Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-01-27
VAR ON BOIL PEST
department Of Agriculture hot After
3 the WeeviI
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN MAPPED OUT
Special Representative Dispatched to
The Texas Cotton Eields to lnvestl-
gate and Report.

Washington, Special.-The Secretary
OF Agriculture has approved the plans
for the cotton boil wevil investigation
in the Southwest, for which special
appropriation of s250,OOO has been
made available. Secretary Wilson be-
lleyes that the best method, for meet
ing the ravages caused by the boil
weevil will be to put into actual prac-
t;ce the facts which have been accumu-
lated by the Department during the
past two years In the Southwest, for
which a special conditions, the plant
ing of early maturing varieties OF cot
ton, substitution of other crops, etc.
The plans approved, which were sub
mitted by DR.. T. B. Galloway, the chief
of the bureau of plant industry, and
Dr.. Howard, the chief of the division
of. entomology, embody the following
lines of investigations:
Farmers cooperative demonstration
work. This will involve the organiza-
tion Of farmers in Texas and adjacent
States in such way to secure the cul-
tigation Of cotton under specific in
structions from the Department of Ag-
riculture, thus definite working plan
will be given to each farmers, the
farmer himself to furnish the seed and
fertilizers, if such are required. These
areas of cotton will serve as object les
sons and will be planned to show the
practibility Of growing cotton despite
the presence of the weevil. Similar
work will be carried on in Louisiana,
where the weevil has not yet advanced.
It is planned to have 5000 to lO,000
farmers engaged in this work.
Plans of breeding and selection, OF
work. This work will have for its OBJ
ject the improvement Of present varie-
ties Of cotton, with view of making
them more prolific and earlier, so as to
prevent the ravages Of the weeyil.
The work will be conducted on eX-
pertinent farms, which will be Sc
lected with due respect to climatic, soil
and other conditions.
The foregoing work will be looked
after by the bureau Of plant industry.
The division of entomology will con-
tinue its evestigation on experiment
ing of cotton will be located in Texas
and the investigations conducted VIII
have for their object the determination
of numerous questions relative TO DOH
weeyil which have not yet been deh-
nitely settled. The question of the ef-
feet of fertilizers on the early matur-
ing of cotton will be considered. 1t Is
planned that these farms shall EN-
brace about one hundred acres each:
Investigation Of parasites in the orig
inaI home of the weevil will be made,
the object being to introduce thes'
parasites into Texas with the securing
of fine destruction through them OF the
boil weevil.
Inspection of cotton products, their
fumigation and general expenses az
tending the certification required py
State laws will be another line OF WORK
conducted by the entomologlst.
Investigation into the life history
and habits of the weevil and for the
general testing of persons and ma
Chimes. This work will be carried on
necessarily in the boil weevil infected
districts. .hon
investigations of other diseases than n
the cotton boil weevil, including the
destructive cotton boil worm, when Is
one of the most serious pests in a num-
ber Of the Southern cotton growing
The organization of the work on tn the
cooperative demonstration farms haS
hegun under the charge of Dr. 5. a.
Knapp, who is now in Texas