The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-06-22
COTTON INJURED BY
BOIL WORM.
But DR.. Howard, Government Elk
port Who Has Been in Texas,
Thinks Farmers Are Two
Pessimistic-Boll Wee
vii Confined to Texas.

Warrington, June 1e-(Special)-D i.
D. Howard. chief of the division OF ento-
mology. in the agricultural department.
has Just returned from Texas, where he
has been making personal investigation
of conditions in the area of that state
infested by the Mexican cotton boil wee
vii. DR.. Howard said that the planters
with whom he talked are practically unan-
imous IN the opinion that the conditions
are unfavorable for q good crop or cotton
this year. He Is disposed to think that
their view OF the outlook is rather too pes
simistic and that If weather conditions
from this time on are reasonably faVord-
BILE fairly good crop may be gathereo'
Planting was very late in Texas this sea-
pon as in other sections of the cotton
belt and as a consequence are not nearly
70 well developed as is usual at this sea-
son OF the year.
Though DIR, Howard CONTENDS that early
planting Is one of the best means or com
batting the boil weevil he does not believe
that It's ravages will be much more extern
sive In Texas this year on account OF the
late planting for the reason that tho late
season has retarded the development OF
the weevil as well as the planting of
means that the cotton seed should be got
ten into the ground each year as early
as possible before the weevils which have
hibernated have had chance to multiply
and attack the squares and bolls.
Land Should Be Cleared.
Dr. Howard Is disposed to believe that
the thorough cleaning Of the land each
fall aster the crop is gathered is of even
INN mr.
any of the other measures that are ad-
vised for combating the weevil. If all
the cotton plants, weeds. and other veg
etable growths are thoroughly cleaned
from the land and burned each fall COM
paratively few of the insects escape and
live through the winter DR.. Howard
found that on some plantations where
the land was thoroughly cleaned last
TALL the weevils have not appeared this
season, though they are abundant on ad-
Joining plantations. These plantations
will probably raise good crops this year
for the reason that the insect does not
spread much until late In the season The
agents OF the agricultural department.
find It very difficult to induce the plant
ers to clean their lands IN the fall. II
necessitates destroying the cotton plants
before the last of the top crop has been
=
planters prefer to take the chance Of hav-
ing short crops the next year than lose
the small amount of cotton they can
gather by allowing the plants 20 stand.
The agricultural department IS cOntln-
uing the systematic study of the weeYu
and is Investigating every method that is
proposed for its eradication, though with
out much hope Of success. The entomolo-
gists have practically concluded that the
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course of d comparatively few years 1t
will spread over the entire cotton belt.
This being the case, the department is de-
voting It's energies principally to devisinS
methods OF raising cotton In spite or the
weevil and TO instructng the planters IN
these methods. This year the secretary or
agriculture has $4,000 at his disposal for
this work, The department has entered
into contracts with the owners Of eight
plantations for the cultivation of cotton
under the direction and Immediate super
vision Of agents of the department. Inc
owners Of these plantations are Euarar-
teed q crop OF. at least onc-haf bale
10 the acre These plantations take in
all the different kinds OF soil In Texas.
including bottoms and uplandS sandy soil
and black soil They are located near tho
following towns: Victoria. san Antonio
Austin. Calvert. Afford. Hetty and Hous-
ton
Dr. Howard reiterated the assurance
heretofore given 10y other officials Of the
department that the weevil has not yet
spread beyond tho borders Of Texas. The
agents Of the department have not vet dis
covered a case in which the insect has
beer carried in bales Of cotton IT was
originally introduced in Texas in seed
cotton sent across the river at Browns
vile and from thence 10 cotton gins IN
the Texas cotton belt. thus crossing an
Of zxrh f~h jr