The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-21

insect in the Algodon De Rinon' or kid ney cotton of that island. He failed to discover any parasites at all and did not succeed in finding any important ten dency towards immunity of the part of the five distinct varieties studied.
 Extension of Territory.
 ''The steady extension of the territory affected by the weevil year by year until the northern boundary Is far north of the center of cotton production in the United States has convinced all observ- CTS that 1t will eventually be distributed all over, the cotton belt. Although it's progress has been comparatively slow during the time it has been, in Texas, it has displayed no tendency toward dy- ing out. The fact that several European governments are sending agents to this country to procure seed to be used in experiments in producing the fiber in their colonies calls attention to the prob ability that the weeyil may be carried to remote portions of the globe.
 Although the insect doeS not except accidentally hibernate within the hull of the seed, every seed house attached to a gin in the infested territory harbors any that are brought in from the fields in seed cotton. They crawl into the seed bins as they would crawl anywhere for protection. All danger could easily be avoided by Immigration of the seed or by leaving 1t sacked in storage rooms iso- lated from new cotton for a year previous to shipment. '' '
 'The work of the Division of Ento- IT logy has demonstrated that no direct or specific means will ever be of much avail in fighting the weevil and that there Is little hope for the artificial pro- pagation of diseases or in obtaining a variety that is in any sense resistant. Experiments. however. with cultural methods have been highly successful and have obviated the necessity of look ing to direct ones. The cultural methods consist of reducing the number of the pests in the fall by early destruction of the plants. and in hastening the matur- ity of crop the following spring by ever: means available.
 Method of Destruction.
 'Fall destruction consists of blowing up and burning the plants as soon as the pests have multiplied to such an extent as to render the picking of any more cotton doubtful. Under normal con- ditions this should occur in October The benefits resulting from this process are three-fold. Many weevils are actual ly killed, the development of several of the so-called broods Is prevented. thus further reducing the number which goes
 
 bernating season. during which many causes bring about a considerable nor tality. is heightened. ........
 While this apparently causes a loss of the top crop, 1t is not a loss when the other recommendations of the diyis- ion of entomology are followed. A. crop can be obtained which will mature be- fore the weevils have an opportunity to do considerable damage, and this is brought about by the use of rapid growing variety accomplished by the planting of the northern seed. This must be planted early when the season per mits. The rows must be planted at a somewhat wider distance than has been the practice and thorough cultivation of the crop must follow. In this way it has been shown the past season that from a half bale to a bale per acre could be cropped in territory where un- der the old system one-tenth of a. bale more or less, Is secured with difficulty By these methods 1t Is possible to pro- duee the staple at 2 margin Of profh that ssi.. oorsraFs iaavorabfy with that realized in the production Of most of the staple crops in the United States, even though large yields of cotton occasion ally gained in earlier years seem to be no longer. possible in the district affected by the weevil. -..-.. ..-...
 Want an Appropriation.
 At meeting of the members of the House. delegations from Louisiana. Ar kansas and Texas, which was held in the minority conference room to-day. decisive steps were taken looking to an investigation of the boil weevl evil by the National government with the view of it's possible eXtermination. A sub committee composed of three members from each c. the States named was ap- pointed to call on the President to-mor- row at 10 o'clock for the purpose of re- questing him to Incorporate in his forth coming message to Congress a recom- mendation that an appropriation of $5OO- 600 be made for this work
 The Secretary of Agriculture. who is fully alive to the dangers which threat en the principal staple of the South has urged that this amount be set aside for making a study of the insect and the President will be asked to recommend the The committee was as fol- lows: Louisiana. Representatives Bra zealle. Pujo and Ransdell; Arkansas. Representatives Little Robinson and Brundidge; Texas, Representatives Bur gess. Randall and Fields