The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-08-21


the sun to mature and open the bolls
that might under the shade nave re-
NAMED unripe till late in the season
but to young growing cotton they
mean ruin, unless their miscellaneous
career can be cut short before they
get their work in.
In this section of Texas we suffer
very little from the ravages of the boil
or the cotton worm. This immunity
is largely due to the army of ants
which populate our cotton and corn
fields.
To the despised and deviled ant we
owe more than to either good seed OF
cultivation.
This may appear novel proposition,
but it is capable of demonstration.
Without this industrious and often
annoying little insect, we would simply
have to abandon the cotton plant to
its enemies. The boil and army worm
would be with us in force every year
and defy every trap and poison yet IN
vented, but for the presence of the
ant. The larvae and eggs are both
meat and drink to the ant and it is
only when the former exceed the
consuming capacity of the latter, that
we are troubled with worms. This is
why we rarely have visitation of
worms in along period OF dry weather.
1t is not because the moth is not here
or is not attending to business. The
production of eggs and their transfer
nation goes on more rapidly in dry
than in wet weather, but the little black
ant, being unable to travel far for
water. hunt the juicy and succulent
egg and worm and in satisfying its APP
petite saves the farmers crop. A close
observer will notice that where ants
do most abound there does not abound
| the cotton worm.
1t has been suggested to encourage
the increase OF ants by placing little
piles of flat rocks at intervals in the
cotton rows where they will be out of
the way of the pillow, and form a
shelter and breeding place for the
ants. Where ants are scarce the idea
merits consideration. Many plans are
in force for the determination of the
cotton miller and the worm, but none
of them equal the ant.
The lamp and pan trick has not
been found unive rsal success.
There can be no doubt if used in suf-
ficient quantity at the right
time they will kill the
miller that lays the fatal egg, but
in killing the miller they kill other
insects that are friends to the farmer,
and it is moot point whether the
lamps do most harm or good. Poisons
are not liable to the same objection,
but they are costly, troublesome TO
apply and dangerous.
The latest idea for the destruction
of the cotton miller has been given by
we'll kno wn and successful farmer of
this county.
His plan, as I understand it, is to
take 2x4 scantling about 16 feet
long and fix it behind wagon so that
it will stretch across four or five rows
and at height just enough to brush
the tops OF the cotton plant. To this
pole he fixes oil lamps, with open
flame, at intervals. He drives the
wagon along the rows, and the claim
is that the pole disturbs the moth,
which is then attracted by the flame
and rushes to its doom. This seems
feasible scheme, but the users OF the
lamp and oil pan say that the moths
attracted by the flame are not burnt.
but drowned in the oil in the pan
below.
If that be so, then this new plan
would not act, as pan of oil could
not be used on a moving wagon. The
stirring up process is a good oneif the
disturbed millers can only be destroy ed
when put on the wing.
In the meantime encourage the in
dustrious and frugal ant.
COTTON PICKING.
This all important department of
labor now demands attention. The
prudent farmer will pick his cotton as
fast as it opens. Delay means loss.
Even the so-called storm-proof varie-
ties will fall to the ground and be lost
or seriously damaged if left hanging
| after fully open. If not buried beyond
recovery, the staple is discolored and
injured in quality and its value re-
| duced.
The picker should always be crowd
ing the cotton, never the reverse. By
keeping well up with the crop at the
opening of the season it is easier to
keep abreast of it in the height of
the season when it is opening fast
and labor is scarce and dear. Even
with the utmost effort the picker will
get behind sometimes and rain and
beating wind will thresh out much
cotton. Much of this may be saved,
but it should not be mixed with clean,
well matured cotton, as a mixed bale
will be graded by it's worst con-
stituent rather than by its
best. Cotton should never be
ginned when at all damp, as the ope-
ration not only damages the staple,
but the saws become clogged with
lint and most of it stays on the seed.
When gathered in damp condition
| it should he snread ont tn drv hefore