The Colfax chronicle., 1904-07-30
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE BOIL wEEvIL's ENEMY.


the southern and southwestern states,
is now about to leap into the arena &C
every cotton plantation, clashing its
mandibles and rushing to battle with
the terrible boil weevil, the ruthless
destroyer OF cotton. 1t is microscopic
in size, brown in color, flexible of
body. pugnacious of temper, poisonous
with venom. Thanks to this sudden
ally, the south's shuddering fight
against the boil weeyil changes from
that Of a lost cause to campaign ap-
pafently certain Of victory. The lit
tie brown ant will work the change.
It Is the scrappiest living organism
for its size and weight in the world.
It was apparently created for the sole
purpose Of exterminating the boil
weevil. It Is the little brown Jap Of
the insect world, just as the boil weevil
is the bulky and greedy Russian over
running the Manchuria of King Cotton's
country. It would rather kill boil
weevils than eat, and its lighting tac-
tics are irresistible. The ant will be
shown at the Worlds fair.
This amazing ant, whose value to the
world at large is almost beyond COM
putation, destroys the boil weevil faster
than the boil weevil destroys cotton
and the latter's destructiyeness has un-
til now held the worlds record. Around
every cotton stalk the little brown ant
establishes Cossack outpost picket,
five strong, and watches for the boil
weevil 1t fails upon its enemy with
incredible fury, prizes open the weevifs
beetle-like armor, plunges its enyenon-
ed sting in to the exposed part
and then It's the Dead March in Saul
for the weeyil. The combats thus car
ried on are said to be intensely excit-
ing as spectacles.
So thrilling are they, in fact, that
the Worlds fair management Is to be
urged to arrange for o daily exhibit
showing battle between this wonder
ful ant and the cotton-killing Doll
weevl. 1t is represented that the COM
batants could be exhibited in case un-
der microscopic lenses giving vastly
magnifed view of the fray. The whole
world at the fair might gaze spell
bound at such an encounter and ap-
plaud its outcome-for the little brown
ant is always the victory, and his vic
tory means that the worlds cotton
crops are hereafter to te harvested for
mans use instead of largely going to
feed the boil weevil as in recent years.
Yet the little brown ants name is
unknown. 1t it lone OF the few, the
immortal names. that were not born
20 die" but thus far its intrepid owner
Is advancing incognito to his death
grapple with the boil weevil. All that
| is known of him is that he halls from
Guatemala, where he has slain all the
boil weeyils, and that he has never
yet declined fight with his hereditary
feudsman or been bested IN such 9
fight.
Name or no name, however, the lit.
tie brown ant will receive a welcome
| as warm as If his cognomen were en-
graved with gratitude's fingers on ev-
cry American heart-especially since
cynics say gratitude Is "a lively sense
| of favors to come" For this ant is the
most benefcent creature the cotton
country has ever been called upon tc
greet, and upon the prosperity OF the
cotton country depends much OF tht
prosperity and comfort OF all the world
1t dwells in the cotton fields, but \
does no harm to the cotton. 1t vii
be found on every stalk, but not one
mouthful Of the staple or fiber Will Il
eat, nor will it to the extent OF
| pounds weight lesen the annual crop
Rather will it insure a maximum o
harvest for every plantation, because
/ 1t will be there as faithful sentinel
challenging and fighting to the deatf
the inveterate enemy of scottons
/ This good and faithful ant, ike man,
/ other good and faithful creatures, i!
not pretty to look at. Seen through 1
| microscope, it suggests Welsh rare
bit nightmare or the fever imaginative
| product of broiled lobster eaten jus
before bedtime. 1t is hairy and trucu
lent. 1t has fierce eyes. 1t has steel
like mandibles which it fourishe'
about It's rugged head in the mos
threatening manner 1t has formida
BILE Jaws that snap together as do thos'
Of a cruel animal trap. At the ent
which goes last over fence It has |
lance-sharp sting that fairly reeks will