besides many 
blooms and unopened flower-buds pierced; all tho work of one Boll Worm and that 
not mown. 
1 gave particular Attention to two lields near Oxford this summer. I think the 
damage by the Poll Worm amounted to 25 per cent, of the crop. I visited a field with 
Judge Lawrenco C. Johnson, of Holly Springs. Judge Johnson estimated the loss by 
Heliothis to bo 20 per cent. ; I thought his estimate a very moderate one. 
Food-jylanls. — Besides cotton, this worm feeds on young corn plants, tender silks and 
grains of ears of com, peas, beans, tomatoes, and okia. They may also feed on other 
plants on which I have not found them. 
These worms are specially fond of the blades and tender stems of young com plants 
C3 CONG — AP 2 [I 7 ] 
