The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-29

toward It's determination is being made
throughout the entire weevil district My
recent trip to personally inspect the worst
infected localities has greatly encouraged
me as to the final result. For the past
month l have systematically urged the
organization OF weevil clubs In locality
where the weevil had made its appearance.
Results from efforts along this line have
been entirely satisfactory and at this
time there are active organizations In
every weevil infected county enforcing the
picking UP method Of the fallen squares
as urged in my last interview
The purpose OF my recent trip and
studies in Wharton and Fort Bend coun-
ties was to ascertain what results were
being obtained, how the planters were
satisfied with the method, and to verify
the observations and experiments made in
the bottom land cotton fields OF the Col
orado, near Eagle Lake. The effectiveness
time than l had expected to find it, and
the best Of II all is that the planters them
selves are fore-seeing that they have prac-
tically won the fight.
ihe method of systematically gathering
up the fallen squares and burning them
seems to overwhelm some cotton planters
here and there on account, as they say.
Of the tremendous amount of labor in
volved. This is all more apparent than
real and those large planters who have
tried the plan have been surprised at the
ease and facility with which their planta-
lions have been cleared, and that at a cost
which Is really so small, proportionately.
that 1t would be difficult now to induce
them to try any other method. In my own
experience with this method as compared
with the tests and uses made, of the pois-
oned solutions. l find that the cost of
preparation and application of the latter,
together with the cost of apparatus and
equipments. amounts to as much for one
spraying as it would to pick over the field
Systematically, once week, for six weeks.
If these pickings are made in May and
each week in June there can be no boil
weeyil trouble for the rest OF the season.
Just here I wish to offer In evidence
some notes taken on the plantation OF
Dyer and Bertrand at Richmond They
began collecting and burning early in the
season, and not only was 1t difficult to find
any number Of infested squares on the
ground, but the most important condition
in that connection was that no new weevll
work was being done on the plants, show
ing that the first brood of ALTERNATING
weevils had had their day and that the new
brood, or second generation, had been cut
off almost entirely. They have made a
complete success up to date and one or
two more pickings simply to make sure
and be on the same side, will settle the
boil weevil problem with them and their
crop for this season. In fact this Is about
the situation and the sentiment among the
cotton planters, generally speaking, wher-
ever they have given the gathering up
and burning method" fair trial.
Really the fight against the boil weavii
is too easy to suit those who want some
"hyfolutip" method for eradicating them
/ wish to speak plainly to those who have
thus far failed to protect their crop in
the manner suggested and state THAI unless
they picked up the few infested squares
during this month as recommended they
may expect to lose their crop in July or
| August and from then on. After all the
urgent requests from various sources,
through the press and by private corre-
spondence, / think that We would be fully
justified in bottling up any sympathy we
may have had for future reference There
IL soil nf nj
picking up method and to 80 per cent OF
the farmers will cost absolutely nothing.
! The tenant labor is theirs. or theirs TO
command, for the production of the crop.
In view of this it appears TO me to be
utter folly to suggest any other method
at this time. AS the season advances.
conditions will change, and | may have
more to suggest at that time.
There are still a few who are halt
hearted about this weevil campaign, be-
cause they have so few fallen squares IN
their cotton. A recital of the possibilities
of weevil propagation may serve to con-
vince the Indifferent that these few had
better not be sighted Suppose that ON
the LIST of June there are two dozen
weevils per acre in the cotton field. Grant
ing that half OF these are males, leaves
us an even dozen females for egg-laying
According to the estimates of the govern
ment expert each Of these females will
average eighty eggs. Hence at the end OF
their egg-laying period by about the Isl
OF July, we will have 800 eggs and larvas
in the fallen squares per acre, not to
speak OF the squares bored by both the
females and males for the purpose OF
feeding. IL requires a little less than
month TO go from egg TO weevil again
hence by the list of July We will have 96(
weevils per acre. One-half males. leaves
us $50 active campaigners for this month
AT the rate of eighty eggs each this will
Yield the handsome number OF SS40t
eggs and larvae In fallen squares by Au-
gust /. one-half females again gives Us
an army OF 10 200 per acre. Eighty egg,
each nets the enormous number OF 1876,
600 eggs and larvae; by September / ovei
a million and half. l have not stopped
10 estimate whether there would be tina
many squares per acre for them to worl
in, but ut that rate for two months NOR,
my impression is that by Thanksgiving
time the weevils would be so numerous
that they would have TO hold a caucus anC
agree to eat up the stalks or 60 withou
dinner. Brother cotton planter. do NO
feel too unconeerned about that dozeI
'wimmin folks" OF the weevil fraternity
My proposition is not to try to hold then
in check, but to exterminate them TIL
picking and burning process can havl
neither result,
desire also to again caution those VIII,