The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-21
TEXANS FEARFUL
OF BOIL WEEVIL

Luna. Texas, December Io.-(Special
| Correspondence)- Never in the history
of central and northern Texas have the
cotton planters experienced so nearly
total failure In growing cotton, their chief
marketable product, and the only one
which commands spot cash "a any and
all times and consequently tn oir Chief
means of support.
! The destruction Of the cotton crop over
greater part of one-half Of the counties
| in the best cotton growing belt OF Texas
was wrought this year by the Mexican
| boil weevil, which were SO numerous and
ravageous that thousands OF acres pro-
duced absolutely no cotton, and TINS upon
! land which had for years never ialled TO
/ produce average crops with lar sea-
! sons. The farmers of this infested district
are face to face with the most serious
problem of their lives as TO the method
| OF DISCRIMINATING the boil weevll, or at
! least TO check the beetle in its work
until the cotton maturing season passes.
The boil weevl has proven far
greater destroyer OF cotton this year than
! all other evils and enemies Of cotton
| mbined.
! What to do and when to begin TO save
i the crop Of 9o4 is the ali absorbing cues
! ton of the cotton grower at present he
realizes the grave situation he IS placed
/ in and with deep regret turns to the
merchant who has supplied him with the
neccssaries Of life and the two exchange
I sympathies and indulge In speculations
as TO tine peXt crop. The cotton In the
! infested district has all been picked,
/ ginned and Sold hence the stubborn facts
! confront the planters, both landlord and
/ tenant alike There can be no question
but that The boil weevil has caused
loss OF many millions Of dollars TO the
( farmers of Texas.
! In many sections the yield this year on
account OF the weevil has been only from
to per cent Of the average yield of
ordinary seasons undisturbed by any
pest.
In 9o2 this (Freestone) county pro-
| duccd $4,000 bales of cotton. This year
! 1908 the total production Of the county
was $50 bales, or per cent Of last
| years crop. Hence the loss to the farm
ers of tnis county alone at the present
prices Of cotton amounts to over a mill
| lion Of dollars.
| To give a moro adequate idea of the
| complete obstruction by the oou weevil
/ in this immediate section here are the
Iacts: OF 100 cotton planters with a total
/ OF 1900 acres in cotton only NIFTY bales
were produced on the combined farms
/ representing The work Of $50 hands, thus
making an average OF one-half bale to
the farm, whereas III an ordinary crop
season. unm0lested by the weeyil, the
average would have been ten balos TO the
4 planter. or net gain OF nearly $500 to
each planter. over the boil weevil crop
Of this year.
The figures Of the early crop calcu-
lators were not realized and Will fall tar
short Of foreign expectations. Had 1t not
5een for the increased average of over u
million acres more than last year, falling
| principally III the districts yer not In
iected with the weevil this years crop
would have proven the shortest in the
history Of tbs state
The situation of The cotton grower Of
Texas is extremely critical and perplex-
| ing, and the future Il mystery difficult
to unravel. The state has offered re-
ward of $50 900 for a means OF exter-
minating the weevil. Congress has been
petitionod to appropriate. a large sum
to be disbursed, through + agricultural
department, to the best 1 vantage pos
sible Conventions havee oeen held all
over the state, ar o,srythjHIo possible
is being done -. li4 ~. .4eXlcan
pest next year, which is here in great
numbers. It's staying qualities are good.
! There is a battle royal on, and the PEG
pie Of Texas have decided that it must
be fought to a finish and the enemy
| forever laid to rest It IS either victory
or no cotton in 1904
History OF Mexican Boil Weevil
The Mexican boil weevil was first dis
covered. according to best authorities. in
| Central America hut It was scarcely
known and attracted but little attention
until Il was first described from Mexico,
in l879. Hence the name Mexican boil
weeyil- Cotton raising was abandoned
in Mexico in l962. on account Of the
BON weevll
The weevn first appeared IN Texas in
great numbers about 1922, ana was re-
ported first operating near Brownsville.
The insect was evidently transported
across the Rio Grande In tho shipment
of unainned cotton or carried through
gales of wind. IS they cannot ply any
great distance without lighting
In 1895 the boil weevn had spread
to a great distance until now III 1908
it has reached the northern boundary
| and very nearly the eastern boundary
OF the state, being very close to the
Louisiana line.
The Mexican boil wecvn Is Of a gravisn