The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-14
FARM,
The Cotton DoII wceviI-There Is
Destiny in II.

The Cotton Boil WceNti-I mere is
Destiny in II.
At various times i'm the past four or
five years this column has contained
some reference TO the new insect ell
envy of cotton, the boil weevil. Those
who read the newspapers are well
aware of the fact that the farmers of
Louisiana, if no others are very much
exercised over the probable appear
ance of this terrible foe TO cotton in
their own state. They are having con-
ventions and are inditinE various res
olutions about it. or were a week or
two ago The main question, of
course with them, as it must be in all
other sections of the cotton country, is
there any practical remedy for it. is
there any way of mitigating the loss
whenever it does put in an appearance
in any given locality? Up to the pres
ent time there is very little practical
knowledge of the Mexican boil weevil.
Entomologists know it very we'll now
under the scientific name Anthonomus
grandis. 1t will be known hereafter by
the common name cotton boil weeviL
perhaps plain boil weevIl.' We are
quite sure to hear good deal about
il in the next ten years. As early as
1886 the writer received from gentle
man in northern Mexico a letter and
a small box by mail The box, on be-
ing opened. contained vial, within
which were some eight or ten weeVlls.
The letter described them as the most
destructive influence to cotton culture
that had ever been met with in Mexico.
1t said that cotton growing had been
abandoned altogether in all sections
south Of that, where the insect had eX-
listed for several years.
In the early 9Os the weevil was re-
ported in several sections OF Southern
Texas. south of latitude 30. 1t was
not until 1895 that serious alarm be
gan to be felt about the intruder, but
even then the fear extended to but a
few comparatively. Since that time,
however. it may be said that the feel
ing of anxiety among intelligent cot
ton growers has increased proportion
ately with the annual extension or the
ravages of this notorious insect. The
loss 10 Texas farmers the present year
is estimated to be fully $3O,OOO,OOO, per-
haps more.
The boil weevil is now in more than
half % the counties OF Texas and no
telling what the conditions will be by
the close of another season.
The farmers of Louisiana are in a
high state of alarm and anxiety over
the probable appearance of the insect
in their state next year A special
meeting of the Legislature has been
convened to discuss the danger ana TO
put in operation any measures that
promise in any way to avert the evil
1t is a momentous question 10 be
sure But what can be done? what
has Texas done? The habits OF the
insect is such that it cannot be con-
tended with as in the case of the cater
pillar or the potato bug. Its presence
is not to be detected until the damage
has been done A shrivelled boil here
and there suggests it, and that is all
one might follow and collect all these
ruined bolls and then burn them: but
what a Job? Would one farmer In a
hundred be able or willing to do it?
The fact of il is there is no likelihood
of a practical remedy being found. Inc
only hope is in the operation oil certain
natural laws that either provides a
parasitic insect or disease or limits us
periods of plant devastation.
ability will cause a cessation of cotton
culture over a large territory of cot
ton country. A farmer will have to
learn how to farm without cotton ana
the sooner he learns how. the better
il win be for him. The farmers OF
Georgia will have a little more time IN
which to learn their lesson than the
farmers of Louisiana. but at the best
there is no time TO lose.
Most Of the land that has been USED
for growing cotton must in the near
future be devoted to grass and clover
Much of this land is cotton-sick al
ready. and it will produce twice as
much net profit in hay as IT dld IN
cotton. The boil weeVil is not out LOT
hav or beef or pork or potatoes or corn
or syrup or garden products-ohly
for cotton. 1t may be several years
before 1t reaches the Atlantic coast
country but it is bound to come.